Parent/Child: 6 Months to 3 Years

This program gives parents and their infants/toddlers an early introduction to water safety and swimming.  Instructors provide individual and group activities to help promote water safety knowledge and practices, aquatic adjustment and readiness skills, fun in the water, and interaction and socialization.  Parent/child classes require that one parent be in the water with the child at all times. Class is 30 minutes long.

Preschool: Age 3 to Kindergarten

These beginning classes provide a child’s first experience in the pool without parents. Children learn the basic building blocks of swimming, and they are exposed to pool safety, boating safety, and personal flotation devices. 

• Pike: Designed for children with no previous water experience.  This class is a gradual general water orientation utilizing creative water play, breath control, floating, basic arm and kicking skills, and safety skills.  Class is 30 minutes long. 

• Eel: For children who can put their head underwater voluntarily.  This class introduces alternate/symmetrical front and back paddle skills, breath control, and safety skills. Class is 30 minutes long.

• Ray: Refines the skills learned in Pike/Eel classes.  This class introduces rotary breathing and the use of personal flotation devices.  Treading water, elementary backstroke, front and back crawl 25 yards without assistance. Class is 45 minutes long.

• Starfish: Swimmers develop their front crawl backstroke, floating, underwater swimming, and retrieving skills. Class is 45 minutes long.

Private Swim Lessons

Individual swim lessons provide extra personal instruction and attention in order to improve stroke technique and develop more proficient swimmers.  Lessons are geared toward basic, correct body position and introduction to various swimming strokes.

Private swim lessons are available for youth and adults ages 3 and older. Lessons are conducted 1-on-1 with a trained YMCA swim instructor. Due to popularity of private lessons and limited instructor availability, advanced planning and reservations are required. Please contact the East Valley Family YMCA's aquatics department for more information.

Semi-Private Lessons

Do you have family or friends that are interested in learning to swim in a class together?  Private group lessons are geared for small groups of similar swim levels to learn in a group environment.  Lessons focus on improving stroke technique and proficiency in various strokes.  Please see our Member Service Center for more information. 

Youth: First Grade to 14 Years

These classes for school-age children focus on water safety and stroke skills. Classes expand synchronized swimming and water polo skills at each level.  All youth swimming lessons are 45 minutes long.

• Polliwog: Gradual water orientation, breath control, floating, basic arm and kicking skills, personal safety skills, lifesaving skills, survival float, and confidence building are emphasized at this level. 

• Guppy: Refining skills learned in Polliwog.  Introduction of alternate/symmetrical front and back paddle, and rotary breathing.  Helps build endurance and confidence. 

• Minnow: Mastering front crawl, rotary breathing and increased endurance.  Continuation of back crawl, elementary backstroke, and survival skills.

• Fish: Students perform the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke. Also includes an introduction to the Dolphin Kick and basic Butterfly.

• Flying Fish: Advanced swimmers refine their strokes and increase their endurance. They develop the ability to perform complex swimming activities.

• Porpoise Club: Preparation for Swim Team includes flip and open turns, rescue skills, and IM work.

What Level is My Child?

All students who have never enrolled in swim lessons – and without any swimming skills – must sign-up for Pike or Polliwog, depending on their age. Swim evaluations are required for all children other than beginners.

Evaluations are conducted every Monday - Thursday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. for those who have not participated in previous YMCA swim lessons. If children have completed a level at another YMCA, please ask that YMCA to provide written proof.

Advanced - Adult

An introduction of various strokes, including: breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke. A small portion of survival skills will also be taught to help participants develop into well-rounded swimmers.

Masters Swim

Masters Swim is for novice-to-advanced adult swimmers that are looking for new challenges in a coached environment.  If you are a regular lap swimmer that has a hard time staying motivated or you are just looking for improved technique, speed, and endurance, then Masters Swim Team may be for you.

The Masters Swim program is for all levels and abilities of adult lap swimmers. It is the perfect training for a triathlon or just for health improvement.

Aqua Exercise

Aqua exercise classes incorporate the use of water resistance to provide participants with a low-impact cardiovascular workout.

Aqua Exercise Class Schedule - COMING SOON Download PDF. Adobe Reader required.

Arthritis Foundation YMCA Aquatic Program

This class was co-developed by the Arthritis Foundation and the YMCA to offer relief to individuals with Arthritis or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The class provides gentle motion and activities in water to help increase joint flexibility, range of motion, muscle strength and endurance. For more information, please call (408) 715-6545.

Open Swim

Special times are available for members interested in both lap swimming and recreational swim.

Pool Schedule Download PDF. Adobe Reader required.

Recreational Swim
Special times are available for anyone interested in enjoying the aquatic facility in a fun, relaxing environment.  Certain requirements apply for children who wish to swim without an adult in the water.