Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that you may have a lot of questions and we’re here to answer all of them. We hope that the answers to the following FAQs offer all of the information you need.
If you still have questions feel free to contact us and we will do our best to answer whatever questions you may have.
General Questions
Swim Pant Policy
All children who have not yet celebrated their 3rd birthday, or are not completely toilet trained, are required to wear a reusable swim pant.
Due to the failure of disposable swim diapers to work effectively, we must require only reusable, Health Department approved, swim pants in our pool. Fecal contamination in or around a pool poses a serious health risk to all using the facility.
When an accident occurs, we are forced to shut down operations for an extended period of time to properly clean and sanitize our facility. We are trying to reduce the spread of disease and inconvenience to swimmers whose lessons are cancelled.
For the health and safety of our swimmers and teachers The Swim School provides a wide selection of swim pants for sale in our retail area. Some styles fit under your child’s swimsuit and other styles ARE your child’s swimsuit. We are experts at fitting swim pants. Please do not buy a size for your child to “grow into.” The elastic legs must be tight enough to contain an accident. Please arrive a few minutes early to purchase your child’s swim pants.
What Temperature Does The Swim School Keep Their Pool Water?
Everything we do is with your child’s comfort in mind. Our three pools are kept at a comfortable 90 – 93 degrees. A warm water environment promotes learning.
What Do We Need To Bring To Swim Classes?
That’s easy! Bring swim suit, towel, and a can-do attitude. Goggles and ear plugs are optional!
What Do Parents Do During A Typical Swim Lesson?
- Check in at the front desk.
- Encourage child to use the toilet before lessons.
- Get child changed into a swim suit and/or swim pants.
- Wait in the viewing room for your child’s class time and then proceed to the deck and your child’s class location.
- You may watch the class from the deck or wait in the viewing room.
- Please do not leave the facility during lessons.
- You may rinse off your child under the on-deck shower.
- Use a changing room (not a bathroom) for getting back into street clothes.
- Stop by the front desk so your child can get a sticker to celebrate his/her developing swim skills.
What Are The Benefits Of Swimming?
Swimming is FUN!
Swimming is a great sport and exercise activity.
In youth, swimming promotes the physical development of motor pathways, flexibility and muscular development. Also, as an activity swimming improves the cardiovascular system and overall coordination. Swimmers also learn to set goals and work to achieve them.
In each class, we review, we practice and we introduce new skills. Every student works to achieve new skills so they may receive their next medallion and move forward to the next level. Swimming also creates a great relationship with the water. This can lead to comfort and confidence in many other water related activities.
Swimming can provide a lifetime of fitness.
Your child can make new friends!
What Does The Swim School Do To Make Sure The Water Is Clean And Safe?
Our pools are monitored continually and fed chemicals electronically the very moment a change in chlorine or pH is indicated. Pool test results are recorded in a log book and kept for 2 years.
Registration & Schedules
What Is The Cost (tuition) For The Swim School Lessons?
Our year-round, once-a-week lessons are $92 per month for the first child then a 10% discount for each added child (immediate family). Our Private Lessons are $56/lesson. Tuition is due by the 1st of each month.
Is There A Registration Fee?
Upon enrolling at The Swim School each family pays a $25 registration fee for the first child and $10 registration fee per additional sibling. If you leave The Swim School, for any reason, and return at a later date, you will be subject to enrollment fees again.
Does The Swim School Offer Discounts For Swim Lessons?
- Ask about our Gold Key family members.
- Ask about our Silver Key family members.
- The Swim School is proud to offer our military families a 10% discount on children year-round program swim lessons
- We do not offer discounts on Adult lessons or our summer program.
When Does The Swim School Hold Classes?
The Swim Schools (Shreveport and Bossier) are year-round teaching facilities. Our classes are open enrollment, meaning there’s no start or stop date. You can begin whenever you are ready.
What Are The Options For Paying My Tuition?
- AUTO-ENROLL – Worry free. Never lose your child’s place in class or have to pay the LATE FEE ($10, added after the 5th of each month). TSS offers three methods for auto-enroll all paid on the 1st day of each month:
– Direct debit your credit
– Direct debit your credit card,
– Direct debit your checking account. - Federal regulations require that you complete a Credit/Bank Authorization form, available at TSS, for this benefit to be effective.
- ON-LINE – Log in through our customer portal and make your tuition payment on-line. Payment for current month due no later than the 1st day of that month.
Is There A Contract?
No contracts at TSS! When signing up for lessons, parents make a commitment for the current month through the end of the next month, allotting time for the child to adjust to the swim teaching environment. This ensures your child’s place in a class without interruption. Tuition for this time period is due before the start of the first class. At the end of that time your monthly tuition is due by the 1st day of each month.
How Often Will My Child Be At Lessons?
Classes meet once per week on the same day and at the same time. This allows the teachers to have continuity of training with every student.
May My Child Attend Lessons More Than Once A Week?
Yes, we can build a schedule for your child with multiple lessons. However, if your child is new to swim lessons, afraid of the water, or more timid and cautious, this schedule may not be in their best interest. It is often difficult, or impossible, to find two or more classes that meet your scheduling requirements AND ensure that your child has the same teacher each time. Having a different teacher for each class hinders rather than improves progress.
How Long Are The Lessons?
Lessons are 30 minutes in length. This allows the right amount of time for both young and novice swimmers to learn and practice skills without becoming too tired. Adult lessons are one hour in length.
What Size Is The Class?
We limit our classes to a 4:1 ratio, swimmers to teachers. There are two exceptions: Aquababy classes are limited to 3 swimmers, and Baby and Me classes allow for 6 Parent baby pairs per class. This allows the students to get the ideal level of attention from their teacher, while still having the opportunity to observe their peers performing the in-water skills.
Lessons & Teachers
Does The Swim School Offer Make-up Lessons?
At The Swim School our goal is to create safe, confident swimmers while providing the best experience possible. One way we achieve this high level of comfort and confidence in the water is to provide our swimmers with a consistent schedule and teacher from week to week. We do not offer make-ups or refunds for missed lessons. We have found that adding children to classes for make-ups disrupts the rhythm of the class. Please do your best to attend your scheduled classes. Instead, The Swim School will extend (limited to one excuse every other month) one $15 credit to any child who misses class due to illness. The$15 credit may be used for lessons, special events, or in the pro shop. A doctor’s note will be required to receive this credit. Extraordinary and extended illnesses will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
What Is A Deck Manager?
One of the reasons The Swim School is the #1 recommended facility for learning to swim is our Deck Manager system. Deck Managers are certified in all four levels of the Swim Schools International program. Additionally, a Deck Manager has over 350 hours of swim teaching. The Deck Manager is the team member responsible for all pool operations during swim lessons. TSS rash guard is imprinted with the words Deck Manager on the back for easy identification. Deck Managers are able to answer questions about your child’s progress, our programs, what to expect, and convey information to your child’s teacher.
How Will I Know When My Child Is Ready To Promote To The Next Level?
We use Swim Schools International training materials to guide our teachers when teaching your child. Each lesson plan has 18 skill sets and final goals. These materials serve as a guideline for when a child is ready to promote. Your Deck Manager will visit with you to go over the lesson plan and familiarize you with your child’s progress.
How Do I Change My Day Or Time?
We know how busy schedules can get and we are happy to change your child’s day and time when another class is available. This is a permanent change; We do not allow you to change your child’s class day/time from week to week. There is a nominal fee of $10 to cover administration costs. Please call 318-222-SWIM.
What If My Child Is Scared Or Cries?
It is common for a child to cry or be afraid when starting something new. Learning trust is a big part of swimming. Trust is gained over time, not just a few lessons. Our teachers are trained to deal with the most fearful of swimmers and the Deck Manager can also be helpful and talk to the children about why they are scared or crying. Talking with the child, playing games, singing songs, and playing with toys are techniques used to help ease the child into the class. If you need assistance with your child, please let our team know. We want all children to feel comfortable and happy swimming! How can you help? Provide smiles, consistency and praise.
Class Start Time?
Please arrive at The Swim School Shreveport/Bossier at least 5-10 minutes before your child’s class is scheduled to start. New swimmers are rattled when being rushed into class. Late arrival also leads to running on deck, which is hazardous and strongly discouraged. If you and your child are in a Baby & Me class, it is especially important to arrive early. Getting into the pool safely with the little ones takes time. Your Teacher or Deck Manager will hold your child while you enter the water and then hand your child back to you. Safety first!
Should The Parents Be Visible During Class?
If the child is distracted by seeing Mom or Dad and the teacher is having a hard time keeping the child’s focus, it might be better for the parent to be out of sight. The teacher will have an easier time bonding with a swimmer if Mom or Dad is temporarily out of view. Once your child has settled into the class, we enjoy having parents on deck clapping and cheering for their child’s successes.
When Will My Child Learn To Swim?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal answer to this question. There are many factors that play into learning to swim and it also depends on your definition of “swimming.” Every child is unique and therefore learns to swim at a different pace. Parents also need to understand that teaching children to swim requires a commitment. Learning to swim properly, on top of the water, takes children years to accomplish. It is important for parents to have realistic expectations for their children. Please avoid comparing your child to others. Positive reinforcement and consistency are vital for your child’s success. Regardless of what the final goal may be, we feel it’s important that the child learns to have a love and respect of the water.
My Child Has Hit A Plateau, What Can I Do To Help?
Plateaus are common, especially when a child gets to levels that tend to be difficult (i.e. the Advanced Preschool, Beginner III, and Advanced levels). Our teachers are sensitive to these issues and are trained to motivate and guide swimmers though these difficult levels. As a parent, it’s important to remain positive and supportive to help the child work through these times. If you are concerned about your child’s progress, please talk to your Deck Manager, or Facility Manager for advice on working through the possible plateaus.
Are Your Teachers Certified And Insured?
All of our teachers are certified through Swim Schools International, and insured for every student.
What Is The Difference Between Swim Schools International And Other Certifications?
Experience ~ Consistency ~ Competence Psychology, the how to teach children, is an important feature in our training . Children develop so fast, and each age has its own reflexes, possibilities and limitations. We train our teachers to work with each child as an individual, resulting in progress and comfort compatible with the age group. Swim Schools International (or SSI) bases their training program for swim teachers on a set of Training Standards, which begin with ethical standards, and move toward specifics of teaching. All our teachers receive a minimum of 40 hours of class, in-water, and apprenticeship prior to teaching Level 1 classes (Aquatike 1 – Beginner 3) Level 2 Teachers (Intermediate 1 – Junior Olympian) add another minimum of 25 hours in class, in-water, and apprenticeship prior to teaching these upper level classes. Baby & Me teachers (trained to work with infants as young as 4 weeks – 35 months in age) undergo extensive training in working with the very young. Their education includes instruction in teaching parents how to get their little one accustomed to an aquatic environment, to working with each growth level’s reflexes and natural movements upon entering the water, to teaching the older babies safety techniques and respect for the water. They all love children, and want their swimmers to love swimming!
