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Swimming at the YMCA

Often called the perfect sport, swimming burns fat, builds muscle, reduces stress, improves body confidence, and strengthens the heart, lungs, and brain. Swimming requires less equipment, causes fewer injuries, and generates less laundry than nearly any other sport, making it a true lifelong sport.

 

Swim Lessons

We offer swim lessons for all ages at our Withnell and Silver Falls branches, with a variety of group and private lesson options available to meet your water safety needs. Swim lesson registrations are available on a rolling basis at the Silver Falls branch, with lessons for the Withnell branch opening at midnight on the 15th of each month. 

 

Register for Lessons at the Withnell Family YMCA

Register for Lessons at the Silver Falls Family YMCA

 

 

Swim Teams

Swim Teams operate from our Withnell and Silver Falls branches year-round, with varying options depending on your swimmer's age and experience.

Withnell Swim Team

Salem Swim Club's team for ages 5-12 practices at the Withnell Family YMCA in Salem. This is a year-round club team with tryouts available every week.

Swim team participants improve individual skills while swimming competitively. Your coaches will focus on proper technique while you improve your endurance, learn teamwork, and make friends.

Learn more about Salem Swim Club

Silver Falls

Want to swim competitively in a fun and positive environment? Join the team!

Swim team participants improve individual skills while swimming competitively. Your coaches will focus on proper technique while you improve your endurance, learn teamwork, and make friends. 

Teams

  • Green: The green team welcomes all swimmers and providers an opportunity to improve strokes and technique. No tryouts are required for this team. Swimmers train one hour a day, twice a week. During this time, they receive one on one instruction in order to meet their individual needs.

  • Blue: The blue team welcomes all intermediate swimmers. Tryouts are required for this team. Swimmers practice three days a week, an hour each day. Swimmers work to improve endurance and learn advanced techniques.

  • White: The white team is a USA competition team. This team is highly competitive, and tryouts are required. This team practices five days a week for an hour and a half each day plus dryland workouts for 30 minutes twice a week.

 

Call 503.873.6456 for more information about the swim teams offered in Silver Falls.

 

 

Lifeguard Certifications

Lifeguard training is a requirement for working around pools, lakes, or beaches. To register, please call the Silver Falls pool at 503.873.6456 or email Annika at arogers@theyonline.org

Participant Requirements

1. Be 15 years of age or older by the last day of class.
2. Have completed the online portion of training before the first day of class
3. Pass the pre-course swimming skills test on the first day of class, including:

  • Swim 300 yards continuously using front crawl or breaststroke or a combination of both

  • Tread water for 2 minutes without support and without stopping, using only legs. Head must remain above the surface of the water.

  • Swim a distance of 20 yards, surface dive into 9 feet of water, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface and swim 20 yards to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping face at or near the surface, and exit without using a ladder within 1 minute and 40 seconds.

4. Attend 100% of class sessions. No make-ups are offered.
5. Pass the written exam with a score of 80% or higher.

Certifications Include:

  • YMCA Lifeguard - Valid for 2 years

  • CPR for the Professional Rescuer/AED - Valid for 1 year

  • First Aid - Valid for 2 years

  • Oxygen Administration - Valid for 2 years

Lifeguard Recertification

In order to remain certified, you must renew your certification within two years of your initial date of certification. For lifeguards in their second year, we offer the shorter Red Cross lifeguard recertification. This class refreshes existing knowledge and skills and helps lifeguards stay up to date with new regulations.