Embarcadero

6 months – 5 years: Infant & Toddler Classes

Shrimp (6 mos. – 18 mos) Family Perch (18 mos. – 3 yrs) Family

The primary objective of the Shrimp and Perch classes is to develop trust and safety between parents, children, and the instructors. Parents are assisted in teaching their child to be safer in and around water. Children and instructors develop a bond that prepares them for classes without the parent. Ratio 1:12.

3 years – 5 years: Pre-School Classes

Pike (3-5 Years) Beginner 30 Mins

Pike is designed for new swimmers. Children develop safe pool behavior, adjust to the water, and develop independent movement in the water. Children learn pool safety, kicking skills, bubble blowing, and the first steps in rhythmic breathing. Ratio 1:4

Eel (3-5 Years) Adv Beginner 30 Mins

This advanced beginner level is for children who are comfortable in the water and reinforces Pike skills. Children are taught arm movements and learn to integrate the kick and float for a progressive and independent paddle stroke. Children can swim independently by the end of this level. Ratio 1:5

Ray (3-5 Years) Intermediate 30 Mins

The Ray level improve skills and endurance. Students swim on their front and back in a more streamlined position. Instruction emphasizes more advanced personal safety and rescue skills which includes treading water. Children can swim 10 yards without assistance by the end of this level. Ratio 1:6.

Starfish (3-5 Years) Advanced 30 Mins

Children learn the fundamentals of lap swimming, swimming as part of a team, and the basics of the four competitive strokes. Children can swim 50 yards without assistance by the end of this level. Ratio 1:6.

6 years – 14 years: Youth Classes

Pre-Polliwog (6-14 Years) 1st Time Beg 30 Min

This is the class for students who are afraid of the water. Students will learn floats, breath control, water orientation, and basic water skills. By the end of this level, students will be able to submerge, float on front/back, and perform water bobs. Ratio 1:4

Polliwog (6-14 Years) Beginner 30 Mins

Students are acquainted with the pool environment, safety, flotation devices, and basic stroke and kicking skills. By the end of this level, students will learn front paddle stroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke. Ratio 1:6

Guppy (6-14 Years) Adv Beg 30 Mins

The Guppy level continues and builds on basic skills. Students learn to integrate the basic stroke and kick movements into three basic strokes: front crawl (freestyle), breaststroke, and backstroke. Students can swim 25 meters by the end of this level. Ratio 1:6

Minnow (6-14 Years) Intermediate 40 Mins

Minnow introduces students to competitive swimming practices such as circle swimming and flip-turns. Students refine the basic stroke skills from previous classes and also learn sidestroke, butterfly, and advanced personal safety and rescue skills. Students are able to swim any basic stroke for 75 meters by the end of this level. Ratio 1:7

Fish (6-14 Years) Advanced 40 Mins

The Fish level emphasizes endurance swimming and techniques that focus on the competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and front crawl (freestyle) with turns. By the end of this level students are able to swim 200 meters continuously with a variety of strokes. Ratio 1:8

Private Swim Lessons

Private swim lessons are available upon request and can be scheduled one-on-one or on a semi-private basis with two, three or four students who sign up together. Times of lessons are dependent upon student/instructor availability but can usually be scheduled to fit your needs. All lessons are 30 minutes long. Contact the Aquatics Department for more information at 415/615-1322 or email EPrivateLessons@ymcasf.org.

1 Lesson:

Facility Member: $40

Program Member: $50

4 Lessons:

Facility Member: $140

Program Member: $180

8 Lessons :

Facility Member: $240

Program Member: $320

Semi-Private Swim Lessons

Semi-private lessons are available upon request and will be scheduled with two, three, or four students who sign up together. Lesson times are dependent upon student/instructor availability and last 30 minutes. Contact the Aquatics Department for more information at 415/615-1322 or email EPrivateLessons@ymcasf.org.

1 Lesson :

Facility Member: $30 per participant

Program Member: $40 per participant

4 Lessons :

Facility Member: $100 per participant

Program Member: $140 per participant

8 Lessons :

Facility Member: $160 per participant

Program Member: $240 per participant

Swim meets:

Swim meets are held in various locations nationally and across the Bay Area. Meets are great events for the entire family and are open to swimmers of all ages. Meets include sprint, middle distance, mile, and long-distance events.

Joining the team:

Children should demonstrate the ability to swim 50 meters unassisted for Senior Team (8-14 years old) and 25 meters unassisted for the Junior Team (5-7 years old). Please schedule a try-out by contacting the Aquatics Office at 415/615-1322.

Seasons:

Winter (January, February, March)

Spring (April, May, June)

Summer (July, August, September)

Fall (October, November, December)

Children of all ages are invited to host a Private Birthday Party here at the Embarcadero YMCA. Each party will receive a 90 minute fun filled session in our 15 meter Activity Pool. A Party Facilitator is on hand to lead activities in the pool. Enjoy an additional 90 minutes of festivities in our historic boardroom. For additional information or to book a party, please call 415/615-1321. Birthday parties are available on Saturdays or Sundays from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. All parties are 3 hours in length.