WATER ACCLIMATION

In this beginning class, children develop comfort with being underwater and learn how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

Ages:  3-12 years

Qualifications:  NONE

WATER MOVEMENT

In this class, children are taught skills that focus on buoyancy and movement int he water while also learning how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

Ages: 3-12 years

Qualifications:

• Be able to go under water & comfortably open eyes without goggles
• Able to float on front & back with minimal assistance
• Able to jump in the pool, submerge & return to the wall with assistance

WATER STAMINA

In this class, children focus on swimming longer distances.  In the event of falling into a body of water, children learn how to swim to safety.

Ages: 3-12 years

Qualifications:

• Able to float on front & back unassisted
• Able to push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
• Able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 fee unassisted
• Able to jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted

STROKE INTRODUCTION

In this class, children are introduced to basic swimming strokes

Ages: 5-12 years

Qualifications

• Able to Submerge & Retrieve an object in chest deep water
• Able to swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
• Able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 yards
• Able to jump in & tread water for 30 seconds
• Able to swim to wall & exit

STROKE DEVELOPMENT

In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all major competitive strokes are introduced

Ages: 5-12 years

Qualifications:

• Able to front crawl * back crawl 25 yards
• Able to swim breastroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
• Able to tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute

STROKE MECHANICS

In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all major competitive strokes are introduced.

Ages 5-12 years

Qualifications:

• Able to swim front crawl with bent arm recovery & rotary breathing for 25 yards
• Able to swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards
• Able to swim butterfly with over arm recovery
• Able to swim breastroke for 25 yard achieving stroke rhythm
• Able to dive from kneeling position

The White Rock YMCA holds Lifeguard trainings in the months of April, May and June. The classes are open to the public, but there are prerequisites that must be completed prior to class beginning. Click the button for more info!

Lifeguarding

All children 14 and under will be required to take a swim test and be identified with a color band to designate the area(s) where they can swim. Any individual whose swimming ability concerns the lifeguard may be asked to take a swim test.

This policy is designed to identify the swimming capability of all children and better protect swimmers and non-swimmers, even in shallow water. The test will be supervised by a lifeguard who is not actively scanning the pool. Please note, some pools do not have a yellow band level.

Swim test: Swim 25 yards in a strong manner in any fashion without stopping or standing and must be able to comfortably submerge face in water.

AGES 0 - 7

• Must have direct parent supervision. Children 3 and younger must have a parent in the water.

AGES 8-9

• May use pool during open swim times under the direct supervision of a responsible guardian*, 14 years or older.

AGES 10 and Older

• May use the pool without adult supervision.

*Adult caregiver (18 years or older) may only have on red-band swimmer out of a YMCA-approved Personal Flotation Device at any time.

Responsible Guardian is a person responsible for the youth who is at least 14 years or older.

Green Band: Deep Water Swimmer

• Passes the Swim Test and shows they can jump in the deepest portion of the pool and swim 25 yards in a strong manner with face submerged, without stopping or standing.
• May access all areas of the pool. 

*Yellow Band: Shallow Water Swimmer

• OPTION 1: At the deepest part of the shallow end, water cannot be more than armpit deep and the swimmer can regain vertical position from swimming position.
• OPTION 2: Jump in the pool and swim 10 yards with face submersion, regain vertical position and hold it for 15 seconds.
• May only access the shallow end of the pool.

Red Band: Non-Swimmer

• Does not pass or does not take a swim test.
• OPTION 1: Remain within arm's reach of a parent in the water, actively engaged (ratio1:1)
• OPTION 2: Wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
• May only access the shallow end of the pool. 

*Responsible Guardian is defined as a responsible person age 14 or older

**Adult caregiver (18 years or older) may only have one red-band swimmer out of a PFD at a time

* Yellow band level may not be utilized at all pools or during all pool programming.