This program is for swimmers who are interested in joining a swim team and have no competitive swim team experience. This is NOT a ‘learn to swim’ program but a starter swim team practice. Coaches will work on stroke development and the mechanics of swimming but will also introduce all the things that make a swim team practice different from swim lessons.

Prerequisites for this program include the ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) on your stomach with rotary breathing and one length of the pool on your back. Each class will be limited to 30 swimmers.

Dates:

• Fall: October 4-November 8, 2026
• Winter: January 10-February, 2027
• Spring: April 11-May 9, 2027

Schedule: Sundays from 11:00-11:30am or 11:30am-12:00pm

Ages: 5-18 years

Location: Friendship YMCA

Our non-competitive swim team program is designed for swimmers that want to be active and involved in swimming and work on fitness and endurance during the winter months. This is ideal for summer swimmers that want to keep active, cross training with other sports, stroke improvement, trying out the sport of swimming, and staying active and fit. 

This is an advanced group where swimmers must know the four competitive swimming strokes, work independently away from caregivers, and work well in a group setting. 

Coaches will work with swimmers on all four competitive strokes and building endurance.  Swimmers will also be introduced to racing starts, turns, and streamlines.

This is NOT a learn to swim program.

Dates: 

• Fall: October 4-November 8, 2026
• Winter: January 10-February, 2027
• Spring: April 11-May 9, 2027

Schedule: Sundays from 12:00-1:00pm

Ages: 5-18 years

Location: Friendship YMCA

Interested in the WSY Competitive and/or Pre-Competitive swim team?

It is strongly recommended that any swimmer coming from swim lessons, a summer swim team, or a program equivalent attend one of these evaluation sessions.

The West Shore YMCA Swim Team will offer a 60-minute evaluation clinic as well as introduction to our team for any new swimmer from the community that may want to join our program in the Fall/Winter 2026-27. At the conclusion of these evaluation clinics, swimmers will receive their practice group placement for the 2025-2026 Competitive Team or be recommended to be part of one of our WSY Pathway Programs.

New Swimmer Evaluations serve as our entry point in our pathway program series and allows coaches to determine the best group placement for all new swimmers. These evaluation sessions are designed to provide opportunities for your swimmer to show our coaches what they already know and how they adapt and learn new techniques and skills in a group setting.

At the conclusion of each evaluation session, swimmers will receive their recommended group placement within our competitive or pre-competitive team. 

Each evaluation session will be limited to 20 swimmers. Swimmers need only attend 1 evaluation session. 

Prerequisites:

• Ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) while horizontal, on your stomach with rotary breathing
• Ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) while horizontal, on your back
• Ability to listen, follow instructions, and be coached in a group setting; comfortable in water up to 6 feet deep.

Evaluation Options: 

• Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm
• Sunday, August 9, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm
• Sunday, August 16, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm
• Sunday, August 23, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm

Ages: 6-15 years

Location: West Shore YMCA

For more info, contact: Samantha at [email protected]

Any swimmer interested in preparing to join our WSY Competitive swim team. ‘Mini Team’ is designed for any swimmers coming from our Take Your Mark pathway program, swimmers coming from a high level of swim lessons, or swimmers continuing to work on basic skills and stroke techniques. 

Prerequisites: 

• Ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) while horizontal, on your stomach with rotary breathing
• Ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) while horizontal, on your back
• Ability to listen, follow instructions, and be coached in a group setting; comfortable in water up to 6 feet deep. 

During our 12 weeks together, swimmers will continue building on the skills learned in Take Your Mark while continuing to improve their skills alongside friends and teammates. Coaches will continue refining all four competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke), flip turns, and diving. This program also provides the opportunity for swimmers to participate in two low-pressure intra-squad swim meets to build confidence and gain experience racing in a fun, supportive competitive environment.

Each Mini Team practice time will be limited to 30 swimmers.

Dates:

• January 8 – March 26, 2027 *Please note, there will not be practice on Sunday, 3/28 (Easter Sunday). Sunday participants are invited to attend practice on Friday, 3/26*

Schedule:

• Fridays from 6:00-7:00pm
• Sunday afternoons from 12:00pm-1:00pm
• Sunday evenings from 4:00-5:00pm

Swimmers should attend the practice time they signed up for.

Ages: 6-14 years

Location: West Shore YMCA

For more info, contact: Coach Sam at [email protected]

Any swimmer interested in preparing to join our WSY Competitive swim team. ‘Take Your Mark’ is designed for any swimmers coming from a high level of swim lessons, a summer swim team, or swimmers continuing to work on basic skills and stroke techniques. 

Prerequisites: 

• Ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) while horizontal, on your stomach with rotary breathing
• Ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) while horizontal, on your back
• Ability to listen, follow instructions, and be coached in a group setting; comfortable in water up to 6 feet deep. 

During our 12 weeks together, swimmers will learn the fundamentals of competitive swimming while meeting new friends and being a part of our pre-competitive team. All four competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke), flip turns, and diving will be introduced. Take Your Mark focuses on developing proper stroke technique, learning the rules of competitive swimming, and building the skills and confidence needed to transition into a competitive team practice environment.

Each Take Your Mark practice time will be limited to 30 swimmers.

Dates:

• September 18 – December 13, 2026 *No Practice 11/27 and 11/29*

Schedule:

• Fridays from 6:00-7:00pm
• Sunday afternoons from 12:00pm-1:00pm
• Sunday evenings from 4:00-5:00pm

Swimmers should attend the practice time they signed up for.

Ages: 6-14 years

Location: West Shore YMCA

For more info, contact: Coach Sam at [email protected]