Rocky Run YMCA Aquatics Programs

For Aquatic questions, please contact the aquatic office at 610/627.9622 x1204

Aquatic Fitness Classes Free to all Full-privilege Members

Want to become a Life Guard?  Click here to find out about our Life Guarding class!

We also offer lessons at Garnet Valley Middle School

Pool Parties

Ages 7-15
Must book at least three weeks in advance
1 hour in the pool
1 hour in the party room
Parties are available on Fridays from 7:00-9:00 pm and
Saturday 1:00 – 3:00 pm and
Sundays from 1:00-3:00 pm or 4:00-6:00 pm
Available at Rocky Run YMCA Pool and Garnet Valley Middle School Pool

**Children 6 and under must be supervised in the water by 1 adult for every 2 children. 
Children 7-15 must be supervised in the water by 1 adult for every 5 children. **

**All participants under 18 will be swim tested and identified with a colored wrist band**

Swim Lessons

Pike A
Beginner level, adjustment to class without a parent, skills focus on comfort, water orientation, and safety. Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Pike B
Beginner class is for children who have completed a Pike A class.  These children are comfortable with the class structure, float with a barbell, and leave the wall with a bubble unassisted. Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class
Eel A
Advanced beginner who can submerge and blow bubbles repeatedly, jump in and use flotation equipment independently.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Eel B
This advanced beginner class is for the child who can submerge repeatedly, paddle ½ a length with floatation device, and is comfortable on both back and stomach.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Ray
Intermediate, floats & glides on back and stomach independently without flotation device, is not afraid of the deep end, swims length of pool with flotation, and at least 10 feet without.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Starfish
Swims freestyle and backstroke ½ length of the pool, can tread water 15 seconds, and jump into deep water.  Will learn breaststroke, diving and improve stroke mechanics and endurance.  Minimum 2, maximum 5 per class.

Youth Swim Lessons

Youth progressive instruction is for children ages 6 – 15.

Polliwog
Beginner level; fearful school age child with little experience.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Guppy A
Advanced beginner; can float, glide, and swim 1/2 lap with flotation and face in water.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Guppy B
Advanced beginner focusing on stroke refinement and introduction to rotary breathing, focus on swimming entire length of the pool without flotation.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Minnow
Intermediate; completion of Guppy B.  Swims 1 lap of freestyle and backstroke without flotation, work on breathing technique, diving, elementary backstroke and sidestroke.  Minimum 2, maximum 5 per class.
Fish
Swims freestyle and backstroke with good form, work on breaststroke, endurance and introduction to starts and turns.  Minimum 2, maximum 6 per class.
Flying Fish
Swims 4 consecutive laps freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, with proper turns.  Learn butterfly, 100 meter individual medley, focus on endurance, competitive strokes, and advances safety skills.  Minimum 2, maximum 8 per class. This class is 45 minutes long.
Shark
Good grasp of all competitive strokes, learn racing starts, flip turns, use of pace clock, 200 meter individual medley, relay techniques, water polo and other advanced skills.  Minimum 2, maximum 8 per
Swim Team Clinic
This hour clinic will cover all four competitive strokes, racing starts from the starting blocks and flip turns.  Conditioning will be a major component as participants will swim over a 1/2 mile each session.  Participants must complete the Fish level of swim lessons.

Special Swim Lessons

Teen & Adult Swim Lessons

Teen & Adult swim instruction is designed for individuals ages 16 or older.

Teen & Adult Beginner
Beginner class for the individual with little water experience.  The focus will be on comfort placing face in the water, learning breath control and floating, as well as safety skills for deep water.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Teen & Adult Intermediate
Intermediate class for individuals who can swim, but cannot swim efficiently with face in the water, or those needing to learn backstroke, breaststroke, and become more comfortable in deep water.  Minimum 2, maximum 4 per class.
Masters Swim Program
Need motivation or a jump-start to your workout?  Join the crowd!  This program will give your water workout a boost and get you swimming faster, further and consistently.  We’ll work with your level, you need to be comfortable swimming sets and multiple laps, but we’ll separate the group into A & B and get your yardage moving in the right direction.   

Lifeguarding

Participants must be 16 years of age and swim 20 lengths of the pool, tread water for 2minutes and retrieve a brick from a depth of 9 feet on the first night of class.  Participants must attend all classes and pass both a written and practical test to become certified.  Includes CPR, AED, Oxygen and First Aid.  Classes will be schedule for two consecutive weekends based upon participant availability.

Adapted Aquatics
Swimming instruction and aquatic exercise is available for mentally, emotionally, and physically challenged children and adults. Instruction is available for small groups or one-on-one. Please contact the Aquatic office at extension 1204 to set up your program or get new information.

Dive Team
Rocky Run YMCA is proud to sponsor and with Dr. Ronn Jenkins’ diving team at West Chester University. The YMCA team is highly competitive and has participated at the National Championships for the past few years.

Ultimate SCUBA Adventures
Want to SCUBA? PADI Weekend classes are available with Ultimate SCUBA Adventures at the Garnet Valley Middle School Pool. For more information, please call Andre Horne at 610.565.3483.

Sea Reef SCUBA
PADI course participants must be at least 12 years old, tread well, and float well. All classroom and pool materials are covered in the cost. For more information, please call Stuart Thomas at 484.883.6642.

Aqua Fitness
The Rocky Run YMA follows the YMCA of the USA and the United States Water Fitness Instructor guidelines when conducting classes.  Instructors will teach from the water and the pool deck at time throughout the class.  Classes are offered on a first come, first serve basis without registration. The YMCA reserves the right to replace a scheduled class with another similar class in the event the regular instructor is unable to teach.  Please pick up the current class schedule at the front desk or check it out on our website. Always consult your physician prior to starting any new exercise program.




 

Parent/Child Swim Lessons
6 months - 4 years old
Class Length: 30 minutes
Ratio: 1:12

Shrimp (6-8 months)
Kippers (9-12 months)
Inia (13-18 months)

No previous water experience needed.  Children explore the water through songs and games.  A trusted adult participates with the child.

Preschool Lessons
Preschool lessons are for children 3 to 5 years old without a parent in the pool.  Children must be 3 years of age by the first day of class.  If a child is 3 and has not taken a parent child class, please enroll in the Pike with Parent class. Private & Semi-Private lessons also available for children ages 4 and older.

Pre Swim Team Clinic
This class teaches technique for all of the competitive strokes, as well as endurance building for the child who is interested in competitive swimming, but has never participated on a swim team. Participants must complete the Starfish or Minnow level prior. Minimum 4, maximum 8 per class. Ages 5-7.