With a 150-year history of helping people learn to swim, the Y’s swimming classes are designed to teach this lifelong skill to kids and adults of all skill levels in a safe environment. Swimming is one of the most effective tools in developing the spirit, mind and body.

The YMCA offers unique, age-specific swim lessons through group or private classes year round with new classes beginning each month.

Ready to get started? See the swim lesson schedule and pool hours at the YMCA branch most convenient for you.

Inclement weather: Lightning within 10 miles or thunder will constitute immediate closure of our swimming pools for no less than 30 minutes from the last lightning strike or sound of thunder.

Swim Lesson Assessments

Assessments are offered at each location to determine placement into swim lessons. 

RESERVE TODAY! 

Swim Test

All children age 13 and under must take a swim test before entering any swimming pools at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga. This video will walk you and your child through each step of the swim test, demonstrating what they'll need to do to pass the swim test.

Swim Lesson Stages 

Learn your child's swim stage! 

WAVE FACILITY

WAVE enabled facility

Our facility has dedicated and vigilant staff watching over families and children. As an added layer of safety, we use the Wave System.

Our facility has deployed WAVE as an extra precaution to supervised swimming because your child's safety is our highest priority.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Girls entering pool

Lifeguard Entry Alerts (LEA) immediately make our facility aware that a lifeguard has entered the water and may need assistance.

Small Lifeguard Tags used by our guards enable WAVE to detect when a guard has entered the water.

Remote Alert Units placed away from the swim area provide spoken notifications of LEA events.

Join the Y

Increase energy, decrease stress, prevent illness, maintain a healthy weight, find personal balance, and enjoy quality time with family and friends... at the Y! We combine spirit, mind, and body in an integrated approach to well-being that goes beyond just fitness.

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Join the Y

Our Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. 

Our Mission to Inclusion: At the YMCA, we strongly believe we should all work together toward achieving a member environment that is welcoming for individuals, regardless of age, religion, abilities, gender or socioeconomic status. To achieve our mission of empowering all people to reach their full potential, the Y is committed to providing an environment that embodies our core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.