City of Las Vegas Centennial Hills Community Center,
Operated by the YMCA
See the schedule for session dates and times unless details appear below. Register online or at the front desk of any YMCA location. Contact Ray Fraser at (702) 476-6745 or rfraser@lasvegasymca.org for more information. The YMCA’s four core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility are incorporated into every program.
Swim Lesson Lingo
Group Lessons
One session includes eight lessons. Preschool lessons are 30 minutes. Youth lessons are 45 minutes.
Cost: $95/session
Swim Lesson Descriptions
Unsure of your child’s swim level? Contact Ray Fraser at (702) 476-6745 or rfraser@lasvegasymca.org to schedule an assessment.
Preschool Swim Lessons (6 months - 5 years)
Children are grouped by ability level and taught personal safety, independent swimming and floating skills. Our instructors build swimmers’ confidence while enabling them to grow independently in the water. Class descriptions follow.
Parent Child (6-36 months) Little ones get an introduction to the water in a nurturing environment. Our instructors guide parents through teaching basic water safety and skills with songs and games. It’s a great first experience! (One adult only must accompany each child. A swim diaper is required and can be purchased at the front desk.)
Pike is for non-swimmers. Instruction focuses on floating, kicking, paddling and basic water skills.
Eel is for children who can swim five feet unassisted with face in water. Children learn floating, kicking, and rhythmic arm movements, plus the fundamentals of elementary and competitive backstroke.
Ray is for those who completed Pike or Eel. Children improve upon above-mentioned stroke skills and continue to build endurance.
Starfish follows Ray. This level refines front crawl, backstroke and elementary backstroke by continuing to build stroke skills and endurance. Our instructors introduce breaststroke in this level. Children may move to the junior varsity swim team upon successful completion.
Progressive Swim Lessons (6-12 years)
Swimmers are grouped by ability and receive an introduction to all of the strokes. Programs focus on personal growth, safety, rescue skills, diving and water games. Class descriptions follow.
Polliwog is for non-swimmers. Instruction includes floating, kicking, paddling and basic water skills.
Guppy is for children who completed Polliwog. This class teaches rhythmic breathing, endurance and paddling 25 yards on front and back, unassisted.
Minnow follows Guppy and teaches children to swim 25 yards on front and back in lap pool. Breaststroke is introduced.
Fish is for those who completed Minnow and can swim 25 yards nonstop of all three competitive strokes. Swimmers learn butterfly and swim team skills.
Flying Fish is for youth swimmers ages 11 through 13 who need to work on endurance with all competitive strokes to be eligible for the swim team.
Teen and Adult Swim Lessons (13-18 years; 19 years+)
If you have little or no aquatic experience, take this opportunity to develop new lifelong skills or improve your current abilities. Our separate teen and adult classes offer supportive lessons designed to build confidence while you learn.
Private Swim Lessons
Private Swim Lessons (3 years+)
Participants can learn how to swim or choose personal training to improve competitive skills.
Cost: one lesson - $32
three lessons - $85
six lessons - $160