Aquatics - South Sound YMCA

Aquatics

For every age and ability

AQUATICS ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

Swim lessons, lap swim, water exercise, and more. The Y offers something for all. Browse through our aquatics offerings and pick out something new to try in the pool.

SWIM LESSONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Swim Lessons are available to all, including non-facility members
  • Registration opens on the 15th of each month
  • If you’re unsure of what class to sign up for, please use our Level Selector
  • Priority registration for Family Memberships opens the first week of the registration window
  • Financial assistance is available – please stop by the Welcome Center to learn more
  • Stay up to date with our current Aquatic Guidelines

$25 for members| $65 for non-members

YMCA youth swim lessons focus on safety, fun, and technique. We want kids to learn the basics of safety around water, how to enjoy being in and around water, as well as swimming techniques and stroke mechanics. As swimmers progress through the 6 levels of our program, they will build on the foundational skills and continue to gain confidence in the water. To maximize safety, lifeguards are always on the pool deck during lessons.

Youth swim lessons are organized into different skill levels. To understand which level you should sign your children up for, view our swim lesson level selector before registering.

Each session of group swim lessons consists of four classes, once a week for a month.

$25 for members| $65 for non-members

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. Register now. 

Each session of group swim lessons consists of four classes, once a week for a month.

$69 FAMILY MEMBERSHIP | $122 YOUTH & PROGRAM MEMBER
If you prefer to work one-on-one with an instructor or are looking to focus on a specific aspect of swimming, private lessons are an option. One session consists of four 30-minute lessons; these 4-week session dates will run in conjunction with the group swim lesson dates. Semi-private lessons are also available for 2 students to work with the same instructor. This is a great option for siblings! Register Now.

$25 for members| $65 for non-members

Adult swim lessons are currently only available at Briggs Community YMCA. Register now.

OTHER AQUATICS SERVICES

Experience the thrill of competition, learn valuable skills, and build strength in and out of the water with the Y's Shelton Youth Swim Team! Teams are open to anyone age 6-18. Practices will be held at the pool at Shelton High School.

There are three levels available:

  • Novice
    • Practice M/W/F - 5:30-6:30pm
    • For kids who have level 6 swim lessons and are looking to get into competitive swimming. Focus on developing the basics for the four competitive strokes.
  • Junior
    • Practice M/W/F - 5:30-7pm
    • For kids who have developed and are ready for more of a challenge. More focus on fine tuning stroke mechanics and building endurance.
  • Senior
    • Practice M/W/F - 5:30-7:30pm
    • For kids who have mastered the four competitive strokes and are looking for a serious challenge. Longer practice time focused on developing speed and endurance.

You MUST pre-register to attend tryouts.

Group placement tryouts are September 28th @ Shelton High School.
Practice begins October 3rd.

REGISTER

The Olympia Youth Swim Team (OYST) is all about competitive fun! Swimmers can accomplish the impossible, learn to believe in themselves, and discover they can do more than they ever imagined.

The OYST competitive season is from September 2023 to February 2024. Registration is open now! Registration will close November 15th.

Our swim team has 3 different groups based on skill levels:

Novice- Beginner level:

  • Swimmers must have passed level 6 swim lessons and the Intro to Swim Team Program
  • Be able to swim 50 yards of all 4 competitive strokes with fundamental understanding of technique, correct turns, and racing dives.
  • Swim 200 yards, kick 200 yards, and pull 200 yards as a warmup every practice.
  • Swim a total of 1500-2000 yards in a one-hour practice three times a week.

Junior- Intermediate level:

  • Swimmers must have previous experience on a competitive team or have progressed from Novice
  • Be able to swim 100 IM with legal transitions, 100 yards of all 4 competitive strokes with intermediate understanding of technique, drills, correct turns, and racing dives.
  • Swim 300 yards, kick 300 yards, and pull 300 yards as a warmup every practice.
  • Swim a total of 2500-3000 yards in a one-and-a-half-hour practice three times a week.
  • Swim a 50 free in under 50 seconds, 100 free in under 3 minutes.
  • Swim a 50 breast, 50 back, and 50 fly in under 1 minute respectively.
  • Swim a 200 freestyle or medley relay with understanding of relay exchanges.

Senior- Advance level:

  • Swimmers must have previous experience on a competitive team or progressed from Junior
  • Be able to swim 200 IM with legal transitions, 100-200 yards of all 4 competitive strokes with advanced understanding of technique, drills, correct turns, and racing dives.
  • Swim 400 yards, kick 400 yards, and pull 400 yards as a warmup every practice.
  • Swim a total of 4000-5000 yards in a two-hour practice three times a week.
  • Swim a 50 free in under 40 seconds.
  • Swim a 50 breast, 50 back, and 50 fly in under 50 seconds respectively.
  • Swim a 100 free in under 2 minutes, 200 free under 5 minutes.
  • Swim up to 500 yards of freestyle without stopping.
  • Swim a 200/400 freestyle and medley relay with advanced understanding of relay exchanges.

Our swim team practices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

  • Novice- 4pm to 5pm
  • Junior- 5:30pm to 7pm
  • Senior- 5pm to 7pm

To join the swim team swimmers must have passed our Intro to Swim Team class.

Intro to Swim Team

  • Required to pass to join our swim team.
  • Must have passed level 6 in YMCA swim lessons to sign up.
  • Click here to Register!

Please contact Head Coach Emiliano Monchilov for more info at monchilove@ssymca.net

IS LOG ROLLING SAFE?
Log rolling is very safe. The physics of a round object floating in the water and your body weight pushing you away from it when you fall are the basic principles that prevent major injuries. As you begin to lose balance you will fall either forward or backward into the water with your body weight leading the way. In many cases, the roller simply steps off of the log as you lose balance.

WHAT DO I WEAR?
Appropriate swim wear (bathing suit/swim trunks). The Key Log also has a traction surface, which was specifically designed to be rough enough to prevent slipping while not too rough for bare feet.

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?
This is an activity for anyone who can pass a swim test.

  • Tread water for 30 seconds.
  • Swim unassisted one length of the pool using front crawl stroke
  • Demonstrate good side-breathing technique with face in the water
  • Children nine and under must have a parent present on pool deck to participate

WHERE/HOW DO I SIGN UP MY SELF/CHILD?
At this time, registrations are not required. Please view our Classes and Schedules page for our Log Rolling schedule at the Shelton Family YMCA.

DOES IT COST EXTRA?
There are no additional fees for “Open-Roll” segments for Facility Members. A day pass will need to be purchased for non-facility members.

As interest is generated and growth for this program expands, instructional and lesson-based enrollment, to prep for future events and tournaments, will require a fee.

A big thank you to Windermere for sponsoring the YMCA Log Rolling Program.

NO RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

As of November 10, 2021, we no longer require members and guests to make a reservation for Recreational Swim at any of our facilities.

  • Non-members must purchase a Family Day Pass to participate in Family Recreational Swim.

SWIM TEST

All children 14 years of age and younger must take a swim test each time they visit the YMCA and wish to use the deep end of the pool. YMCA lifeguards will administer the test using the following protocol:

  • Child can jump in the deep end (child does NOT need to touch the bottom).
  • Child can immediately begin treading water without touching the wall.
  • Child can tread water for 30 seconds.
  • Without touching the wall – child can swim to the shallow end using Front Crawl with over arm recovery (arm strokes must be out of the water, not under the water), the face must be in the water for some of this swim with rhythmic side breathing.
  • Swim continuously to the pool wall at the shallow end.
  • Child must exhibit comfortability and safety in the water.
  • Child must be competent using the front crawl with face in the water and arm stroke outside of water.
  • Lifeguards can demonstrate arm stroke and breathing prior to the test.
  • Child can re-take the swim test if they do not pass.
  • Passing the swim test once does not automatically mean the child will pass it every time. Swim skills vary depending upon frequency using the water. Child must exhibit swim skills each visit they are wanting to use the deep end of the pool.
  • Lifeguards on duty will make their decision for the safety of the child and staff.

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED BECOMING A LIFEGUARD?

If so, there’s never been a better time to take one of our lifeguarding certification classes offered at the YMCA. Becoming a lifeguard can not only open the door to new job opportunities, but it provides essential safety education that’s focused on preventing accidents in and around the water—and that’s good for everyone. American Red Cross courses are designed to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills needed to be a lifeguard.

This course provides entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatics emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over.

Learn to save a life at the Y! A three-day course is offered at selected South Sound YMCA branches to earn three certifications:

  • American Red Cross Lifeguard
  • First Aid
  • CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers

Lifeguard Certification

Dates: Click the registration button below for current training dates
Cost: $200 for members| $275 for non-members
Eligibility: Open to everyone from ages 15+

Must attend all in-person training sessions.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Training Contact: Jackie Barratt – Aquatics Director

As of July 5, 2021, reservations are no longer required for lap swim. You can view the lap swim schedule here.

Deep Water Exercise - A vigorous deep-water workout, designed to increase your stamina by combining various water exercises and swimming.

Water Exercise - Enjoy the entire length of the pool in this class, to achieve a total body workout. You will learn how to use the resistance of water to increase your cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength.