Aquatics Programs
Knowing how to swim is a lifelong skill benefiting one’s overall health and well-being. With Y swimming classes, children learn to be safe around the water and gain confidence that comes with learning and perfecting a skill. Y preschool and youth swimming classes boast low teacher to child ratios and plenty of individual attention. Y adult classes help tone, shape and increase strength and endurance. In all classes, skills are taught in an enjoyable, supportive environment by aquatic professionals.
The YMCA has been teaching and encouraging swimmers of all ages, abilities and interests – for more than 100 years! But one thing never changes: we’re still dedicated to helping people grow in skill and confidence for a lifetime of fitness and water safety. We focus on the key elements of aquatics: stroke development, personal safety, sports and games plus personal growth and development.
Swim Lessons
The Glens Falls Family YMCA offers a swim lesson for every skill level starting with parent and child lessons to help toddlers and babies get used to the water and see the pool as fun! Focusing on water safety and giving parents and their children more confidence in and around the water. Children can then progress to Preschool Swim lessons (3-5yrs) and School age Swim lessons (6-12yrs). These classes focus on water safety and stroke development. To figure out what class is best for your child, please check our Swim Stages to see where you would fit in today!
Swim Team
Gatorades - Ages 8 years old & Under
Young swimmers looking to join the Gator’s Swim Team can try out for our Gatorades. These swimmers will learn the basics for competitive swimming, through fun drill based practices. The swimmer must know the backstroke and free style. To be on Gatorades, the swimmer must be a member.
Gator Swim Team - Ages 6-18 years old
Ages are variable depending on group. Gators focus on stroke development, character and discipline to reach goals. The Glens Falls YMCA Gators is a year-round competitive swim team offering high quality professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. The team is divided into age group and skill levels so that the swimmers can progress as they gain maturity, strength and commitment. The goal of our team is to provide a supportive environment for all age group swimmers. Swimmers compete in our Adirondack YMCA League with other local teams and can choose to compete through the YMCA and the US Swimming Association at Local, state, regional and national venues. Our coaches, as members of the American Swimming coaches Association, have access to the most comprehensive training and certification program for youth coaches of any sort in the United States. They provide assurances that the time children spend in swimming will be quality time.
Aqua Fitness
We have a class for every skill level at the Glens Falls Family YMCA. Ranging from beginner classes all the way up to Advanced Deep-Water Workouts. Great for people looking to get back into fitness, recovering from an injury, or just looking for some pool time. In each class there is a focus on aerobic conditioning, core strengthening while also building muscle. Currently offering an aqua fitness Monday - Friday. For times and instructors look at our full schedule for aquatics.
Family / Open Swim Rules
Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied in the water by a responsible adult (18yrs old):
- Maximum of three (3) children per adult
Children under the age of 10 must have a responsible adult (18yrs old) in the pool area:
- Maximum of five (5) children per adult
Children 6-15 years of age may swim in the shallow end without an adult in the water if:
- They have passed the deep end test
- They are wearing a Coast Guard approved Lifejacket
- The center of their chest is at or above 3’7” in the shallow end
- If a child meets none of the above criteria they must be accompanied in the water by an adult with arms reach at a two to one ratio at all times
Children under the age of 16 are required to pass swim test in order to swim in deep end:
- Deep end test
- 25 yards on stomach using freestyle or breast stroke
- Float on back for 30 seconds
- 25 yards on back using backstroke or Elementary backstroke
- Jump into deep end and tread water for 1 minute
- Swimmers may be required to retake the swim test at any time at the lifeguard’s discretion
