General Information

Registration closes the Friday before the first day of the session. Every family has a hectic full schedule, so to insure you get the spot, in the class that fits your family’s schedule, sign up as early as possible. Registration is done in person at the front desk or by phone if you want to use a credit card.

Locker Rooms

We have three individual private family locker rooms in addition to the four locker rooms, two adult and two youth. Parents changing small children of the opposite gender are encouraged to use the family locker rooms. If the family locker rooms are too busy, please use the Youth locker rooms. Children are not allowed in our adult locker rooms for any reason.

Observation

Parents are welcome to stay and watch the activity in the pool area. We must ask parents to watch from the spectator area or the bleachers We realize this isn’t the best way to watch swim lessons, but we are required to keep spectators off the deck.

Showers

We require children to shower before they swim. After class, every child should take nice soapy shower to avoid the chlorine-itchies.

Evaluations

Throughout the session, we track each child’s progress, so there is never any need to test. At the end of each session, you will receive a progress report.

We do not test or use the terms pass or fail. Every child learns at their own pace. Even if your child has not mastered the skills at a particular level, he/she is gaining in strength, endurance, confidence, and comfort with every class. Swimming is more like piano or dance lessons than it is like soccer.

Absences

An occasional absence because of an illness or a party invitation will not affect a child’s progress. Missed classes can not be made up

Snow Days/Cancellations

If school in Bath is cancelled, our morning classes are automatically cancelled.  A decision on afternoon classes will be made by noon. If your child attends afternoon or Saturday lessons, you can call the YMCA (443-4112). When we have to cancel a class, we will offer a make-up.

Click Here for the YMCA's Pool Rules

Have a question swim lesson question?
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page

Supporting Your Child’s Swimming: How You Can Help

Your encouragement and interest in your child’s swimming will show him or her that learning to swim is important and that you are proud of their accomplishments. There are several concrete things you can do to help make your child’s experience successful and positive.

Hair and Eyes

Long hair can get in the way when swimming. It must be in either a ponytail or a cap. If your child eyes bother them when swimming, maybe goggles will help.

Be patient with your child’s progress

 Each child will move through the different levels at a different pace. Learning to swim is a complicated set of skills to master. It takes time to develop the coordination and endurance required, even when a child is trying their hardest.

Family Swim

We have several times per week in the pool schedule for families to swim together. These times offer your child a chance to practice and show you what he/she is learning. It will also help your child to see swimming as a fun family activity, not just something he or she has to do.

Communication

Please talk to us. If you have a question or a concern,
or your child has expressed a worry to you, share those things with us. It is amazing how little issues can suddenly crop up and really upset a young swimmer; we have strategies for dealing with many problems.

The “D” Word: We never use the term “drowning” unless we are talking about credit card debt. Children don’t understand it very well; they just know it means death. If they have learned to equate water with death, learning to swim will be that much more difficult for them. If you have used this word in the past, (everyone has, it slides out of our mouths as easily as “you’re going to poke your eye out”) just try turning it into a positive, “staying safe” or “needing help”. Children who have respect for the water are much safer than those who are afraid. Be as positive as you can be about the whole swimming experience.

Children use their parents’ attitudes and behaviors as a model. They will follow your lead. Praise every small accomplishment and even the unsuccessful attempts at things, ”I love the way you tried that”.