The Y is running several aquatic programs this summer, including a swim team for FishHawk residents that meets at the Aquatic Center on Mondays-Thursdays each week.
The FishHawk Ranch YMCA Express will have several different opportunities that parents and their younger swimmers should make sure to take advantage this summer.
From May to mid-August, there is a swim team that practices at the Aquatic Center. “What is unique about this team is that it is essentially just for FishHawk residents. It’s also a developmental team and works on a lot of the foundations and building up endurance,” said Noel Russell, aquatic coordinator for the YMCA.
Once school is done for the year, practices will take place on Monday-Thursday from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and there will be several swim meets held throughout the summer. “A lot of what the swim team does is still an introduction to swimming. We teach them how things work at meets how they should perform and different things. We swim against different Y and developmental teams in the area. The kids get really excited about them,” said Russell.
As members of the swim team through the Aquatic Center, kids have the chance to experience developing as an individual athlete as well the chance to be a part of a team. Residents interested in trying out for the team can meet at the Aquatic Center on Mondays.
There are also a couple of swim lesson opportunities to take advantage of this summer. Starting on Tuesday, June 12, there will be group lessons held in Hawk Park in FishHawk Ranch Phase One off of Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Lessons will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More information on times is available through the Y.
Backyard swim lessons will also be available through the Y. “An instructor and a guard from the Y goes to a family’s house and can teach one to six swimmers per lesson,” said Russell. Children should be 3 years old and up for backyard swim lessons and each lesson ranges between 30-45 minutes.
The FishHawk Ranch YMCA Express is located at 16144 Churchview Dr. in Lithia and those interested in the programs can sign up through any YMCA branch. For more information on the programs offered this summer, call 651-4200.
