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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Heather is an avid gardener and poetry and fiction writer who has worked for the YMCA for 8 years. Her experience teaching the basics with great form will build a foundation for excellent results.
Works well with all ages and fitness levels while specializing in dynamic stretching and strengthening.
Landon volunteers with the Westerly Fire Dept. In his own training, Landon prioritizes the development of barbell movements paired with complimentary Isolation exercises. Landon is going to put you as the client and your goals first.
Improve strength while teaching fundamental movement patterns.
“With awareness and commitment, your goal is never out of reach.”
Jim is a US Marine Corps veteran, dog lover, and retired RI Police Officer. Jim was a defensive tactics instructor on the dive team and assisted the RI Police Academy with physical fitness assessments while on the police force. NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) d personal trainer
Emphatic outlook towards clients with in-depth effort to ensure the most progress in each clients goals.
“If you are looking for someone that believes in the golden rule of quality service (I give the quality service that | would like to receive) then | am the coach for you”
Amy is a retired military officer and navy pilot. Amy has expertise meeting the unique training needs of women, retirees, and cancer survivors. Amy’s passionate about creating a positive, safe & motivating space where individuals can pursue their personal fitness goals
Areas of Strength: YMCA‘s “Women on Weights,” “Livestrong” programs, and is a Livestrong Coach
“Define Your Own Strong–Your Best Workout Starts Today!”
Cameron is our full-time Fitness Coordinator. While working for the YMCA for 3 years, he has become very confident in his ability to listen to and understand the needs of clients and implement the proper program. He is commended for his extensive knowledge of the fitness floor and his easy-going attitude while helping clients to meet their goals.
Connects well with all different types of clients from youth to seniors, demonstrated by his coaching of the youth/teen strength and conditioning classes, Punch Back @Parkinsons Instructor
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
Ethan, a Team USA athlete and 9x world games medalist, is also Stonington’s Deputy Harbormaster. A former U.S. Naval Academy rowing captain and wilderness ranger with the National Park Service, he offers training for goals like hiking the AT, preparing for sports, military service, or marathons
Athlete-centric training, sports-specific training, advanced lifting technique and programming, breaking bad habits and pushing through plateaus.
“It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
As a competitive soccer player in Mexico City, Gerardo developed a passion for lifelong wellness and total life fitness—both mentally and physically. He studied Communications and is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and English.
Body core strengthening, functional body weight training, and balance-stability focus especially for seniors
Helen is a triathlete, marathon runner, author, wife, and mother of two. As a Wellness Coach and Personal Trainer, she helps women achieve health goals across 10 life areas, offering personalized nutrition and workout plans for overall wellness.
Strength, nutrition, running, flexibility, LIVESTRONG Instructor
“Anything is possible!”
Anna has 34 years of experience in fitness and is a military spouse, has moved 17 times in 40+ years of marriage. A mother and grandmother, she’s patient and dedicated to helping clients reach their fitness goals. Friendly and approachable, she enjoys sharing healthy habits.
Strength training, women’s programs, cancer survivors, and clients with Parkinson’s. She’s a former WBFF and NPC bodybuilding competitor.
Originally from New Hampshire, Brennan is a former Division 3 basketball player with a degree in sports management. He emphasizes the importance of balancing fitness with daily life to help you thrive and feel your best at any age.
Trigger point therapy, corrective exercises, weight loss, strength training, TRX, Golf & Basketball
“It’s not just fitness, it’s a lifestyle.”
Providing support to current levels of fitness to recovering from surgery, a long bout of inactivity or looking to progress to the next level of fitness.
“My greatest joys are to help my clients discover or rediscover their personal strength, flexibility, range of motion and endurance capabilities waiting to be realized!”