On behalf of the entire staff at the YMCA, we are excited to participate in your child’s development toward understanding the importance of exercising and its benefits toward long-term health and wellness.
At the YMCA, Safety is our top priority. The UPLIFT program for ages 11-15 is designed to ensure that your child(ren) clearly understands:
All Fitness Center Safety guidelines
Fitness Center Dress Code
Fitness Center etiquette
Proper conduct and behavior
Proper use of all cardio and strength training machines
Basic examples of strength and conditioning workouts
General fitness recommendations
The First Session
Written and hands-on in 3 areas of the Fitness Center.
The first scheduled session will be a 1-hour session. The training will include proper instructions on how to use all the cardio and strength training machines, along with fitness center etiquette and rules. Students will receive wrist bands that allow them to access to ONLY THREE areas of the fitness center. They MUST have their bracelet on and visible at all times to be allowed in the fitness center.
AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THIS SESSION YOUR CHILD WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO ENTER THE CARDIO, FUNCTIONAL AND CIRCUIT MACHINES ROOMS ONLY. NO WEIGHT ROOM ACCESS.
The Second Session
After your child has become comfortable with what they have learned and have demonstrated the proper behavior required, staff can schedule the second 1-hour session to learn about proper weight room use. These sessions will have specific dates they can sign up for. We expect your child to be ready for that session one month after the first session.
We will cover all safety expectations and guidelines in the weight room. Your child(ren) will be able to identify potential safety hazards to themselves and others after this session.
Areas to be covered in this session:
Kettle Bell Work, Dumbbell Work, Band Work, and the Importance of unilateral movement.
Squat Rack, Smith Machine, Cable Machine, Bench, and other weight room equipment.
Proper Lifting Form and Spotting Technique.
How to build a workout program to meet your goals.
After that last training session is completed, your child will be given a new bracelet that will allow FULL access to the Fitness Center without adult supervision. Wrist bands must always be worn while working out and be shown to lifeguards to have access to the pool during open swim.
We realize the Fitness Center environment can be a little intimidating, so we understand if your child does not initially feel comfortable with what they have learned. For any questions, reach out to the fitness staff so we can address any concerns you or your child might have.