YMCA Swim Lessons
Learning to swim is an important part of growing up. Self confidence; Encouragement; Exercise; Safety. In 1906, George Corsan, an instructor at the Detroit YMCA invented group swim lessons. Swimming provides a fun form of exercise for children, and is an important tool in the fight against rising levels of youth obesity.

Progressive Swim Lessons
	Pike (Ages 3-5) Is your child comfortable in the water? Will your child put his/her face in the water? Will your child swim unassisted with a floatation device? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Pike. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Eel.
	Eel (Ages 3-5) Can your child jump into the pool without assistance? Can your child front float without assistance? Can your child back float without assistance? Will your child put his/her head under water, without any help? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Eel. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Ray.
	Ray (Ages 3-5) Can your child do a back float by themselves for 30-45 seconds? Can your child do a kneeling dive correctly? Can your child swim front crawl without assistance for 20 feet? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Ray. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Starfish.
	Starfish (Ages 3-5) Can your child swim front crawl with breathing to the side? Can your child do back crawl for 40 feet? Can your child tread water for 30 seconds? Is your child comfortable in the deep end? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Starfish.
	Polliwog (Ages 6+) Can your child front float on his/her own? Can your child back float on his/her own? Can your child swim unassisted 15-20 yards? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Polliwog. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Guppy.
	Guppy (Ages 6+) Can your child swim front crawl with rotary breathing 25 yards (one length of the pool)? Can your child swim back crawl 25 yards? Is your child comfortable in deep water? Can you child swim a rudimentary breaststroke? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Guppy. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Minnow.
	Minnow (Ages 6+) Can your child swim breaststroke 25 yards?  Can your child swim sidestroke 25 yards? Can your child tread water for at least 1 minute? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Minnow. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Fish.
	Fish (Ages 6+) Can your child swim the following strokes 50 yards:  a) Front Crawl  b) Breaststroke  c) Elementary Backstroke  d) Backstroke  e) Sidestroke Can your child swim butterfly? Can your child tread water at least 3 minutes? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Fish. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Flying Fish.
	Flying Fish (Ages 6+) Can your child swim the following strokes 100 yards (4 lengths of the pool)?  a) Front Crawl  b) Breaststroke  c) Elementary Backstroke  d) Backstroke  e) Sidestroke Can your child swim butterfly 25 yards? Can your child tread water at least 6 minutes? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Flying Fish. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Shark.
	Shark (Ages 6+) Can your child swim each stroke 100 yards? Can your child swim 200 yards continuously? Can your child do a flip turn while swimming the front crawl? Did you answer "no" to any questions? Enroll in Shark. Did you answer "yes" to all questions? Move to Waver Makers or Swim Team.