The following branches have programs of the selected type:
Shades Valley
Shelby County
Downtown
Greystone
Mountain Brook
Trussville
Vestavia
Northeast
Alabaster
Aquatics Programs
Jump In!
The water is the perfect place to be at the YMCA. From swim lessons, competitive swim teams, and swimming for fitness, YMCA aquatics programs will help you accomplish your mission.
Click the link to your neighborhood branch to learn more about specific programs and activities where you live, work and play and get ready to jump in!
Aquatic Programs: Swim Lesson Levels
| Program Type | Program Name | Level | Ages | Skill Required | Class Activities |
| YMCA Parent/Child Program | Shrimp / Kipper / Inia / Perch | 6-36 months | No skills required. Parent assisted program designed to increase comfort in the water. Provide positive learning environment for aquatics. | ||
| YMCA Preschool Program | Pike | Beginning Swimmer | 3-5 years | No skills required. Water readiness. | Will learn to blow bubbles, put face in water and proper kicking, paddling, and front and back floats with use of flotation devices. |
| YMCA Preschool Program | Eel | Advanced Beginner | 3-5 years | Put face in water, float on back and front with assistance, swim 5 feet without floatation | Will learn to bob, kick on back, front and back float, swim without assistance 15 feet, wet ball and synchronized swimming skills. |
| YMCA Preschool Program | Ray | Intermediate I | 3-5 years | Swim without floatation device 15 feet, float on front and back, jump into water without help. | Will learn front crawl, elementary backstroke treading water, synchronized swimming skills and wet ball activities. |
| YMCA Preschool Program | Starfish | Intermediate II | 3-5 years | Tread water, swim 25 feet using a modified crawl stroke, and swim on back. | Will learn survival float, kneeling and sitting dives, boating safety, to coordinate front crawl with rotary breathing and back crawl 25 yards. |
| YMCA Youth Program | Polliwog | Beginner | No skills required | Will be introduced to the front crawl, front and back floats, putting face in water and personal water safety skills. | |
| YMCA Youth Program | Guppy | Advanced Beginner | 6-12 years | Blow bubbles, put face in water, float on front and back and paddle 15 feet without assistance. | Will learn to tread water, rudimentary 25 yards front and back crawl, jump into deep end, kneeling dive. |
| YMCA Youth Program | Minnow | Intermediate I | 6-12 years | Rudimentary 25 yards front and back crawl, jump in deep end, tread water for 30 seconds. | Will build endurance swimming, reinforce fundamentals of front crawl, elementary backstroke, and diving. Introduction to breaststroke. Emphasize rescue and safety skills. |
| YMCA Youth Program | Fish | Intermediate II | 6-12 years | Swim 2 lengths each of front crawl and backstroke in good form. Can dive in water. | Will learn to perform 50 yards of each: breaststroke, sidestroke, andn open turns. |
| YMCA Youth Program | Flying Fish | Advanced I | 6-12 years | Swim 2 lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke in succession, survival float 7 minutes and tread water for 3 minutes. | Will learn bilateral breathing, inverted scissors on one side, introduction to butterfly and flip turns. |
| YMCA Youth Program | Shark | Advanced II | 6-12 years | Excellent front and back crawl. Demonstrates coordination in breaststroke and butterfly, swim under water 15 yards. | Will learn first aid techniques, swim 2 lengths of each: front and back crawl, breaststroke, and butterfly nonstop. Lifesaving strokes and surface dives. |
| YMCA Adult Program | Adult | 14 and older | Will learn floating, front crawl, back crawl, rhythmic breathing, safety, stroke development and endurance. |
