Swimming is a life skill, great exercise, and a challenging sport. Our Y offers swim lessons for all ages, family swim, competitive swimming, and adaptive swim programs for kids with special needs, so everyone can safely enjoy the pleasures of an aquatic environment. Please note, due to capacity limits, swim lessons are open to members only.
Aquatics Programs at the Y include:
- Swim Lessons
- Swim Team
- Lifeguard Courses
- Water Safety
- CPR, Oxygen, and AED Certifications
Contact your local branch for more information on our aquatics programs.
For Your Safety Pool Rules
Swimming without a lifeguard on duty is prohibited.
Lifeguards have final authority for all decisions in the Aquatics Center.
Aquatics staff have the right to remove any individual(s) from the pool area for any reason for non-compliance with rules or CDYMCA core values.
Children 11 and younger need direct adult (18+) supervision.
Non-swimmers must have supervising adults in the water within arm's reach and must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket if they cannot touch the bottom of the pool.
Any individual wearing a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket must remain in the shallow end of the pool.
Equipment use is at the discretion of the lifeguard.
Underwater training and long breath holding is prohibited.
Wear appropriate swim attire at all times.
Shower before entering the pool.
Running is prohibited in the pool area.
Diving is allowed in water 9 feet deep. Perform only forward jumps and dives; no flips or spinning entries are allowed.
Use of starting blocks is prohibited except during competitive swimming or swimmer-training activities.
Food, gum, and glass containers are prohibited.
Pollution of swimming pool prohibited. Urinating, discharge of fecal matter, expectorating, or blowing the nose in any swimming pool is prohibited.
Those with bandages, cuts and wounds, rashes, or infectious conditions are not allowed in the pool.
Swim diapers are required for swimmers not toilet trained.
Personal swimming aids and flotation devices are prohibited.
Sitting or hanging on lane lines or safety ropes is prohibited.
Swim Test
Individuals who have to take a swim test must complete the following without stopping or pausing:
- Must be able to swim the length of the pool using front crawl or breast stroke. No backstroke.
- Must tread water for 1 minute.
- Must be able to back float for 1 minute.
- Must be able to exit the pool using the ladder or climbing out under their own power.
If anyone can not complete the following, they will not be permitted to swim in the deep end of the pool. They would have to be in shallow end and could require a life jacket.
Life-Jacket Policy
- All non-swimmers who cannot stand in the shallow end of the pool must wear a Coast Guard Approved life jacket. Life jackets not permitted in the deep end of the pool.
- If a child is wearing a life vest, they must be accompanied by a responsible adult (18+) in the water within an arm’s length.
- Bubbles, Belts, and other IFDs cannot be used as flotation during open swim. These devices are for swimming lessons only.
- To find out if a flotation device is Coast Guard Approved, check the inside of the device. It will be clearly marked on the device if it is approved. If it is not approved, it cannot be used in the pool.
- Inflatable Arm Floats (swimmies) and other inflatable devices are not allowed in Capital District YMCA pools.