Aquatic Programs

Learning to swim at the YMCA is an exciting and enjoyable process! Here are a few pointers for you to know when you or your child begins swim classes: Be patient and supportive. Swimming develops new motor skills, and the time needed to learn these skills varies from person to person. Generally, it takes 3 consecutive sessions to progress to a new level. Time is required to develop strength and endurance to perform these skills. Swimmers develop as these skills are reinforced.Our Aquatics program meets the need for a comprehensive program of water enrichment and skill development. Our enthusiastic staff, low ratios, and progressive program will ensure your child’s experience is fun and rewarding.

• Large & Small Pool Schedules

Youth Swim Programs

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  Skippers

  Read the descriptions below to determine which program best suits your child.

  Shrimp & Kipper (water exploration )

  6 months & 2 years old with a parent
  The S.K.I.P. classes provide a fun time for parents and other adults to interact

  Inias & Perch (water exploration )

  2 & 3 years old with a parent
  The S.K.I.P. classes provide a fun time for parents and other adults to interact.

  Pike I (water exploration )

  3-6 years old without parent
  This class is designed for children who do not feel comfortable putting their face in the water or are afraid of the water.

  Pike II (primary skills)

  3-6 years old without parent
  This class is designed for children who are not afraid of the water but do not know how to swim. Children should feel comfortable swimming without a flotation device the width of the pool.

  Eels (primary skills)

  3-5 years old without parent
  Children have the ability to swim the width of the pool with face in the water with and without using a flotation device. Prerequisite: Pike or equivalent.

  Rays (stroke readiness)

  3-6 years old without parent
  Children have the ability to swim front crawl with rhythmic breathing and back stroke the width of the pool. Prerequisite: Eels or equivalent.

  Starfish (stroke development)

  4-6 years old without parent
  Children must swim the length of the pool with rotary breathing and back stroke. Prerequisite: Rays or equivalent.

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  Progressive Swim Programs

  These programs are for children ages 6-14 years old.

  Polliwog I (primary skills)

  For children who cannot swim and for those who are afraid of the water. Water basics. Prerequisite: None.

  Polliwog II (primary skills)

  For children who can swim the width of the pool with rhythmic breathing, back float for 10 seconds, front float and kick with straight legs. Water basics. Prerequisite: Polliwog I or equivalent.

  Guppy (stroke readiness)

  Swim 25 yards with rotary breathing and coordinated arms. Back skull, treading water, and basic lifesaving skills. Prerequisite: Polliwog or equivalent.

  Minnow (stroke development)

  Front dive, survival float, and throwing assists, front crawl, backstroke, and elementary backstroke 50 yards. Prerequisite: Guppy or equivalent.

  Fish (skill proficiency)

  200 yards front crawl and backstroke and dolphin kick, backstroke turn, 30 feet underwater swim. Prerequisite: Minnow or equivalent.

  Flying fish (advanced skills)

  100 yards I.M. with legal turns and 200 yards front crawl with flip turns. Tread water for 2 minutes. Prerequisite: Fish or equivalent.

  Shark (advanced skills)

  200 yards I.M. with legal turns, lifesaving strokes. Prerequisite: Flying Fish or equivalent.

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  Barracuda Swim Team

  The Greater Waterbury YMCA Barracuda Swim Team is a competitive swim program offering development, training, and competition to swimmers age 6 and up. The philosophy of our program is "Everybody swims, everybody wins." Every swimmer is given the attention and the opportunity needed to achieve personal improvement.

  Practice sessions are divided into three groups, based on a combination of age and experience:

  • Beginners -- Swimmers 8 and under, and first-time swimmers from 9-11. The focus is on the development of each of the four competitive strokes and meet skills (starts and turns). Swimmers practice 4 hours per week.

  • Intermediates -- Swimmers age 8-12, and first-time swimmers from 12 and up. The focus is on the fine-tuning of meet skills, developing good training habits, goal setting, and team work. Swimmers practice 5-6 hours per week.

  • Advanced -- Swimmers age 10 and over who are ready to train for a high level of competition. The emphasis is on conditioning and meet strategy, as well as setting goals and contributing to the team. Swimmers practice 7 hours or more per week.

  The team is open to novice swimmers as well as those with prior competitive experience.

  8 & under
  Ability to swim 2 laps non stop 1 of freestyle with rotary breathing, and an additional lap of freestyle. Ability to swim 1 lap of backstroke non stop and do a kneeling dive off side of pool

  9 & 10
  Ability to swim 2 laps non stop of freestyle with rotary breathing. Ability to swim 2 laps of backstroke non stop. Basic knowledge of breaststroke and butterfly. Basic forward flip in the water and a standing dive off side of pool

  11 & 12
  Ability to swim 4 laps non stop of freestyle with rotary breathing. Ability to swim 2 laps of backstroke non stop. Ability to swim 2 laps either breaststroke or butterfly. Flip turns and racing start

  13 & over
  Ability to swim 4 laps non stop of freestyle with rotary breathing. Ability to swim 4 laps of backstroke non stop.Ability to swim 2 laps both breaststroke or butterfly. Flip turns and racing start

  The team participates in the Yankee Cluster Swim League with ten other YMCA swim teams, including Ansonia, Meriden, Southington, Torrington, and Wallingford. The season consists of 10 dual meets and the League Championship Meet, which is open to every member of the team. There are also New England and National YMCA Championships at the end of the season for swimmers who attain the qualifying times.

  Learn more at www.waterburybarracudas.com

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  Red Cross Lifeguarding Class

  This class is taught over an eleven week period. All classes are mandatory. Participants must be at least 15 years old on the first day of class.4

  Prerequisite are

  Participants must be able to swim 300 yards continuously, using each of the following strokes for at least 100 yards:
  Freestyle (front crawl)
  Breaststroke
  100 yards choice between the 2

  Starting in the water swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10 pound weight, return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 1 min and 40 seconds.

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Adult Swim Programs

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  Read the descriptions below to determine which program best suits you.

  Water exercise

  A low impact, warm water workout for any fitness level. Designed to be comfortable, invigorating, and easy on your joints. This class improves strength, flexibility, and endurance to improve movement.

  Aquacize

  Stretch, tone, and strengthen muscles by using water resistance. This program consists of exercises that increase the range of motion in the shoulders, wrists, hips, knees, lower extremities, and abdominal areas.

  Water Workout

  A workout class that will use the water to make movement easier. Class will include a variety of exercises to build cardio, strength, and overall wellness.

  Zumba Splash

  This basic level Zumba class is taught in the small pool. Zumba dance is a fusion of Latin and international music, incorporating aerobics and interval training.

  Swimming Lesson for the Terrified!

  For adults who are truly terrified of the water. A must for parents who want to play in the water with their children, but can’t because of their own limitations. Includes water orientation, basic front crawl skills with rhythmic breathing, and safety skills.

  Beginning Swimmers

  For adults who are unable to swim or only have a basic swimming ability. The class includes basic front crawl and rhythmic breathing skills backstroke skills, and safety skills.

  Female Swimming

  Adult lap swimming in a closed environment. Monday and Wednesday from 7:15 PM - 8:15 PM in our small pool.

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