Girl on the side of a swimming pool

Swim Team

You don't need to be an advanced swimmer to take part in the YMCA's local swim teams! At the Y, we teach swimmers of all abilities swimming skills like stroke development, time improvement and working together as a team while developing a healthy lifestyle.

Swim Team

Swim Team

Looking for specific information? Use the links below to find what you're looking for.

Why the Y

The Y is here to make swimming both fun and competitive! Our teams provide a way for our community's youth to engage in good sportsmanship while staying active as they race to the end of the pool. Participants will learn endurance, confidence, and crucial aquatic life skills that will reward them throughout their lives.

  • Teamwork

    Everyone wins when we work as a team! Children learn the value of working together toward a common goal regardless of the outcome.

  • Fun

    With creative programming, enthusiastic staff, and dedicated volunteers, we guarantee FUN for every child.

  • Self-Esteem

    When you feel good about yourself, you have the courage to try new things and have new experiences.

  • Make New Friends

    The Y is a friendly, inclusive, and safe place for your child to expand their social skills and make lifelong friendships.

  • Confidence

    Children gain the confidence they need to try new things, make new friends, and do well in school.

Locations
  • Offered at the following YMCA locations: Floyd County, Northeast, Oldham County, Southeast, and Southwest Family YMCAs
Schedule

Seasonally in afternoons and evenings. Please contact the branch for detailed scheduling.

Starting Price

Pricing varies by level and location

Age Range

5 to 18 years

The Y is for everyone. If you're looking for financial help, we offer affordable membership and program rates based on household income. Please stop by the branch or give us a call to discuss whether you are eligible for assistance.

 Children swimming at YMCA Louisville swimming pool

The Y is for everyone. If you're looking for financial help, we offer affordable membership and program rates based on household income. Please stop by the branch or give us a call to discuss whether you are eligible for assistance.

At a Glance

Becoming a member of the YMCA Swim Team means fun, fitness, and teamwork. Our YMCA swim teams are a developmental swim program run by coaches to improve swimmers' competitive skills and endurance. The YMCA swim team promotes healthy lifestyles while embracing the five core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and equity.

YMCA swim teams:

• Empower individuals to challenge themselves and achieve personal goals.

• Teach valuable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and dedication.

• Enhance physical and mental health through exercise.

• Foster healthy habits that last a lifetime.

• Ensure that all swimmers develop a long-term love for the sport.

• Expand swimmers' social skills and help build lifelong friendships.

Program Levels

Swim team levels may vary across branches.

  • Blue

    This group is designed for beginners looking to participate in Y-USA swimming. Our approach emphasizes fun and teamwork to foster a lasting passion for the sport. Swimmers will receive instruction focused on refining techniques in all four strokes, starts, turns, and underwater techniques.

    Blue groups may practice 2−3 days per week.

  • Silver

    This level is above Blue and is a competitive Y-USA swimming training group designed to prepare swimmers for Gold and the Y-USA level of competition for the short course season. The emphasis is on acquiring the skills necessary to be successful competitive swimmers, preparing them for Gold.

    Silver groups practice 2−3 days per week.

  • Gold

    This level is above Silver. Gold is a competitive Y-USA swim training group designed to prepare swimmers for Senior levels as well as Regional Y-USA Zones and State levels of competition. The emphasis is on acquiring additional skills necessary to be successful competitive swimmers.

    The Gold group practices 3 days per week.

  • Platinium

    This is a highly competitive training group designed to prepare swimmers for State Y-USA, Regional Y-USA Zones, Nationals, and regional high school levels of competition. The emphasis is on strengthening aerobic conditioning through an increased training load, advanced stroke mechanics, and drills, as well as physical, mental, and emotional preparation.

    Platinum groups practice 4-5 days per week.

Ready to Register?

Use the button below to see upcoming sessions that are currently available for online registration. Please note, not all locations offer online registration.

If no sessions are available for online registration, please contact the branch directly to learn when the next session is scheduled and to register.

Frequently Asked Questions and SwimTopia Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have competitive and recreational teams?

Do you have competitive and recreational teams?

The following YMCA locations offer swim teams:

Floyd County Family YMCA: Penguins Swim Team (recreational)

Northeast Family YMCA: Tsunami Swim Club (competitive)

Oldham County Family YMCA: Orca Swim Club (competitive and recreational teams)

Southeast Family YMCA: Swordfish Swim Team (recreational)

Southwest Family YMCA: Hurricane Swim Team (recreational)

Will there be an evaluation?

Will there be an evaluation?

Swimmers must be able to swim a full 25 yards (one length of the lap pool) on their front and on their back to qualify for the team. Evaluations are scheduled at the branches before the season begins. If you are joining a team outside of the evaluation/tryout period, please contact your local branch to schedule a skill evaluation.

How often do swim teams meet for practice?

How often do swim teams meet for practice?

Depending on the swim team, level and location, practice times vary. On average, teams meet twice weekly. Please contact your local branch for detailed scheduling.

SwimTopia Links

SwimTopia

Swim team members can access our SwimTopia sites to find team-specific details, such as practice and meet schedules, meet registration, parent resources and more.

Do you have to be a member of the YMCA?

Do you have to be a member of the YMCA?

You do not have to be a member to try out, but you do have to be a member to practice and compete on the swim team.

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