Swim Lessons

A program for children ages 3-5 years. 45 minute classes meet once a week during each session.  Children progress through 4 levels as they master skills.

Pike: This is the first level. Children wear flotation and need to be comfortable without mom or dad in the pool. Primary skills taught include breathing, floating, kicking and paddling as well as building self confidence.

Eel: To enter Eel children must be able to swim 10-15 yards in a horizontal position with 2 or less squares on the flotation belt. Children must be comfortable putting their faces in the water and blowing bubbles. They also should be confident floating without the help of a parent or instructor.

Ray: To enter Ray children must be confident swimming 5-10 yards with no flotation. They need to be able to submerge while blowing bubbles and be comfortable in the deeper water with flotation.

Starfish: To enter Starfish children must be able to swim 25 yards of paddlestroke without flotation, swim 15 yards on their back and know the basics of front and back crawl.

Lowell YMCA Spring Lesson Schedule

A program for children ages 6 to 15 years.  Classes meet for 45 minutes once a week during each session.  Children progress through 8 levels as they master skills. We offer private lessons and children who have completed the Guppy level or higher are invited to join the barracuda swim team.

Polliwog I: This is for children who are still dependent on the use of flotation or afraid of the water. Beginner skills such as breathing, kicking, floating and paddling are taught.

Polliwog II: This is a beginner level where children work on their endurance and improve their breathing, kicking, floating and paddling skills. To complete Polliwog II they must be able to swim 25 yards without flotation on their stomachs and 15 yards without flotation on their backs.

Guppy: To enter Guppy children must be swimming 25 yards without flotation on their stomachs and 15 yards without flotation on their backs. Children learn front crawl and back crawl as well as improve strength and endurance.

Minnow: Minnow is an intermediate level where children improve upon their front and back crawl techniques as well as learn the basics of breast stroke and side stroke. To enter Minnow, children must be able to swim 25 yards of both front and back crawl and be able to demonstrate an endurance swim of at least 50 yards.

Fish: Fish is and intermediate/advanced level where children focus on endurance. Chidren refine strokes such as breast stroke and side stroke and learn proper dives, starts and the basics of competitive swimming. To enter Fish children must be able to complete a 100 yard endurance swim, and 50 yards of front and back crawl, 25 yards of breast stroke and side stroke.

Flying Fish: To enter flying fish children must demonstrate an endurance swim of at least 250 yards, and 100 yards of front and back crawl as well as at least 50 yards of both breast stroke and side stroke. Children learn the basics of competitive swimming, water safety and lifeguarding skills as well as improve their endurance.

Shark: Shark is an advanced level where children work on endurance and training techniques. To enter shark children must demonstrate an endurance swim of at least 300 yards, and 200 yards of front and back crawl as well as at least 100 yards of both breast stroke and side stroke and 25 yards of butterfly stroke.

Porpoise: This is the final level for children who have an interest in someday becoming a lifeguard or swim instructor. To enter porpoise children must demonstrate an endurance swim of at least 500 yards, and 250 yards of front and back crawl as well as at least 200 yards of both breast stroke and side stroke and 50 yards of butterfly stroke.

Lowell YMCA Spring Lesson Schedule

Tyngsboro classes will not be held at the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational  Technical School 250 Pawtucket Blvd. Lowell, MA 01854