Programs

Aquatics & Swim

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Contact Ocean Community YMCA to sign up for Swim Lessons. Fill out the form on our contact page, or, give your local branch a call.

Swim Lesson Level Guide

Swim Lesson Level Guide

The YMCA Swim Lessons program uses a skill-based approach designed to meet the needs of local Y’s and the community they serve. The new swim lessons curriculum allows for both standardization and flexibility. The organization of the curriculum ensures that swim lesson programs look and sound the same and every Y across the country. Swim evaluations available!

No prior swimming experience is needed. Swimmers will work on comfort with face in the water, gliding in the water, kicking, and moving their arms, floating on their back, rolling front to back and climbing out of the pool independently. The benchmark skills that need to be met to move on to Stage 2: Water Movement are submerging while jumping into the water, pushing off the bottom of the pool, turning and grabbing the wall assisted with the instructor. Swimmers also must be able to swim, float, swim for 10 feet assisted with the instructor.

Swimmers must meet benchmark skills from Stage 1: Water Acclimation to be in this class. We will work on submerging our faces in the water by looking at objects under water, front and back glides, floating on their back, rolling front to back, kicking and moving their arms and treading water for 10 seconds. The benchmark skills that need to be met to move on to Stage 3: Water Stamina are submerging while jumping into the water, pushing off the bottom of the pool, turning and grabbing the wall unassisted and performing a swim, float, swim independently for 5 yards.

Swimmers must meet benchmark skills from Stage 2: Water Movement to be in this class. We will work on submerging and retrieving an object in chest-deep water, swimming on freestyle and backstroke for 10 yards unassisted, rolling front to back unassisted and treading water for 30 seconds. The benchmark skills that need to be met to move on to Stage 4: Stroke Introduction are submerging while jumping into the water, swimming, turning to swim back to the wall and grabbing the wall for 10 yards. Swimmers also must swim, float and swim for 15 yards independently.

Swimmers must meet benchmark skills from Stage 3: Water Stamina to be in this class. This stage works on building endurance and refining freestyle and backstroke and will introduce breaststroke and butterfly. We will be swimming 25 yards with kickboards, 25 yards with drills and swimming 25 yards of each stroke in its entirety. Sitting, kneeling and standing dives will be taught along with working on treading water for 1 minute. Open turns and flip-turns will be introduced. The benchmark skills that need to be met to move on to Stage 5: Stroke Development are swimming all four strokes and having the endurance to swim 50 yards continuously.

Swimmers must benchmark skills from Stroke Introduction to be in this class. This stage works on building endurance and refining freestyle, backstroke, breakstroke, and butterfly. We will be swimming 50 yards with kickboards, 50 yards with drills and swimming 50 yards of each stroke in its entirety. Kneeling and standing dives will be taught along with working on treading water for 2 minutes. Open turns and flip-turns will also be a focus throughout the class. The benchmark skills that need to be met to move on to Stroke Mechanics.

Swimmers must meet benchmark skills from Stage 5: Stroke Development to be in this class. This stage works on building endurance and refining freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. We will be swimming 75-100 yards with kickboards, 75-100 yards with drills and swimming 75-100 yards of each stroke in its entirety. Kneeling and standing dives will be worked on along with retrieving an object from the bottom of the pool and treading water for 1 minute after. Open turns and flip-turns will also be a focus throughout the class.

This class is for those who want either learn to swim or develop their swimming abilities. This class ranges from a beginner level to an intermediate level of swimming. Goals in this class will be to develop a proficiency in freestyle and backstroke, as well as to introduce breaststroke and butterfly and overall safety around water. It is preferred that participants have some comfortability with putting their faces in the water.

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Must Be 3 Years Old or Older

Private Swim Lessons

Private Swim Lessons

Private swim lessons are the perfect learning environment for people who are just beginning to swim as well as for those who just want to become better at it. At the Ocean Community YMCA we offer options for both. These lessons will give you individualized attention from your swim instructor to ensure that you improve or master a particular set of swimming skills.

Please note: private swim lessons for children start at ages 3 years and up. Details on swim levels can be found in our Ocean Community YMCA – Swim Brochure To find out more information and to contact the Aquatics Director please complete the form below.

Swim Team

Naik Family Branch Hammerheads

Ages 6 to 18

The Mystic Hammerhead Swim Team promotes Y values, team spirit, competition, and fun. Swimmers will develop individual skills and stroke techniques, improve times and make new friends.

The season begins in September and ends in March. Swim Meets with other teams are conducted on various weekends through the season. Children must be able to swim at least 25 yards without stopping, use rotary breathing, know the breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly stroke.

There’s still time to join! Have your child evaluated for swim team by completing the form below. You will be contacted to schedule the evaluation and provide next steps for your child.

Swim Team

Westerly-Pawcatuck Dolphins

Ages 6 to 18

Welcome to the Ocean Community YMCA Westerly-Pawcatuck Branch Dolphin Swim Team! The Swim Team is a wonderful organization that combines the excellence and dedication of our children and their parents. Swim Team should provide your child with an atmosphere that is safe, fun and challenging. We average over 100 swimmers and each and every one of them is special and recognized as such. For more information about the Westerly Dolphins Swim Team click here.

The Dolphin Swim Team promotes the Y values, team spirit, competition and fun. Swimmers will develop individual skills and stroke techniques, improve times and make new friends. The season begins in September and ends in March. Throughout these months, swimmers will get the chance to compete against other YMCA Swim Teams with the SENECY league, as well as compete with other club teams now that we are a USA SWIMMING SANCTIONED CLUB! All Swimmers must have a YMCA membership.

YMCA Swim Team
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Water Exercise Classes

These classes are designed to help improve flexibility and mobility, tone and strengthen muscles, and increase stamina and energy all while having fun in the water! These low-impact, moderate intensity classes are open for all ages.

Water Exercise Classes

These classes are designed to help improve flexibility and mobility, tone and strengthen muscles, and increase stamina and energy all while having fun in the water! These low-impact, moderate intensity classes are open for all ages.

Our Doors Are Always Open

With a commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility, the Y ensures that everyone has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow and thrive.