New Tampa Family YMCA To Offer FREE Swimming Lessons March 9-12

By Matt Wiley

Pools are pretty common in Florida. Whether it’s a private home or the community amenity center, finding a local water hole isn’t that difficult. The Tampa Metropolitan YMCA recognizes this and is offering FREE swimming and water safety classes at YMCA locations across Tampa Bay, including at the New Tampa Family YMCA, located off Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms.

According to a February 9 press release, the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA has deemed March 9-12 “SPLASH! Week” and will be providing water safety programs at its nine facilities with swimming pools for non-swimmers and beginners ages 3-12 to keep kids safe and help them build confidence in the water. SPLASH! Week coincides with this year’s Spring Break for students in the Hillsborough County School District.

“SPLASH! Week is a community outreach program that focuses on teaching children how to be safe in and around the water, particularly for youth from underserved communities, who might otherwise not have access to swim lessons,” says Tampa YMCA aquatics executive Amanda Walker. “The Tampa YMCA is committed to providing this free program annually in the spring to help keep kids safe at the beach, the pool, the lake and while boating. We want to raise awareness about the importance of swimming as not only a fun way to stay fit, but as a critical safety skill.”

The free classes, which are grouped by age, include a 40-minute water safety lesson taught by certified swim instructors. The classes will focus on water familiarization, pool rules, water safety rules, safe water entry and exit, front and back floating, basic front and back paddling, treading water and personal safety/rescue skills. 

The best part? You and your family do not have to be YMCA members to participate.

“That’s what I really want people to know about,” says New Tampa Y Aquatics director Mia Matos. “You don’t have to be a member for your child to take part in this program.”

Matos says that this is the first time that the New Tampa Y—which is home to the only 50-meter pool in the Tampa Metro YMCA system and was constructed as a partnership between the YMCA and the City of Tampa—will be offering free lessons and that it will serve as a kick-off to swimming lesson season, which begins in March.

“Drowning prevention is a huge issue for us,” Matos says. “So, we really want to make sure that each kid in the community has a chance to learn to be safe around the water.”

Matos says that, although she won’t personally be in the water during the lessons, she will be on the pool deck and available to answer any questions that parents may have.

While it’s recommended that parents come to the New Tampa YMCA branch (16221 Compton Dr.) to sign up, you also can register for this free swim program at TampaYMCA.org.