YMCA Mission:
To put Christian principles into practice to build a healthy
spirit, mind, and body for all.
Core YMCA Values
To Grow Personally
Swim Team provides an excellent means of learning personal goal setting to develop a healthy self-image and increase self-esteem.
To Clarify Values
Values are basic beliefs about what is good or how people ought to live. They serve as guidelines for decision making and actions. Swim Team emphasizes the value of learning and growing rather than winning by focusing on being "a winner in life" and putting winning or losing and personal success into proper perspective.
To Improve Personal and Family Relationships
Encouraging family participation in league events and providing resources for at-home activities enable Swim Team programs to influence the entire family.
To Appreciate Diversity
Swim Team programs bring together adults and children from a variety of economic levels, ethnic backgrounds, religions, neighborhoods, ages and skill levels in a team-oriented environment.
To Become Better Leaders and Supporters
Swim Teams provide numerous leadership opportunities for adults and youth while encouraging team work, a key factor in being a good supporter. Sportsmanship is key to forming a strong team. Learning to be a gracious winner or loser, to cheer for teammates and for the opposing team is a critically important component of swim team participation. Swim team members are expected to wait in the water until everyone in one’s heat has finished and shake hands with their opponents and to treat all teammates and opponents with respect at all times.
To Develop Specific Skills
Sport-Specific skills contribute to the overall development and coordination of children. Improvement in decision making, communication, cooperation, goal setting, and leadership skills is also part of Swim Team. All swimmers are encouraged to improve their swimming skills and times and do the best that they can at all times. All swimmers are encouraged to compete at their respective highest levels possible, both on an individual and team basis.
To Have Fun
One of the most important aspects of Swim Team is fun. If games and practice sessions are fun, children develop positive attitude toward physical activity and a healthy attitude toward competition.
These objectives, central to the YMCA’s philosophy, make YMCA programs
different from those offered by any other organization.