Get Ready to Leap In & Love To Swim!
Swim class is a fun experience, and our instructors spend a student's first day of class getting to know them and evaluating their swimming abilities. We hope swim lessons will be one of a child's fondest memories! Keep reading for information on what to expect.
What Is The Format of Classes?
- Our classes are 30 minutes long (except for Adults & Squads).
- Our student-to-teacher ratio is 4:1 or lower for most classes.
- Parents wait in our climate controlled observation area during lessons.
- Instructors provide a progress update for parents at the end of each lesson.
When Should I Sign Up?
- Families are welcome to sign up at any time.
- Our weekly classes operate in a perpetual format, meaning they are offered year-round on roughly the same schedule.
- Students can join at any time and will be promoted to the next class level when they meet all of the goals.
- If your child is not currently enrolled and you would like to sign them up, you can do so on our Customer Portal.
What is the process for arriving on the first day?
- On your first day of lessons, please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled class time.
- Upon arrival, you will check in at the front desk at the station designated "First Day Check-In."
- A friendly Maley team member will tell you what section your child's class is in and will show you where to wait.
- Parents and their children will be able to watch the ongoing class while they wait for their class to begin.
- Our deck manager will call in students for each class by section.
What does my child need to bring to swim class?
- Students should come wearing an appropriate swimsuit (no see through items, undergarments used as swimwear, etc.) and a towel.
- Shoes are also suggested for entering and exiting the building as the ground outside is sometimes hot.
- Students who wish to wear goggles MUST use our preferred brand (Cressi), which are available for purchase at the front counter. Goggles with nose coverings are not permitted!
- All students who are not completely potty trained are required to wear both a disposable AND a reusable swim diaper. The reusable diaper MUST be our preferred brand (Cressi) which is available for purchase at the front counter.
Will I be able to watch my child's class?
- Yes! Our climate controlled observation area provides a full view of class.
- Parents are not permitted onto the pool deck except to walk students out at the start of class.
- Parents must remain on the premises during their child's lesson for insurance reasons.
- Children who need help in the restroom will need to be taken by parents and will not be taken by our staff members.
- WaterBaby 1&2 classes require the parent to be in the water with the student.
How will I be updated on my child's progress?
- On the first day of lessons, parents are invited to briefly come poolside with their child and meet the instructor.
- Brief progress updates are given by the instructor after every lesson.
- Detailed progress updates are provided poolside every 8 weeks.
- Skill ratings are updated in the computer as they are evaluated, and parents are able to see these ratings from their Customer Portal account.
- Instructors will inform parents when their child is ready for promotion.
- When a parent needs to speak with an instructor, they can ask the front desk to have the instructor call when they are not in the pool.
What if my child is scared/nervous?
- We see scared/nervous swimmers all the time, and usually with consistent repetition and encouragement, they gain comfort and confidence after a few classes.
- Many times the anxiety is not because of swimming, but because of separation from the parent.
- It is crucial that parents continue to bring their child to class and do not pull them out when they are crying.
- Our instructors are experienced in working with children who are not very comfortable with swim lessons.
- The best course of action if your child is upset is for parents to tell their child that they trust the instructor, hand the child to the instructor, and go back inside to the observation room.