Swimming Programs

Together, children and their caregivers will get to learn how to be safe in and around the water. This program will help your infant/toddler become more comfortable and confident in the water and prepare them for independent swim lessons. Students will practice skills such as splashing with arms and legs, getting their faces wet, towing on front and back, and will learn when and how to wear a lifejacket and other water safety topics.

Children 2 years and under and anyone incontinent must wear both a swim diaper and waterproof pool pants. These items are available for purchase in our vending machines.

In Bobbers and Floaters your child will make a splash with the instructor while you, their caregiver, watches from the designated viewing area. Your child will learn how to be safe and have fun in the water while learning foundational swimming skills. Bobbers will focus on developing their comfort in the water by practicing putting their faces in and doing floats and glides with the instructor’s support. In Floaters, children will develop these skills further and begin to submerge fully and float on their front and back without aid from a floatation device or the instructor.

After successfully completing Floaters, your child is ready for Gliders and Divers and to be introduced to deep water. As Gliders, students will practice glides and swims and take some of the skills learnt in previous levels into deep water. As Divers, students will start to develop their front and back swims, be introduced to breathing on their side, and increase the distances that they swim.

After successfully completing Divers, your child is ready for Surfers and Jumpers and to spend more time in deep water. As Surfers, children will get to swim over further distances, develop their front and back swims, and be introduced to ice safety and staying warm in cold water. As Jumpers, students will progress their swimming ability with the goal of swimming 25m, completing a surface support of 45 seconds, and be introduced to boating safety.

As the first 2 levels for children 6-13 years of age, this is where your child can begin their journey to becoming a life-long swimmer. As an Otter, swimmers will learn to glide without assistance and develop their comfort submerging and jumping into the water. As a Seal, swimmers will continue to develop their ability to glide over further distances and will be introduced to deep water to develop their comfort and skills in water that is deeper than chest-depth.
 

After successfully completing Seal, your child is ready to take to the deep water in Dolphins and Swimmers. As a Dolphin, your child will further develop their ability to propel themselves through the water by strengthening their flutter kick on their front, back, and side. They will also learn deep water skills such as surface support, surface dives, and object recovery. As a Swimmer, your child will be introduced to front and back crawl, they will also learn how to tread water.

After successfully completing Swimmer, students will dive deeper into their strokes and learn more advanced aquatic skills. In Star 1, students will continue to develop their front and back crawl, be introduced to elementary back stroke, and learn how to conserve body heat in cold water as well as rescue themselves from a fall through ice. In Star 2, students will develop front and back crawl to focus on arm and body positioning and rhythmic breathing, as well as have an introduction to breaststroke.

After successfully completing Star 2, students will get to dip their toes into some skills from the Canadian Swim Patrol in our Star 3/4 program. In Star 3, students will be introduced to eggbeater for treading water, develop their strokes over 25m to 75m, and learn how to recognize someone struggling in the water. In Star 4, students will be introduced to sidestroke and head up strokes, swim up to 350m, and develop the ability to carry a 5lbs object over 15m.

After successfully completing Star 4, students will dive deeper into the Canadian Swim Patrol curriculum in our Star 5/6 program. In Star 5, students will learn some first aid skills, develop their eggbeater to travel 25m, complete swims up to 500m, and be introduced to teaching swimming lessons. In Star 6, students will further develop their first aid skills, complete 100m of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke each, and learn how to safely rescue someone struggling in the water.

Swim to Survive® is different than swimming lessons - and not a replacement for them. Swim to Survive® teaches the necessary skills to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. Meeting the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard is an important first step to being safe around water. Students will work towards completing a sequence that includes a forward roll into deep water, treading water for 1 minute, and swimming 25m.

SwimAbilities® is a learn to swim program geared for children with special needs. SwimAbilities® provides lessons where the caregiver is in the water to provide one-on-one focus while being under the direction of a certified instructor. SwimAbilities® assists children and their caregivers to increase safety, independence, and enjoyment in and around the water. Children may begin SwimAbilities® at any level and may continue into other swim programs if they are comfortable doing so.

Learn the basic swimming skills to become comfortable in the water. You will learn to safely enter and exit the pool, how to move through the water, and to float with and without assistance. Other skills such as breathing techniques, flutter kick and front and back swims may be introduced depending on individual abilities and personal goals.

Improve your swimming strokes and build on your skills. In this class, you will learn front and back crawl, treading water and whip kick. You'll also receive an orientation on deep water and will practice swimming greater distances. Participants should be able to continuously swim 25-50 meters of front and back crawl.

Build endurance while developing and improving swimming strokes. In addition to front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke, you'll get an introduction to sidestroke, butterfly and eggbeater. Different skills may also be included based on student interest. You must be able to swim 50 meters and be comfortable in deep water.

Feeling inspired by the Olympics? Now you can channel your inner Summer McIntosh with our new Swim Fit program for ages 16+!

Swim Fit is perfect for swimmers who are looking to improve their skills in the water and regularly train with a group. This program is designed for participants who can swim over 100m continuously in at least one of the competitive strokes.

Swim Fit will: 

• Refine your strokes
• Increase your endurance and efficiency 
• Add interest and challenge to lane swimming 
• Introduce drills and challenging practices to your workouts
• Provide you motivation and connection through group training

Ready to take the plunge? Swim Fit is offered at all YMCA Calgary locations. Sign up today 

Need a little one-on-one practice to achieve your goals? Private lessons will help you reach your goals and make you a stronger swimmer through personally tailored instruction. Whether you want to improve a single skill, work on completing a specific YMCA Calgary swimming level, or want the exclusive focus of the instructor, private lessons can help you achieve this. Both private and semi-private lessons are available for ages three year and older. See Customer Services for details.

Prerequisites: Participants must be able to swim 50m and tread water for one minute.
Discover what it takes to be a lifeguard. This program introduces you to lifesaving techniques and first aid skills. You'll also gain experience in accident prevention and dealing with the public.
 

The Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Star develops swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill, and personal fitness. Candidates refine their stroke mechanics, acquire self-rescue skills, and apply fitness principles in training workouts. Bronze Star is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion and provides a fun introduction to lifesaving sport.

Pre-requisite(s): 13 years of age (or Bronze Star) and CPR-C.

The Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Medallion challenges the candidate both mentally and physically. Judgement, knowledge, skill, and fitness – the four components of water rescue – form the basis of Bronze Medallion training. Candidates acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills needed to make good decisions in, on, and around the water. Bronze Medallion is a pre-requisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross.

Pre-requisite(s): 13 years of age (or Bronze Star)

The Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Medallion challenges the candidate both mentally and physically. Judgement, knowledge, skill, and fitness – the four components of water rescue – form the basis of Bronze Medallion training. Candidates acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills needed to make good decisions in, on, and around the water. Bronze Medallion is a pre-requisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross. This course includes CPR-C and AED

Pre-requisite(s): Bronze Medallion and Alberta workplace approved Intermediate First Aid with CPR-C and AED.

The Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Cross begins the transition from lifesaving to lifeguarding and prepares candidates for responsibilities as an assistant lifeguard. Candidates strengthen and expand their lifesaving skills and begin to apply the principles and techniques of active surveillance in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross emphasized the importance of teamwork and communication in preventing and responding to aquatic emergencies. Bronze Cross is a pre-requisite for advanced training in the Society’s National Lifeguard and leadership certification programs.

Prerequisites: 15 years of age, Bronze Cross and current Alberta workplace approved Intermediate First Aid and CPR-C and AED

The Lifesaving Society’s National Lifeguard certification builds on the fundamental skills, knowledge, fitness, judgement and values taught in the prerequisite Lifesaving Society lifesaving certifications. Recognized as the standard for lifeguards in Canada, National Lifeguard training develops a sound understanding of lifeguarding principles, good judgement, and a mature and responsible attitude toward the role of the lifeguard. The National Lifeguard program develops the basic lifeguarding skills, principles, and decision-making process to help lifeguards evaluate and adapt to different aquatic facilities and emergencies.

Prerequisites: Participants should feel comfortable in the water and be able to swim a minimum of 50m continuously.

Boost your fitness level and your swimming skills! You will refine your strokes and increase your endurance and efficiency through a variety of swim drills and practice. This fun and social class is a great way to add interest and challenge to lane swimming and become a stronger swimmer.

This recertification clinic is for certified National Lifeguards. You must bring your NL Card and photo identification to the course as well as proof of your current Alberta workplace approved Standard First Aid. This is a re-exam situation and involves lifeguarding, first aid, fitness skills and situations.

Prerequisites: Participants should be able to swim 500m continuously prior to registering for this class.

Master the water! This program covers the four competitive strokes, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, in a competitive, club environment. With the help of a coach, you will participate in a variety of swim workouts that will help refine your stroke and build speed, endurance and efficiency in the water. Swimmers will be registered with Swim Alberta as a masters swimmer and will have the option to compete at sanctioned competitions throughout the season.

Prerequisite: Participants must be able to swim 50m of front crawl and tread water for a minimum of one minute.

Have fun learning competitive swimming skills in a more relaxed recreational environment. You will refine and practice competitive strokes including front crawl, breaststroke, back crawl and butterfly. Participants will learn to enter the water for a race, flip turn and work to maximize swimming speed, efficiency and endurance. Participants will be grouped according to skill level.

Prerequisites: Participants aged 8 to 17 are welcome to join, provided they can comfortably swim 50m continuously and tread water for 1 minute.

The YMCA Lifesaving Sport Club provides a combination of both recreational and competitive opportunities for participation in the only sport in which skills are learned for humanitarian purposes and then applied to competition. Throughout the session, participants will gain proficiency competing in lifesaving sport events such as: manikin carry, manikin carry with fins, tow with fins, obstacle and line throw. These events encompass key skills required for competency with lifesaving leadership awards such as the Bronze levels and the National Lifeguard. Practices will include a mixture of stroke improvement and learning how to compete in lifesaving sport events. Participants will have the opportunity to measure their progress through two time trials that will be conducted during the session as well as the option to compete in sanctioned competitions within the province (additional fees apply to participate in competitions).

Prerequisites: Participants must be 15 years old and hold a current Intermediate First Aid certificate and Bronze Cross or National Lifeguard Pool certification.

The YMCA Swim Instructor course will teach you the skills you need to become a certified swim instructor for the YMCA! You will develop competencies including commitment to YMCA mission, vision, and values, communication, planning and organization, quality focus, and facilitation and coaching.  The purpose of the YMCA Swim Instructor is to help people develop in spirit, mind, and body by teaching aquatic skills to participants of all ages. This course comprises of an online component, in-class learning, and shadow experience with YMCA Calgary swim instructors.