FAQ
How do I know if my child needs swimming lessons?
Older students that have mastered the first skills of breathing, floating and kicking will learn more rapidly. If your child has not been in the water since last summer, they may have regressed a little and will catch back up quickly.
How often should my child take swim lessons?
Swim lessons are 30 minutes per lesson. Children progress faster with more practice. The problems that many students and parents face are availability, affordability and scheduling. Everyone’s situation is different, but a continuing regiment of lessons throughout the year is best. Whether it is once-a-week during the school year and every day in the summer, or twice-a-week year ‘round, the results will be good with that much exposure.
Parents and students get frustrated when they are not as good at the beginning of “this summer” as they were at the end of “last summer”, yet they had no lessons or only a few exposures to swimming all during the school year.
Swimming is a skill that takes practice. You don’t learn over-night and you can’t retain the skills year-to-year without practice. Think of taking piano lessons for 2 weeks this summer and then again until 2 weeks next summer. Did you improve your skills? Without practice during the year you are probably staring over. Swimming, unless practiced, will have the same results.
Are there any requirements before joining?
Your swimmer must be potty trained and 3 years old in order to participate
Where are you located?
We are located in Oswego East High School on Wolf’s Crossing and Harvey Road. You may enter the pool by using Door 41 (Located by the new building addition).
What is the SwimAmerica 10-Station Method?
SwimAmerica lessons are a series of ten stations of skill development and stroke progression. Once a child masters the skills and “advancement goals” of each level, they “moveup” to the next station and begin working on more advanced skills. This way, each student progresses at their own rate – which we believe is the best way to keep kids motivated to succeed. The Program Director does on-going evaluations of each swimmer during a session and advances students as soon as they are ready for the next challenge.
How do I know what station my child belongs in?
The advancement goals for each station are very clear cut. If your child can complete the advancement goals for a specific station then sign your child up for the first station that they cannot complete all advancement goals. Please contact Deryl Leubner at dleubner0411@oswego308.org if you're not sure which class is right for your child.
To choose a class appropriate for your child, determine their highest level of swimming ability within the following Progression System:
PROGRESSION SYSTEM - Levels of Swimming Ability
Level 1 – Sign up for Level 1 if your swimmer a non-swimmer
(This is a beginner station for children who have never taken swim lessons and will not put their face in the water.)
Level 2 – Sign up for Level 2 if your swimmer has the ability to place head underwater
(This station is for children who feel comfortable putting their heads underwater but cannot yet float.)
Level 3 – Sign up for Level 3 if your swimmer can do a front float and back float independently
(This station is for children who can float on their front and on their back, but have not yet learned kicking.)
Level 4 – Sign up for Level 4 is your swimmer has mastered Front & Back Float and can Kick independently
(This station is for children who have learned to float with a kick on their front & back but have not yet learned freestyle)
Level 5 – Sign up for Level 5 if your swimmer can do the crawl arm stroke on top of the water
(This station is for children who have learned to do crawl stroke but have not yet learned breathing.)
Level 6 – Sign up for Level 6 is your swimmer has mastered Crawl arm stroke with breathing to the side
(This station is for children who have learned freestyle with proper breathing but have not yet learned backstroke.)
Levels 7 - 10 - placement only by SwimAmerica staff evaluation or have already passed Station 6.
I’ve signed up my child...Now what?
Before you leave the registration website, make sure you know the start date and time of your child’s lessons. This will save you time by eliminating unnecessary phone calls to the pool, or a trip to the pool on a day or time that you are not registered for.
What should we do on the first day of class
Arrive no Arrive earlier than 10 minutes before your class.
Have your child sit on their towel on the deck.
No running or horseplay on the deck.
Do not enter the water before your instructor says it is OK.
Can I stay and watch?
A parent or guardian MUST be present during all swimming lessons. We have an excellent viewing area from our open balcony overlooking the entire pool. We simply ask that parents stay off of the deck. All spectators must remain in the bleacher area during swim lessons. Please help us maintain a positive and distraction-free learning environment for all of the swimmers. If your child is left unattended before or after swimming lessons, we will notify your emergency contact. If he or she cannot be reached, we will contact the police.
What can I expect on my child’s first day of class?
On the first day of each session, we make a thorough assessment of each child’s skills so that they are placed in the appropriate level. Our instructors will spend some time getting to know their swimmers with a few “dry-land” activities before getting in the pool. You can expect your child to spend a lot of time learning proper breathing techniques both on-land and in the water the first few days of class. Good breathing is the KEY to good swimming. A child who has not learned how to breathe properly tires more quickly in the water. We will spend a lot of time working on bobs and other breathing exercises at all of our SwimAmerica stations.
Your child will be evaluated on a regular basis (usually every other lesson) by a Swim America certified Site-Supervisor. The Site Supervisor is the quality control expert of our program and has many years of experience. The Site Supervisor evaluates the swimmers and makes the decisions regarding class advancement. If your swimmer has—in the Site Supervisor’s estimation—successfully and consistently met the advancement goals for a level, they will be immediately moved to the next level in the progression with a new instructor and will receive a card outlining the skills for the next level. It will be wise to prepare your child for advancement with a new instructor as they will eventually progress to the next level. Try to help us out by getting them excited about moving up our levels.
What can I expect my child to learn during the course of a session?
This varies greatly depending on each child’s age, athleticism and natural comfort level in the water. It may take more than one session for a very young child to progress beyond Station 1. We will NOT advance a child before they have mastered the skills of their first station. Remember, proper breathing is the key to successful swimming! On average, it takes a preschooler 20 or more lessons to advance to station 3. On the other hand, some preschoolers will advance more than one station in one session – it all depends on the individual child!
What happens if my swimmer passes level 4 during a session?
If your swimmer passes level 4 in the middle of a session, we will accommodate him or her in a level 5-10 time slot.
How can I help my child be successful in the swimming lessons?
All students need times when they can learn through exploration. Take your child to the pool for open swim. Swimming is a sport or recreational activity that will last a lifetime. Your child, whether he/she is a beginner or more advanced, needs to go to the pool and have time just to play.
This is also a time when children will begin to practice and develop important skills and techniques while they are having fun. Many children only go to the pool for class and so never get any practice time or enjoyment from being there. Children whose parents show enjoyment for the water tend to learn faster that those who have parents who don’t.
Playing in the pool also build the child’s strength, stamina and general skills. Going to the pool and playing with your child under safe, supervised conditions is one of the best ways to help your child be successful in swimming lessons.
What if my child cries during class?
If your child cries, it doesn't mean he isn't ready for swim lessons. He may be adjusting to the separation from Mom or Dad, getting accustomed to the new surroundings, or just having a bad day. If you give your child some time and let him see that you're confident, he/she will follow your lead, relax, and enjoy this wonderful experience. We will be as patient as we need to be. Let us handle it. Your child will eventually adjust and we will help them by gently pushing them along the way.
What should I do if my child is afraid of swim lessons?
With children under 5 years old, it's very difficult for you to reason away fear. It's better to acknowledge their feelings and reassure them that you would not put them in any danger. When you come to the Delta Aquatics SwimAmerica Program, we ask you to bring them into the pool area already dressed to swim. Let them look around a little, then calmly hand them to their instructor, who will take it from there. The instructor will work to establish rapport with your child. Then they'll be trusting enough to start learning to swim.
With children five years and older, you need to be committed to helping them overcome their fears. Be ready to stand fast no matter how much they protest. You don't want them to "cry their way" out of swimming. It's unfair to children to have them work partially through a fear and not experience the pride that comes from conquering it. And once they conquer it, they'll be ready to have fun swimming.
What is the SwimAmerica Certificate?
Each student enrolled in our program receives a SwimAmerica Award Certificate on the first day of lessons. When a student masters the skills of one station and advances to the next, they receive a gold “graduation” sticker to place on their certificate. We make a big deal about advancement – the child will receive a tattoo as well as a sticker to place on their certificate. At the end of each session, students take their certificate home to display on the family fridge or bulletin board and bring it back to the pool when their next session begins so that we can keep track of their progress!
Each time that your child advances to a new station, they will also receive the station card describing the new requirements for the next level.
Additionally, when your child completes level 5, they will receive a "I learned to swim at Delta Aquatics" t-shirt. When they complete level 10, they will receive a Delta Aquatics waterproof drawstring bag.
These incentives make your child feel good about their effort and adds value to the program for you as a parent. We want your child to be rewarded for their efforts so please don’t forget to get the award when your child advances.
Will there be swim lessons during severe weather or road conditions?
Our program is in cooperation with Oswego School District 308. If school has been cancelled due to inclement weather in District 308, lessons will be cancelled.
What is your make-up class policy?
Due to the popularity of our program, our classes are always at capacity. Therefore, if you miss a class due to a scheduling conflict or illness, we are not capable of providing a make-up the class for you to attend.
Who do I contact to discuss questions about my child or the program?
Please direct any question regarding the Learn to Swim program to the Program Director Deryl Leubner at dleubner0411@oswego308.org. Please do not try to discuss the program with our Site Supervisors during lessons. Our Site Supervisors and instructors must stay focused on teaching during lessons, but they will be happy to set up a meeting with you at your convenience. Our goal is to teach your child to swim in the best way that we know how, but we also want you to be happy with and understand our program.
Did we miss your question? Contact Deryl Leubner at dleubner0411@oswego308.org
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