FINS - Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Interaction During Lessons
2. Instructor Requests
3. Questions or concerns about swim lessons?
4. What can I expect from swim lessons?
5. What if my child cries or is afraid?
6. Why 16 lessons?
7. What is the class ratio?
8. What do parents do durning a typical swim lesson?
9. What are swim diapers and why does my child have to wear them?
10. Are your pools heated?
11. What is the registration fee for?
12. What type of training/certifications do your instructors have?
13. Do FINS instructors undergo more training once they become a teacher?
14. How long is each class?
15. How long will it take my child to learn how to swim?
16. What do you do to make sure the water is clean and safe?
17. Who will be in my child's class?
18. If my child is ready to be promoted, can they move up at anytime?
19. Does FINS teach back float drown-proofing to babies?
20. When will my child be "Drown-proofed?"
21. Why are FINS prices higher?
22. Does FINS give refunds?

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Interaction During Lessons:

• For the safety of all involved, we limit our deck area to swimmers and FINS personnel only. Occasionally, we may request parental assistance with a child.
• A Deck Monitor will be on duty during heavier lesson hours to assist students to and from classes. If you notice your child needing assistance (to find their way to the restroom during a lesson) and a deck monitor is not available, please help the swimmer leave and re-enter the class safely.
• If you need to talk to a teacher about your child’s lessons, please wait until the last few minutes of class (playtime) to avoid distracting other children during your child’s instructional time. At times, conversation with the teacher may not be possible and you are welcome to speak with the deck monitor or front desk. We will leave a message for the instructor to call you at their earliest convenience.

Instructor Requests:

• Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to honor requests for specific instructors. FINS reserves the right to change instructors and/or reassign an instructor to a different class at anytime.
• We fully understand the importance of consistency when teaching children this important life-saving skill. However, there are times when our instructors will be out due to illness, unforeseen emergencies and scheduled vacation. During that time, a substitute instructor will teach the lessons. The substitute instructor is provided notes on your child’s particular class and should be able to conduct the lesson in the same manner as the regular instructor. Please be assured that all of our instructors receive the same rigorous training and monthly in-service to provide your student with the best lessons possible.

Questions or Concerns About Swim Lessons?

• We highly encourage any communication that might assist us with your student in achieving the best possible lesson experience. Often this will need to be directed to either the Deck Monitor or Customer Service Staff at the front desk to effectively answer your question or accomplish your request.
• If you have any concerns about your child’s class or the instruction being received during that class, please see the front desk immediately.

What Can I Expect From Swim Lessons?

• Knowledge of water safety is our # 1 priority in swim lessons. In addition, we will do our best to teach each child basic swim strokes, good breathing techniques and necessary endurance to promote safe water activities.
• Just like many other skills young people learn, the best results will come with a consistent program over a few years. A weekly lesson throughout the year with interval breaks will yield better results than pushing to learn everything during the summer months, with no continued exposure to swimming for the next 8-10 months.
• There are many motor skills to be mastered and used simultaneously in swimming. Each child will learn at their own pace...and will do best when they are having fun.
• Swimming should be an enjoyable and safe activity for a lifetime. To create solid mastery requires an investment of lessons over several years.

What if my child cries or is afraid?

Our teachers are trained to deal with even the most fearful swimmer. We even have extra teachers on hand at all times to jump in if need be. We have many toys, songs, and games especially created for fearful swimmers. If you need help getting your child into the pool, ask our staff for assistance; we will gladly get your child in the water and swimming happily in no time!

Special consideration is given to toddlers 2 – 3 years of age. Transitions are usually a more difficult for them. At this age everything in their life is changing and can become very stressful. For this reason FINS offers a ‘transitional’ class; a developmental approach to helping toddlers cope with learning the new skill of swimming. Having the comfort of a parent involved in lessons with them, eases their anxiety, promotes a positive learning experience, and soon boosting confidence to move on to the next level.

Why 16 Lessons?

After over a decade of teaching swimming lessons year round, FINS has found that most swimmers show skill improvement after about 16 lessons. In the past we have offered shorter and longer sessions, but we feel like the most skill improvement is seen with a minimum of 16 lessons. We also noticed that the swimming skills were more easily remembered and enjoyed by the students.

Additional reasons for 16 lessons:

1. Developing love and respect for the water takes time.
2. Allows time to build a strong and lasting swimming foundation.
3. Gives enough time to build proper mechanics and muscle memory.
4. Consistent teaching helps the student learn; all the teachers teach the same skills in each level.
5. Swimming is not natural for humans, so it takes time to develop confidence, breath control, safety, posture, balance, and efficiency

FINS program has been developed with all of these aspects in mind so we can take swimming from getting in a pool for the first time to Olympic Gold.

What is the class ratio?

FINS swim classes can be no larger than 4 students for every teacher. Baby FINS classes have six students for each teacher because they are parent participation classes. Baby FINS 3 has four students for each teacher to assist more actively in student transition onto classes without the parent. Fast FINS classes have 8 students because the class is longer and competitive based. Statistically, the average swim class size at FINS is 3.2 students per instructor.

What do parents do during a typical swim lesson?

1. Check in at the front desk for attendance and fill out any paperwork.
2. Encourage your child to use the toilet before lessons.
3. Get your child changed into a swim suit and/or swim pants.
4. Wait in the observation room until the deck person calls his/her name.
5. Wait in the observation room during lessons. Please do not leave the facility during lessons.
6. Allow your child to rinse off under the shower on deck. Wrap your child up with his/her towel.
7. Use a changing room to allow your child to change back into clothes.

What are swim diapers and why does my child have to wear them?

In an effort to protect all swimmers from Water Born Illnesses (WBI) the Health Department requires that children who are not potty-trained wear reusable swim diapers. Wearing two swim diapers with tight elastic around the waist and legs will contain a solid accident in the swimming pool and protect everyone from WBI.

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Are your pools heated?

Yes, our pools are kept at 90 degrees. Because of the liquid medium, a pool feels about 20 degrees cooler than air temperature to a child. A 90 degree pool is like 70 degree air. The focus should be on learning not on shivering and blue lips.

What is the registration fee for?

The registration fee helps with the cost of administrative expenses. We also pay for insurance on each student with this annual registration fee.

What type of training/certification do your instructors have?

FINS instructors participate in a rigorous Teacher Training Time including classroom training and in-water training. If the teacher trainee passes a final exam and the physical demands of this Teacher Training Time, they are invited to train for 40 more hours beside one of our veteran teachers in swim classes in the water.

Additionally, every FINS instructor is certified in CPR and First Aid.

Teachers of the Baby FINS and/or Fast FINS Programs undergo 12 more hours of classroom and in-water training to qualify as Baby FINS teachers or Fast FINS coaches.

Do FINS instructors undergo more training once they become a teacher?

Yes. FINS instructors participate in several Water Training Meetings a year. These meetings include new teaching techniques and safety improvements. EAPs (Emergency Action Plans) are also practiced regularly by each shift of teachers, so FINS instructors are prepared for an emergency.

How long is each class?

All classes are 30 minutes long except for competitive classes (Fast FINS). Although it's possible to keep students in the water longer, experience has taught us that 30 minutes is about the longest you can expect a student to be challenged with new swim skills in the water.

If a student is enrolled in semi-private or group class and they are the only one in class, the lesson will become a 20 minute lesson. At this point, most swimmers are worn out and ready to play for a few minutes before returning to the parent or caregiver. We never want to make a child work to the point of exhaustion.

How long will it take my child to learn how to swim?

ALL children in lessons learn to swim eventually; just as all children learn to walk, some a little sooner, some a little later, but all do. Enjoy the process, enjoy the child’s achievements. A new arena of play and life is opening up for them and the whole family to enjoy. Most of our families stay with us until their child becomes a Gold FINS, but some choose to leave after the Blue or Silver FINS levels.

If you ever have any questions about the skills being taught in you child’s class please see the deck supervisor or front desk.

What do you do to make sure the water is clean and safe?

FINS water is kept sanitized by MIOX, a commercial salt system that creates chlorine and mixed oxidants.

• Mixed oxidants have been shown to remove and prevent the growth of slime, bacteria, and pool algae from pool surfaces, helping to keep pool water crystal clear.
• Due to a lowered production of chloramines, Mixed oxidants show a reduction in skin irritation and eye redness, leading to a more enjoyable, healthier swim experience

Our pools are monitored continually and automatically fed chemicals electronically the very moment a change in chlorine or pH is indicated. All of this is backed up by manual water test throughout the day in order to ensure all equipment is functioning properly.

Who will be in my child's class?

The fellow students in your child's class will have been selected on the basis of their similar ability in the water and age bracket. Occasionally the Deck Supervisor will move a child to another class that is better suited for him/her. Do not hesitate to talk with your Deck Supervisor or Customer Service if you feel your child will benefit by changing classes.

If my child is ready to be promoted can they move up at anytime?

Yes. FINS students can move up levels at anytime after the teacher has gotten the ok from the deck supervisor or manager on duty. Students must be able to consistently perform all skills in their current level before moving on to the next level.

Does FINS teach back float drown-proofing to babies?

FINS does not use back float drown-proofing to teach babies survival in the water. Although we agree that there is a real and present danger of drowning for toddlers in the State of Texas, we disagree philosophically with this survival method of teaching.

FINS successfully teaches babies and toddlers to swim using multiple “self-help” strategies and other skills to become safer in the water.. Our safety techniques have resulted in hundreds of our students recovering from accidental falls into pools by saving themselves. We have devoted our lives to developing effective young swimmers by using nurturing and effective teaching techniques.

We invite all families to visit their nearest FINS facility to observe babies jumping into the water and swimming back to the wall while smiling and laughing.

When will my child be “Drown-proofed”?

FINS believes that there is no way to be “Drown-Proofed”. However, we do believe drowning is preventable. We teach all of our students how to love and respect the water. Water safety is our top priority and we teach all students safety rules like Never swim alone. In fact, no one should ever swim alone!

Why are FINS prices higher?

FINS is one of the premiere swim schools in the nation. We have a very high success rate and we promise you the highest return on your investment in the BEST swim lessons in town! Other swim programs may be less expensive, but they require longer enrollment before you see your child improve. In the long run, you will spend less money on swim lessons by enrolling with FINS.

Because teaching swimming is our passion, everything we do is first-class and costly. From training every instructor for 40 plus hours and heating our pools to 90 degrees, to installing expensive water sanitation systems to keep our water pristine; you'll see the value of your tuition immediately.

Teaching swimming is all we do...and we're the BEST in town!

Does FINS give refunds?

FINS does not give refunds, but with our perpetual booking program you may stop class at anytime after your four month contract. All you have to do is fill out our cancellation form and drop it off at the front desk with 30 days notice.

In cases of medical emergencies, FINS will give credit for future swim lessons.