YMCA Swim Lesson Orientation The YMCA of Youngstown 17 N. Champion St. Youngstown, OH 44501-1287 Tara Deagan, Aquatic Director Davis Family YMCA 45 McClurg Rd Boardman, OH 44512 Chris Hughes, Aquatic Director
WELCOME All Y programs serve one of our three areas of focus: Youth Development Healthy Living Social Responsibility
OUR AREAS OF FOCUS Ys offer the programs we do for a reason. Young people need safe and enriching environments to try new things, develop skills, meet new people and show what they re capable of. Achieving and maintaining health in spirit, mind and body makes for a richer life and giving back to neighbors and those in need is our responsibility as neighbors, colleagues and citizens. The Y defines our areas of focus the programming that you are a part of every day like this:
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT Nurturing the potential of every child and teen. We believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. That s why, through the Y, millions of youth today are cultivating the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement.
HEALTHY LIVING Improving the nation s health and well-being. In communities across the nation, the Y is a leading voice on health and well-being. With a mission centered on balance, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, millions of youth, adults and families are receiving the support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater health and wellbeing for their spirit, mind and body.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Giving back and providing support to our neighbors. The Y has been listening and responding to our communities most critical social needs for 160 years. Whether developing skills or emotional well-being through education and training, welcoming and connecting diverse demographic populations through global services, or preventing chronic disease and building healthier communities through collaborations with policymakers, the Y fosters the care and respect all people need and deserve. Through the Y, 500,000 volunteers and thousands of donors, leaders and partners across the country are empowering millions of people in the U.S. and around the world to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.
Why the Y? The Y uses programs as a vehicle to deliver its mission, which is To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. To do this, all YMCA programs address seven specific objectives through planned activities. Grow Personally: Build Self Esteem and self-reliance Improve Relationships: Learn to care about, communicate and cooperate with family and friends. Develop Skills: Acquire new knowledge and learn new ways to grow in spirit, mind and body. Have fun! Enjoy life. Teach Values: Develop moral and ethical behavior based on Christian principles. Appreciate Diversity: Respect people of different ages, abilities, incomes, races, religions, cultures and beliefs. Become leaders and supporters: Learn the give and take necessary to work toward the common good.
YMCA Swim programs consist of five components Rescue: Build awareness of how to help others in aquatic emergencies. Personal Growth: to grow in spirit, mind and body including character development Personal Safety: increase awareness of personal safety issues for both the child and the family. I.E. Boating Safety Stroke Development: To develop swimming abilities so participants can move in the water. Water Sports & Games: To help develop an appreciation of aquatic activities that may last a life time, including age appropriate games and songs.
YMCA Swim Programs Parent/Child Pre-School Youth and Adult Ages: 6-36 months Ages: 3-5 years Ages: 6 years and up
Parent/Child Instructor/Student Ratio 1:12 Shrimp 6-18 months Water adjustment and songs for infants, water safety and how to s for parents. Perch 19-36 months Basic swimming skills are introduced with use of floatation devices.
Preschool 3-5 years Instructor/Student ratio 1:6 Pike (Beginner I) Learn to float and swim with floatation devices. Eel (Beginner II) Entry requirement: Must be comfortable in the water and able to swim at least 5 feet without floatation or assistance on front and back Ray (Intermediate) Entry requirement: Must be able to float independently and swim at least 15 ft. without floatation or assistance on front and back. Starfish (Advanced) Entry requirement: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to float independently and swim at least 40 ft. Without floatation or assistance on front and back.
Youth 6-12 years Instructor/student ratio: see below each class Polliwog 1:8 (Beginner I) Learn to float and swim using floatation devices. Guppy 1:8 (Beginner II) Entry requirement: Must be able to float independently and swim at least 20 ft. without floatation or assistance on front and back. Minnow 1:8 (Intermediate I) Entry requirement: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to float independently, and swim 25 yds. on front back and side without floatation or assistance. Fish 1:10 (Intermediate II) Entry requirement: Must be comfortable in deep water, able to float independently, and swim 25 yds. of front crawl w/ rotary breathing, back crawl, sidestroke, elementary backstroke and breaststroke using proper technique. Flying Fish 1:10 (Advanced I) Entry requirement: Successful completion of Fish or approval from Aquatic Director Shark 1:10 (Advanced II) Entry requirement: Successful completion of Flying Fish or approval from Aquatic Director
FAQ s: How long are the sessions and lessons? Each session is six weeks (summer sessions may vary). Parent/child and preschool swim classes are 30 minutes long, youth classes are 40 minutes long, and teen and adult classes are 45 minutes long. How do I know what level to sign my child up for? If you are unsure of your child s level please contact the aquatic director to set up a swim evaluation with an instructor. Davis Family YMCA 330-480-5656 Chris Hughes Youngstown Central YMCA 330-744-8411 Tara Deagan Do certified instructors lead the classes? Yes, every class is led by a certified swim instructor. All of our instructors have completed the YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor certification training in addition to CPR Pro, oxygen administration, and first aid certifications.
FAQ s: Can we be in the pool area during lessons? Parents in the pool area can be a distraction to children, who often become more interested in watching his or her parents than listening to the instructor. We invite you to watch your children from the food court (Davis) or the youth lobby (Central). All family members are welcome to watch from the pool deck during the last class, though we recommend that you dress for the heat, remove street shoes, and bring your camera. Is there a lifeguard on duty? Yes, there is always a lifeguard on deck who is not instructing. What if my child cries during lessons? All attempts are made to comfort the child, but if the child persists, a parent or guardian will be notified to come to the pool area and remove the child from the class.
FAQ s: What if my child needs to use the bathroom during class? Please encourage your child to use the bathroom prior to class. If the need arises and you are not available, an instructor will take them. How much will my child learn in six weeks? All children learn and grow at different rates, therefore how much a child learns will depend on each child. The more time devoted to learning and practicing a skill, the quicker a child will progress. The YSL program is a progressive program, meaning that there are no pass or fail in a level. Swimmers will move up to the next level when they have accomplished all of the criteria. Why is my child in the same level repeatedly? It may take longer for some children than others to move up to the next level. Sometimes a growth spurt will cause children to become uncoordinated in the water, which may seem like a temporary set back. Encourage your child to do their best, and let them know you are proud of them.
FAQ s: Does my child need to shower before lessons? It is a pool policy that all swimmers take a soapy shower before they enter the pool. All areas where your swim suit touches needs to be scrubbed. This is an important step in keeping our pools clean and our swimmers healthy. Do not swim if you have diarrhea. If you would like more information please go to the CDC website. Does my child need goggles? Goggles are permitted and highly recommended; please make adjustments before class. (Masks covering the nose are not permitted.) Does my child need to wear a swim cap? If your child has long hair it should be pulled back and secured. A swim cap is not necessary. Barrettes and a pony tail holder work just as well.
FAQ s: Why do you use floatation devices? When properly used, Individual floatation devices (IFD s) aid skill development. Such devices free swimmers from worrying about staying afloat so they can concentrate on learning new skills and building endurance and strength. A variety of IFD s are used at all levels. Can I volunteer to help with swim lessons? Yes, we love to have volunteers in our swim classes. We have a swim aide volunteer program for members age 12 and older. If you or someone you know would be interested, please refer to the program guide for the orientation dates and times. How will I know if my child is progressing? Progress reports will be distributed on the last day of class; however, your child s instructor will be available before and after class to answer any questions you may have. Is there anything I can do to help my child learn to swim? Yes! Encourage your children. Work with each child on swimming skills at home and whenever you get the chance to go swimming together.
Come and see why the YMCA is America s Favorite Swim Instructor! The YMCA of Youngstown 17 N. Champion St. Youngstown, OH 44501-1287 www.younstownymca.org Davis Family YMCA 45 McClurg Rd Boardman, OH 44512