Training Works!

Food and beverages provided

All of our teaching staff must pass 52 hours of initial training.

Training is the #1 contributing factor to the safety, growth, and success of our program. A significant percent of our annual budget is dedicated to training more and more EXCEPTIONAL Foss instructors and staff. We’ve learned to offer food at almost every training… and what do you know… college kids show up?!!!

All of our teaching staff must pass 52 hours of initial training. Even some of the best hires drop out within the first Welcome meeting and say….”I had no idea you guys do this much in your lessons!” Some make it through the in-water “shadowing” but realize what energy WE’RE talking about and it’s a lot different than they’re used to teaching at other programs. As their t-shirts state… “Foss Instructor… Hardest Job in the World!”  

Training includes pool safety, CPR, all levels of skills/techniques/games, customer service, class management, and basic child development. Secondary training is provided for the competitive levels, Backfloat Baby, and Special Needs for those hand selected by the management team at each site. Today, all instructors are still trained personally by Jon Foss and Head Trainer, Brett Maras, who has been with us since 1996. A handful of exceptional managers are also on hand to provide additional trainings for specific levels such as Backfloat Baby. Once on site, Site Managers and Shift Coordinators take over the task of mentoring and continued training through daily pre shift meetings, daily review of classes/performance, manager reviews, and quarterly inservices.

Within the first year of an instructor’s life at FOSS, 108 hours of training has been provided. We hire exclusively within for all of our management positions at all sites ranging from Deck Assistants, Shift Coordinators, Office Managers, and Site Directors.  
So… if you think you might like it on site… you gotta’ start in the pool!