Waynesboro Area YMCA Swim Lesson Levels and Prerequisites

At the Waynesboro Area YMCA, swim lessons are designed to help swimmers build confidence, practice water safety, and grow their skills at an appropriate pace. The program is organized by age group and skill stage, with options for infants and toddlers in Water Babies, preschool swimmers ages 3–6, school-age swimmers ages 6–12, and advanced swimmers ready for the Waves Swim Team. Placement and progress are based on water comfort, safety skills, floating, movement, endurance, stroke technique, and readiness to follow instruction.

Age Groups

• Water Babies: Parent/child lessons for ages 6 months–3 years; Stages A–B.
• Preschool Swim Lessons: Ages 3–6; Stages 1–4.
• School Age Swim Lessons: Ages 6–12; Stages 1–6.
• Teen and Adult Lessons: Ages 12 and older; placement varies based on skill level and program availability.

*Teen classes are not currently offered. Swimmers ages 12–18 may be placed in youth classes when appropriate, try out for the Waves Swim Team if they meet Stage 4–6 skills, or request private lessons when available. Teen classes may be added in the future based on demand.

Private Swim Lessons 

Private Swim Lessons are offered for all ages! Students receive one-on-one instruction specific to their goals and needs.

Register for private lessons at our Member Services desk. Please be aware that lessons are scheduled based on instructor availability.

For questions about Private Swim lessons, please e-mail the Swim Lesson Coordinator at swimlessons@waynesboroymca.org

Water Babies: Parent/Child Levels

Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.

A / Water Discovery  
Introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through parent-supported exploration. Children build water comfort while caregivers learn water safety, supervision, and drowning-prevention habits.

Prerequisites: Child is typically 6 months–3 years old and participates with a parent, guardian, or caregiver. This level is appropriate for children who are not yet ready to respond consistently to verbal cues or jump on land.

B / Water Exploration
Builds on Water Discovery by helping children explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, kicking, rolling, wall grabs, and basic safety skills with caregiver support.

Prerequisites: Child is typically 6 months–3 years old and participates with a parent, guardian, or caregiver. The child should be able to respond to simple verbal cues and jump on land but is not yet comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water.

Preschool Swim Lessons

Preschool swim lessons generally cover Stages 1–4. These levels focus on water comfort, self-rescue, floating, forward movement, endurance, and the first steps of stroke technique.

1 / Water Acclimation

Helps children become comfortable with underwater exploration and introduces safe water exits and basic self-rescue skills, often with instructor assistance.

Prerequisites: Appropriate for preschool students who can work with an instructor without a parent in the water but are not yet willing or able to go underwater voluntarily.

2 / Water Movement

Focuses on body position, body control, changing direction, and forward movement in the water while continuing to practice safe exits and basic self-rescue.

Prerequisites: Student can go underwater voluntarily but cannot yet perform a front float and back float independently.

3 / Water Stamina

Builds endurance and teaches children to swim to safety from a longer distance. Students are introduced to rhythmic breathing and coordinated arm and leg action.

Prerequisites: Student can perform front and back floats independently but cannot yet swim 10–15 yards on the front and back.

4 / Stroke Introduction

Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and begins breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced with treading water and elementary backstroke.

Prerequisites: Student can swim about 10–15 yards on the front and back but cannot yet swim 15 yards of front crawl and back crawl with consistent technique.

*Preschool Stage 4 is not currently offered. If a preschool student reaches this level, the Aquatics Leader will work with the parent or guardian to decide whether the student should move to Youth Stage 1 or continue in Preschool Stage 3. The decision will be based on the child’s comfort, confidence, safety skills, and readiness to follow instruction.

School Age Swim Lessons

School age lessons usually include Stages 1–6. Stages 1–3 teach personal water safety and basic swimming competency, while Stages 4–6 develop stroke technique, endurance, and readiness for more advanced swimming.

5 / Stroke Development

Develops stroke techniques across the major competitive strokes, including front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, and butterfly. Students continue building endurance and water-safety skills such as treading water and sidestroke.

Prerequisites: Student can swim 15 yards of front crawl and back crawl and is ready to learn or improve all major competitive strokes.

6 / Stroke Mechanics

Refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, introduces elements of competitive swimming, and helps students understand how swimming can support lifelong fitness.

Prerequisites: Student can swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and is ready to refine technique across longer distances, often swimming across the pool and back.

Waves Swim Team

Summary: The Waves Swim Team is a developmental and competitive swim program for swimmers who are interested in improving stroke technique, building endurance, participating in practices, and competing in swim meets. Swimmers develop teamwork, goal setting, sportsmanship, and a lifelong love of swimming.

Prerequisites: Swimmers should be able to swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke comfortably across the pool with proper technique and endurance. Swimmers should demonstrate skills consistent with School Age Stage 5 or higher and be able to participate independently in a structured practice environment. Final placement is determined by a Waves Swim Team evaluation.

Rookie Camp

Summary: Rookie Camp is a Waynesboro Area YMCA program for swimmers ages 5–18 who are interested in the Waves Swim Team but are not sure if they are ready to join. Participants experience swim team-style practice, and at the end of camp, the coaching staff recommend either a swim team level or swim lessons.

Requirements: Participants must be able to put their face in the water, blow bubbles, and swim at least 25 meters on both the front and back. There is no fee for Rookie Camp, but each participant must be registered.

Contact Information

Aquatics Department: For swim lesson questions, program placement help, or general aquatics information, contact the Waynesboro Area YMCA Aquatics Department at 717-762-6012.

Waves Swim Team: Families interested in tryouts, evaluations, practices, or team details may contact the Waves Swim Team at waveswaynesboro@gmail.com or ask about the program at the Waynesboro Area YMCA.