Just Add Water

(All three skills must be done consecutively without resting)

Plunge: Swimmer jumps in deep end and safely returns to the surface.

Swim: Swim 15 yards to the cone and back unassisted and without resting.

Tread: Swimmer must tread water for 30 seconds while keeping their ears and face out of the water

Swimmers that pass the assessment will be provided with a green swim band and will be given access to all areas of the pool.

Non-swimmers who do not take or pass the swim assessment will be provided with an orange swim band and limited to the shallow end.

Non-swimmers who do not meet the height requirement must wear a US Coast Guard approved life vest and be accompanied in the swimming pool by an adult 18 years old or older, within arm’s reach.

The YMCA does have life vests available for use.

Non-swimmers wearing a vest must participate in a vest check conducted by the lifeguard on duty.

• Shower before swimming and after applying any sunscreen
• No diving in the shallow end
• No running on the pool deck
• No climbing on top of others
• No horseplay (throwing children)
• No hanging or playing on the pole by the stairs
• Lifeguard must approve every toy that goes into the pool
• No holding breath contests
• No chewing gum in pool
• Do not hang on to the rope or lane lines
• No jumping off the blue part of pool rim, must jump from gutter step
• When jumping off side of pool, no flips, spins, or jumping off backwards
• Children must be able to pass the swim test and be at least 9 years old or older to be left at the pool unattended
• Any child that cannot pass the swim test MUST wear a coastguard approved lifejacket and be accompanied by an adult (over the age of 18) IN the pool within arm’s reach
• Non-swimmers are not permitted in the deep end
• Keep food and drinks at least 15 feet away from pool
• No glass (containers or otherwise) permitted on the pool deck
• No smoking at the YMCA
• No profanity or improper behavior at the YMCA
• Safety Break (10 minutes every hour): Children under the age of 18 must be out of pool – Adult Swim only
• No animals permitted on pool deck
• No large flotation devices
• YMCA pool toys and equipment are for program use only
• Kick boards and pull-buoys are for lap swimmers only
• Stay off of racing blocks
• The lifeguard is in charge

Lane Designations
When the pool is busy, swim lanes will be shared. If there are only 2 people, the lane can be split. If there are more than 2 people, circle swimming is the most effective way to accommodate more swimmers in a lane.

Circle Swimming
Swimmers are required to follow the circle swim pattern. The correct traffic pattern is to stay to the right; that is to swim in a counterclockwise circle in the lane.

It is the responsibility of the swimmer entering the lane to be sure that all the other swimmers in that lane are aware of his/her presence and the necessary traffic pattern. Always swim complete laps of the pool. Avoid stopping in the middle of the lane; this can interfere with the progress of other swimmers and cause collisions.

Stop only at the wall and once stopped, stay in the corner of the lane, preferably in the left hand corner (from the perspective of the approach to the wall).

Other lap swimmers need space to turn; always leave the middle 1/3 of the wall clear for turning purposes.