Here at Riverdale Y, our group swim program follows the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim curriculum, ensuring a structured and effective approach to developing water safety and swimming skills. Our professional and enthusiastic instructors are dedicated to working with swimmers of all ages and abilities. Our goal is to create a positive and safe environment for everyone and for students to build a lifelong love of water.
We offer an 8-session program in the Fall, Winter, and Spring season. Those who are a part of our ECC program have access to a special 9-session per season program that closely follows the ECC schedule.
Announcing Changes to Riverdale Y Swim Academy
As we move into the winter session, look out for the following changes:
- Every level has a new name along with new focus skills and curriculum to best support our swimmers’ learning and advancement
- Classes will be grouped by skill level rather than age alone with the option to level up mid-semester if all checkpoints are met
- Introducing new competitive levels for ages 6-10 (Marlyns) and age 11+ (Pyrannhas). These groups will run a full hour and will focus on conditioning, perfecting strokes, and elements of competitive swimming.
See our full Winter Swim Academy group descriptions and calendar below.
8 Session Program Schedule
- Registration opens November 7, 2025 at 7:00am
- Registration closes January 15, 2026 at 11:00pm
- Classes run January 4, 2026 through March 9, 2026
- No classes on Jan 18, Jan 19, Jan 22, Feb 23, March 8, March 12
- Registration opens March 6, 2026 at 7:00am
- Registration closes April 23, 2026 at 11:00pm
- Sundays – April 12 through June 14, 2026
- Thursdays – April 16 through June 4, 2026
- No classes on Sunday May 17, 2026 & Sunday May 24, 2026
ECC 9 Session Program
Member: $315 | General: $405
Schedule
- In-person registration opens November 7, 2025 at 7:00am
- Registration closes January 29, 2026 at 5:00pm
- Mondays – January 12, 2026 through March 30, 2026
- Tuesdays – January 13, 2026 through March 31, 2026
- No swim the following Mondays – 1/19/2026, 2/16/2026, and 3/9/2026
- No swim the following Tuesdays – 2/17/2026, 3/3/2026, and 3/10/2026
- In-person registration opens March 6, 2026 at 7:00am
- Registration closes April 23, 2026 at 5:00pm
- Mondays – April 13, 2026 through June 15, 2026
- Tuesdays – April 14, 2026 through June 16, 2026
- No swim the following Monday – 5/25/2026
- No swim the following Tuesday – 5/26/2026
Group Swim Offerings & Pricing
Member: $200 | General: $260
30 Minute Lessons
Parent and Child Age 6-18 months introduces you and your child to basic skills. As parents, you
learn how to safely work with your child in the water, including how to appropriately support and hold your child in the water and how to prepare and encourage your child to participate fully and
try the skills. In addition, you are introduced to several water safety topics. Your child receives
an introduction to basic skills that lay a foundation for learning to swim.
Great experiences and fun activities are provided to teach infants to:
- Feel comfortable in the water
- Enter and exit the water safely
- Explore breath control and submerging
- Explore floating on the front and back
- Play safely in the water
The ratio of student to teacher is 8:1.
Sundays 9:00-9:30 AM & 10:20-10:50 AM
Member: $200 | General: $260
30 Minute Lessons
Parent and Child Age 18-36 months builds on basic skills learned in 6-18 months. As parents,
you continue to learn how to safely work with your child in the water, including how to
appropriately support and hold your child in the water and how to prepare and encourage your
child to participate fully and try the skills. In addition, we are reinforcing water safety topics. Your
child receives an introduction to basic skills that lay a foundation for learning to swim.
Great experiences and fun activities will be provided to allow your child to:
- Learn more ways to enter and exit the water safely.
- Retrieve objects below the surface and submerged objects with eyes open.
- Glide on the front and back with assistance.
- Perform combined arm and leg actions on front and back with assistance.
- Change body position in the water.
The ratio of student to teacher is 8:1.
Sundays 9:40-10:10 AM & 11:00-11:30 AM
Member $280 | General: $360
30 Minute Lessons
The Sprytes are for swimmers just beginning their journey in the water. In this group the
instructors will focus on creating a fun environment where swimmers can overcome fears and
learn the basic water safety skills to soon be able to swim on their own.
While in this group, The Sprytes will gain the following skills:
- Submerging mouth and Blowing Bubbles (3 seconds).
- Push off into glides, arms out, with assistance.
- Assisted Back Float (w/ Instructor or equipment).
- Full gentle submersion assisted.
- Assisted Kicking (Instructor/Barbell/Kick Board).
- Rolling from front to back and back to front w/ assistance.
- Entering and exiting the water safely.
* Life jackets may only be used for only the first two or three weeks.
The ratio of student to teacher is 4:1.
Sundays 9:00-9:30 AM, 9:40-10:10 AM & 10:20-10:50 AM
Mondays 3:30-4:00 PM & 4:45-5:15 PM
Thursdays 3:30-4:00PM & 4:45-5:15 PM
Member $280 | General: $360
30 Minute Lessons
In the Guppys group, swimmers will begin to build more independence while working on using
simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions. Swimmers will work on both their front and back. Still focusing on water safety, the Guppys will be working on developing the following
skills:
- Blowing Bubbles with full face in water.
- Push offs into glides unassisted to instructor.
- Assisted Back Float with some time hands off (15 seconds).
- Unassisted submersions (Bobs).
- Swimming using combined arm and leg actions.
- Rolling from front to back with limited assistance.
- Begin swimming elementary backstroke unassisted.
- Jumping from boat or wall and rolling to back w/ assistance.
* No life jackets used in this group.
The ratio of student to teacher is 4:1.
Sundays 9:00-9:30 AM, 9:40-10:10 AM & 10:20-10:50 AM
Mondays 3:30-4:00 PM & 4:45-5:15 PM
Thursdays 3:30-4:00PM & 4:45-5:15 PM
Member $280 | General: $360
30 Minute Lessons
Once swimmers start to swim with limited assistance, they are ready for the Mynnows group.
Here, they will build upon their growing confidence in the water while starting to learn the basic
foundations of the Freestyle, Elementary Backstroke, and Backstroke. By the end of the Mynnows, group swimmers will be fully independent after working on the following skills:
- Face in push off (A. Glides) (B. Kicking).
- Independent back Float (15 seconds).
- Unassisted Submersions (A. Bobs) (B. Retrieve submerged objects).
- Start using over water freestyle arms with/without equipment.
- Moving from elementary backstroke to backstroke swim unassisted.
- Swim-Roll-Swim (10 yards).
- Jumping from wall and coming up to surface on back (A. Assisted) (B. Unassisted).
The ratio of student to teacher is 4:1.
Sundays 9:00-9:30 AM, 9:40-10:10 AM & 10:20-10:50 AM
Mondays 3:30-4:00 PM & 4:45-5:15 PM
Thursdays 3:30-4:00PM & 4:45-5:15 PM
Member $260 | General: $340
45 Minute Lessons
The Starfysh group is for our entry level swimmers who are 6 and older. Here, swimmers will still
be working on the basics of water safety and overcoming any fears to become more comfortable swimming on their own. As the swimmers are a bit older than the Mynnows, the group will work
a bit faster through the following skills to become more independent swimmers:
- Face in push off (A. Glides) (B. Kicking) – 5-10 yards.
- Independent back Float (15 seconds).
- Unassisted Submersions (A. Bobs) (B. Retrieve submerged objects).
- Start using over water freestyle arms with/without equipment.
- Moving from elementary backstroke to backstroke swim unassisted.
- Swim-Roll-Swim (10 yards).
- Jumping from wall and coming up to surface on back (A. Assisted) (B. Unassisted)
The ratio of student to teacher is 6:1
Sundays 11:45-12:30 PM & 12:30-1:15 PM
Mondays 4:00-4:45 PM
Member $260 | General: $340
45 Minute Lessons
As swimmers move into the Sailfysh level, they start to truly begin the progression into learning
the four swimming strokes and some of the basic elements of competitive swimming. As we
have noticed many of our younger swimmers are progressing at higher levels, the Sailfysh and
further levels will now be open to 5–12-year-olds.
- Start learning streamline push-offs.
- Pushing off from wall on back into elementary backstroke.
- Jump in from wall and surface floating on back.
- Start working on overhand freestyle and backstroke.
- Building the foundations for side breathing in freestyle.
- Putting together the motions for dolphin/butterfly kicking.
- Gaining the basics of froggy/breaststroke kick.
- Begin working on headfirst entries (A. Sitting) (B. Kneeling).
The ratio of student to teacher is 6:1.
Sundays 10:10-10:55 AM & 11:45-12:30
Member $260 | General: $340
45 Minute Lessons
The Goldfysh level is where swimmers will begin working on performing the skills learned for
longer lengths. Things like their diving down for rings earlier in the groups will now be used to
teach underwater streamline kicking. Working on the following skills, swimmers will start
transitioning from the learn-to-swim phase to stroke refinement.
- Streamline push offs (A. Flutter Kicks) (B. Butterfly Kicks).
- Swim Freestyle15 Yds.
- Swim Backstroke 15 Yds.
- Learning the basics of the Breaststroke and Butterfly.
- Being able to float and tread water for 60 seconds each.
- Working further on headfirst entries (A. Kneeling) (B. Standing).
- Starting to learn summersaults in the water. (future flip turns).
- Being able to transition from Freestyle to Backstroke and vice versa.
The ratio of student to teacher is 6:1.
Sundays 10:10-10:55 AM, 11:00-11:30 AM & 11:45-12:30 PM
Mondays 4:00-4:45 PM
Member $260 | General: $340
45 Minute Lessons
Once swimmers can swim longer distances, we begin to focus on stroke and basic skills
refinement. This means that in the Swordfysh group the focus then turns to teaching the proper
breathing, arm angles both under and over the water, consistent kicking in free and back, the
timing of the arms and legs in breast and fly, etc.
- Streamline Push offs with underwater butterfly kicking.
- Swim Freestyle, with side breathing for 25 yards.
- Swim Backstroke for 25 yards.
- Swim Breaststroke, with idea of stroke mechanics, for 15 yards.
- Swim Butterfly, with idea of stroke mechanics, for 15 yards.
- Perform a headfirst entry from stride position or standing.
- Starting to work on Freestyle and Backstroke flip turns.
The ratio of student to teacher is 6:1.
Sundays 11:00-11:45 AM & 12:30-1:15 PM
Thursdays 4:00-4:45 PM
Member $260 | General: $340
45 Minute Lessons
At our highest non-competitive level, the Dolphyns group is for swimmers who are ready to start
honing their stroke proficiency while also adding some speed to their swimming. In this group
swimmers will be given all the tools they would need should they desire to join a competitive
swim group. By the end of this group swimmers will be taught to:
- Swim Freestyle 50 Yds with a flip turn
- Swim Backstroke 50 Yds with a flip turn
- Swim 25 Yds of Breaststroke and Butterfly with two hand touch finishes.
- Transition from under water streamlines into swimming faster on the surface.
- Learn under water Breaststroke pull-outs.
- Perform a standing dive from the wall or starting block.
- Begin to work on not only speed, but also stamina through more swimming.
The ratio of student to teacher is 6:1
Sundays 11:45-12:30 PM & 1:30-2:15 PM
Member: $275 / General $345
60 Minute Lessons
The Marlyns group is for swimmers 6 years and older who have taken lessons for some time
and wish to continue learning more about competitive swimming without being able to make the commitment to a swim team. Practices will focus on making the strokes better each session
while also introducing some swimming drills and stamina building training sets. The atmosphere
will center around the kids getting to know each other while learning and training together during
some fun Sundays in the pool. Swimmers looking to join this group must be able to perform all
the skills listed below:
- Swim Freestyle 50 Yds with a flip turn
- Swim Backstroke 50 Yds with a flip turn
- Swim 25 Yds of Breaststroke and Butterfly with two hand touch finishes.
- Transition from under water streamlines into swimming faster on the surface.
- Learn under water Breaststroke pull-outs.
- Perform a standing dive from the wall or starting block.
- Begin to work on not only speed, but also stamina through more swimming.
Student to teacher ratio is 6:1
Sundays 12:30-1:30 PM & 1:30-2:30 PM
Member: $275 / General $345
60 Minute Lessons
Also, for swimmers who love the water and working hard in the pool, The Pyrannhas will focus
on the same group atmosphere of learning and training, but for swimmers a bit older. Through
the practice sessions swimmers will start to work on speed and endurance while beginning to build some personal goals. Swimmers will be timed periodically and there will be fun race and
relays and all that competitive swimming challenges can bring to the group. Swimmers here
must be able to perform these skills to join the group:
- Swim Freestyle 50 Yds with a flip turn.
- Swim Backstroke 50 Yds with a flip turn.
- Swim 25 Yds of Breaststroke and Butterfly with two hand touch finishes.
- Transition from under water streamlines into swimming faster on the surface.
- Learn under water Breaststroke pull-outs.
- Perform a standing dive from the wall or starting block.
- Begin to work on not only speed, but also stamina through more swimming
Student to teacher ratio is 6:1
Sundays 12:30-1:30 PM & 1:30-2:30 PM
Class Policies
- If a group class is cancelled by Riverdale Y before the first session, a full refund will be issued.
- In the event Riverdale Y needs to cancel a session of a class, Riverdale Y has the discretion to schedule a make-up class at an alternate day and time.
- Riverdale Y will offer prorated credit for sessions cancelled after the first class begins, up to the first two sessions of the class held.
- There will be no refunds or credits after two sessions of a class.
- A $10 administration fee will be charged for any changes or transfers to a class after the first session of the class held.
- Riverdale Y is not responsible for providing makeup classes or issuing refunds for programs missed due to client illness, scheduling conflicts, emergencies, or other events beyond our control.
- Riverdale Y will offer limited paid make-up sessions each season. Dates and times will be determined by the Riverdale Y.
About the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Approach
The American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program focuses on building skills one step at a time. By giving them the opportunity to master one element before moving on to the next, kids’ swim classes make it easy to build confidence in the water.
During their swim lessons, children will spend time on the following levels:
- Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills: Students will learn how to feel comfortable in the water and safely enjoy it.
- Level 2: Fundamentals of Aquatic Skills: Children will learn basic swimming skills.
- Level 3: Stroke Development: Additional guided practice will help students improve their skills.
- Level 4: Stroke Improvement: Kids will gain confidence during swim lessons, improve their stroke and gain additional aquatic skills.
- Level 5: Stroke Refinement: Guidance allows kids to refine their strokes and become more efficient swimmers.
Did you know Riverdale Y members get a discount on swim lessons?
Questions? Contact swim@riverdaley.org
