Youth Swim Lessons

The Youth Swim Lesson Program is designed to develop each participant's potential by incorporating a developmental approach that is based on current research in child development, the art of teaching, motor learning, and motor development.  Through qualified instruction, children can begin to swim for the first time, improve swim skills, learn water safety techniques and enjoy personal growth.

Swim Lesson Information and Registration Form Download PDF. Adobe Reader required.

Swim School Information and Registration Form Download PDF. Adobe Reader required.

Youth Swim Lessons are offered on a year-round schedule:

Parent/Child: 6 Months to 3 Years

This program gives parents and their infants/toddlers an early introduction to water safety and swimming.  Instructors provide individual and group activities to help promote water safety knowledge and practices, aquatic adjustment and readiness skills, fun in the water, and interaction and socialization.  Parent/child classes require that one parent be in the water with the child at all times. Class is 30 minutes long.

Preschool: Age 3 to Kindergarten

These beginning classes provide a child’s first experience in the pool without parents. Children learn the basic building blocks of swimming, and they are exposed to pool safety, boating safety, and personal flotation devices. 

• Pike: Designed for children with no previous water experience.  This class is a gradual general water orientation utilizing creative water play, breath control, floating, basic arm and kicking skills, and safety skills.  Class is 30 minutes long. 

• Eel: For children who can put their head underwater voluntarily.  This class introduces alternate/symmetrical front and back paddle skills, breath control, and safety skills. Class is 30 minutes long.

• Ray: Refines the skills learned in Pike/Eel classes.  This class introduces rotary breathing and the use of personal flotation devices.  Treading water, elementary backstroke, front and back crawl 25 yards without assistance. Class is 45 minutes long.

• Starfish: Swimmers develop their front crawl backstroke, floating, underwater swimming, and retrieving skills. Class is 45 minutes long.

Private Swim Lessons

Individual swim lessons provide extra personal instruction and attention in order to improve stroke technique and develop more proficient swimmers.  Lessons are geared toward basic, correct body position and introduction to various swimming strokes.

Private swim lessons are available for youth and adults ages 3 and older. Lessons are conducted 1-on-1 with a trained YMCA swim instructor. Due to popularity of private lessons and limited instructor availability, advanced planning and reservations are required. Please contact the East Valley Family YMCA's aquatics department for more information.

Semi-Private Lessons

Do you have family or friends that are interested in learning to swim in a class together?  Private group lessons are geared for small groups of similar swim levels to learn in a group environment.  Lessons focus on improving stroke technique and proficiency in various strokes.  Please see our Member Service Center for more information. 

Youth: First Grade to 14 Years

These classes for school-age children focus on water safety and stroke skills. All youth swimming lessons are 45 minutes long.

• Polliwog: Gradual water orientation, breath control, floating, basic arm and kicking skills, personal safety skills, lifesaving skills, survival float, and confidence building are emphasized at this level. 

• Guppy: Refining skills learned in Polliwog.  Introduction of alternate/symmetrical front and back paddle, and rotary breathing.  Helps build endurance and confidence. 

• Minnow: Mastering front crawl, rotary breathing and increased endurance.  Continuation of back crawl, elementary backstroke, and survival skills.

• Fish: Students perform the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke. Also includes an introduction to the Dolphin Kick and basic Butterfly.

• Flying Fish: Advanced swimmers refine their strokes and increase their endurance. They develop the ability to perform complex swimming activities.

• Porpoise Club: Preparation for Swim Team includes flip and open turns, rescue skills, and IM work.

What Level is My Child?

All students who have never enrolled in swim lessons – and without any swimming skills – must sign-up for Pike or Polliwog, depending on their age. Swim evaluations are required for all children other than beginners.

Evaluations are conducted every Monday - Thursday from 4–6 pm for those who have not participated in previous YMCA swim lessons. If children have completed a level at another YMCA, please ask that YMCA to provide written proof.

Youth Sports Programs

(For Girls and Boys, Ages 5-16)
Did you know that basketball and volleyball were invented by early YMCA leaders?

Our sports programs develop more than skills—they develop character. We offer a variety of programs for youth, including league sports and martial arts. Instructors and coaches—often volunteers and including many parents—emphasize teamwork, cooperation, and developing good values.

The East Valley Family YMCA offers year-round Soccer and Indoor Basketball leagues as well as Flag Football (Fall), Indoor Soccer (Winter), and T-Ball (Summer). Scholarships are available for those who qualify. For more information, please call 408-715-6500.

Youth Sports Guide Download PDF. Adobe Reader required.

Youth Sports Leagues

Y Sports is for boys and girls who want the opportunity to play in an organized sports program.  We offer Indoor Basketball, Flag Football, Indoor Soccer, and T-Ball.  Teams are organized to ensure that everyone plays and that all teams have equal ability. 

Tae Kwon Do

This program promotes fitness of spirit, mind and body. Through specific drills and practices, the students gain self-confidence, self-respect, and respect for others while improving total well-being. Download the Tae Kwon Do PDF for more information.

For more detailed information on the Sports Program, please check out the Sports Brochure.

Little Sportsters Leagues

The Little Hoopsters and Little Kickers programs are designed to introduce children ages 3-5 to the basic skills of basketball or soccer while developing sportsmanship and self-esteem.  The YMCA provides a qualified staff member to lead each lesson, creating a fun learning environment and providing quality instruction. Below is a list of classes:

Get Involved

Interested in being a Volunteer Coach or Referee? Contact Glenn Baltazar at 408-715-6547 or gbaltazar@ymcasv.org, or download a Volunteer Application.