Summer is just the best. Warmer weather, longer days, more people outside being active. Plus the SWIMMING!
Nowadays with the sharing economy, more people working for themselves and more people working remotely, getting at-home swim lessons has never been easier.
There are a plethora of options available from renowned swim clubs to private individuals ready to offer their services at a discounted price. But how to know what is the right option for you? There are several factors you should consider to ensure you are getting the best service and are not being misled.
Go with an established swim school- reputable, long-standing clubs will typically offer the most reliable services. Their program is based upon years of refined techniques and standards. In short, they know what they are doing. At Canada Swim School for example, we teach babies to survive, beginners to swim independently, intermediate swimmers to develop techniques and endurance, and advanced swimmers to perfect the 4 strokes so as to open doors for competitive watersports or lifegaurding.
Know the goals & vision of your provider- do their promises align with your goals for your kids? Are they teaching survival or competitive swimming? Are you comfortable with their vision and the progress they promise? You will be trusting the lives of your children to them, so be sure to take the time to get to know them. Visit their website, ask questions, know what experience you are signing up for before you commit.
Check the reviews and ask for references- while any club or individual can promote their amazing services, the consumer usually knows best. Check the reviews, feedback, and if you are still unsure ask for references from previous clients.
Know what you are paying for- many clubs or individuals will tempt you with an amazing price, but in reality they are offering a shorter lesson or fewer lessons. While it’s great in theory to pay $40 per visit, if the visit is only 40 minutes, than you may actually be getting better value with another club whose fees are $50/hour.
Are they insured? Make sure you are covered– private individuals offering their services on Kijiji or other free classifieds are a great way to find discounted prices, but these individuals rarely have the necessary insurance coverage.
Make sure they offer a tax receipt- Especially when paying up front. No receipt equals no consumer protection, and if anything goes sideways your payment could be lost and the instructor difficult to track down.
Check the cancellation policy & flexibility- flexibility is key and you deserve flexibility, especially in the summer. Did you know that only a handful of clubs offer rescheduling of missed classes? What if you are not satisfied with your teacher- can you change teachers or get your money back? At the Canada Swim School, we make flexibility a priority. Check out our lesson policies, and ensure your swim provider is being equally flexible.
At Canada Swim School, we don’t only abide by all these guidelines, but we set the standard to provide the most effective, affordable and reliable swim program in the country. I hope this guide helps you, happy swimming everyone and swim safely this summer!
