FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! For questions specifically regarding our Backfloat Baby® program, please scroll down to read more.

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! For questions specifically regarding our Backfloat Baby® program, please scroll down to read more.

Login to or create your Family Account to submit a enrollment request. In your account you will be able to add swimmers and search available classes by location, level, day, and time. Select your desired classes and enter your payment information. You can also update family information, view your enrollment history and more.
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FOSS lessons start as early as 6 months and offer beginner levels for all age groups.

Taking part in formal swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning among children aged 1 to 4 years. (1) Here at FOSS our Backfloat Baby® program is designed for little swimmers age 6 months to 3 years. Parents and swimmers laugh and learn together.

While there are great benefits to getting started as early as 6 months, you know what is best for your family. Because our Backfloat Baby® classes require an adult in the water, it is more important to have Mom and Dad on board for the weekly lesson. For families who prefer to wait until their swimmers can take lessons independent of a parent, we offer beginner levels for all age groups. Just remember, the window of opportunity to learn to swim well begins to close at 6 and is almost completely closed by age 11. (2)

Read more on the FOSS blog about how to help your baby get comfortable with the water and figure out when they’re ready for lessons. 

 

(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts.
(2) Cecil Colwin, Breakthrough Swimming

Our goal is to provide every swimmer the life skill of being able to swim an uninterrupted, correct, and confident 300 yard freestyle.

Many parents have unrealistic perceptions about their child’s swimming skills. Performing a skill once or twice does not mean a child will be able to preform the skill as second nature if they are ever in need of it. Likewise, being able to cross a pool with an inefficient and incorrect stroke does not mean a child will be able to swim to safety over a distance when necessary. A healthy love and respect for the water is essential, but the best confirmation of your child’s ability is to see them swim an uninterrupted, correct, and confident 300 yard freestyle.

Most swimmers will only need a suit and towel. For any swimmer under age 3 or who is not potty trained, a reusable swim diaper is also required.

While not necessary, you may also want to pack your own goggles, fins, swim cap, and dechlorinating shampoo and/or conditioner.

Don’t worry! If you forget something, we’ve got you covered. Goggles and fins are always available to borrow and our showers offer free shampoo. Additional items such as suits, towels, swim caps, swimmer’s hair care products, and much more can be purchased in our retail store.

If you miss one of your lessons, we offer a Miss a Class Voucher good for admission to a Family Swim, a Fun Meet, or a Skill Clinic. Per swimmer, you can receive: two vouchers per Once-a-Week class or one voucher per Swim Camp class.

Miss a Class Vouchers are issued by our front desk after you miss a class. Your voucher can be redeemed for:

  • One child and one parent to participate in a FOSS Family Swim
  • One child to participate in a FOSS Fun Meet
  • One child to participate in a FOSS Skill Clinic

If you cancel your enrollment 14 days prior to the start of your first session, you will not be charged a cancellation fee, and you will receive a credit to your FOSS Family Account or you may request a refund of your full tuition. 

If you cancel your enrollment at least 24 hour and within 14 days prior to the start of your first session, you will not be charged a cancellation fee, and you will receive a credit of your full tuition to your FOSS Family Account.

If you cancel your enrollment within 24 hours before the start of your first session, you will be charged a cancellation fee in the amount of one lesson, and you will receive a credit of your remaining tuition to your FOSS Family Account.

If you cancel your enrollment after the start of your first session, you will be charged for any lessons that have occurred (regardless of attendance) and a cancellation fee in the amount of one lesson, and you will receive a credit of your remaining tuition to your FOSS Family Account.

If FOSS has been ordered to close or otherwise stop providing swim lessons or programs by a public health official or other government authority, you will receive a credit for any cancelled lessons to your FOSS Family Account. 

A CREDIT WILL BE ISSUED TO YOUR FOSS FAMILY ACCOUNT FOR CANCELLED LESSONS.  NO CASH/CREDIT CARD REFUNDS WILL BE PROCESSED UNLESS NOTED IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. TUITION PAID VIA GIFT CARD WILL BE PROCESSED BACK TO A GIFT CARD.

PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOSS PAID LESSON CREDIT PROGRAM FOR DETAILS. (Available lower on this page)

The New Family Fee is a one-time fee charged to each family when first enrolling in FOSS swim lessons.  This fee is not refundable, including if you cancel your enrollment before completing all lessons.  When your family returns to FOSS, you will not be charged this fee a second time.

We reserve the right to cancel any class that has only one swimmer enrolled.  If FOSS chooses to cancel a class with only one swimmer enrolled, FOSS will offer alternative day and time option(s) for your swimmer or provide a credit to your Family Account.

We reserve the right to cancel the following class levels if they have three or fewer swimmers enrolled: Middle 5, Big 4, Big 5 and Big 6.  If FOSS chooses to cancel any of these classes, FOSS will offer alternative day and time option(s) for your swimmer.

We do not close for inclement weather. As long as there are families who want to come to lessons, we will remain open.

However, we do understand that inclement weather may prevent some of our families from safely traveling to and from lessons. If there are city or statewide school closings or authorities have issued no-travel advisories in your area, you may choose not to attend your lesson and request a lesson credit be applied to your account. Please call the office or contact your location online to request this credit.

In the event we must close our pool down for safety reasons, a credit will be issued to your FOSS account for future lessons.

It is safer, there is more accountability to our instructors, it aids in better teacher/parent communication, and it provides motivation to swimmers. Our program is designed to keep parents involved. Instructors will communicate to you how your child is progressing through out class as well as give homework tips for them to work on between lessons out of the pool.

In the event your swimmer needs you to be out of sight so they can focus on the lesson or bond with their instructor, our facilities do offer a view room and viewing area to duck away.

A Split Payment option is available and, if chosen, the first charge will occur when the swimmers are enrolled in a class that works for the family and the second charge will occur 21 days after the initial charge. The date for this charge will be included with your first confirmation letter. A $4.00 processing fee will apply to the 1st payment.

A valid credit card is required and will be used for payment. If the new family fee applies, it is charged with the first payment. FOSS cancellation policy will apply.

We offer a Family Swim where parents and swimmers can enjoy our 91 degree warm water. Pool equipment and toys are available for your use during these events. Space is limited so we ask that you sign up in advance. All swimmers must be accompanied by a responsible adult in the water.
More ways to swim

Yes! Gift cards are available for purchase online and at our locations.
Purchase a gift card

Yes! We do.

Refer your friends and you both save when they enroll for their first paid class using your family code.
 
Your friend, a New Family, will receive:
  • Waived New Family Fee – a $35 value
  • A Welcome Bag with a towel, and a goggle or swim diaper (their choice) – a $35 value
  • A $35 credit to be applied to enrollment in a future quarter – a $35 value
You, an existing family, will receive:
  • The joy of sharing the love of water with your friends
  • A $35 credit on your account to be used for future enrollments – a $35 value

Your code is available in your account in Family Information. Instruct your friends to use that code in their “Referral Code” field during checkout when making their request as a New Family.

Note: A New Family has not previously enrolled at any FOSS location. New family must register and complete classes for the referring family to be eligible for the credit. Credits received cannot be applied to a current enrollment of the referring family. No cash value.

Young swimmers tire quickly and lack the physical development necessary to sustain treading water. (They have larger heads and smaller hands in proportion to the rest of their body.) We believe it is irresponsible to teach a child a skill which will expend their energy and could endanger them. Instead we teach skills which result in your child being safer such as floating on their back or swimming to safety.

If you are unsure of which level to register for, we do offer a free in-water Preview Lesson. However, we also evaluate each student at the first lesson and will address any situation where a class is clearly not going to work. If you have concerns, please let a Deck Manager or the Office Staff know right away.

Our goal is to provide the best lessons for our swimmers and to always have swimmers in the best class for their skill and development level. The best lessons get better results.

A swimmer will be moved to the next level when they are able to demonstrate mastery of all graduation skills for their current level. It is expected that a swimmer may need multiple sessions in a given level in order to master all graduation requirements as our program is built on this mastery of skills. Even if a swimmer is not moving up to the next level, we do guarantee your child will improve each session.
The same instructor will teach each class in a given session or Progress Builder Swim Camp®. As our instructor’s schedules change from session to session, we can not guarantee the same instructor as your previous session or camp. However, it never hurts to ask! We try to meet as many requests as possible.
Yes! We allow late enrollments for the first few lessons of each session. If you enroll after the session begins, your tuition will be prorated.
We do not offer birthday parties. Due to the popularity of our lessons, our pools are scheduled for lessons most nights and weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions:
Backfloat Baby®

When considering swimming lessons for your infant or toddler, there are many questions that need to be asked. We’ve put together some of the questions we hear most in regards to our Backfloat Baby® program. If you have additional questions, please contact us!!

FOSS lessons start as early as 6 months and offer beginner levels for all age groups.

Taking part in formal swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning among children aged 1 to 4 years. (1) Here at FOSS our Backfloat Baby® program is designed for little swimmers age 6 months to 3 years. Parents and swimmers laugh and learn together.

While there are great benefits to getting started as early as 6 months, you know what is best for your family. Because our Backfloat Baby® classes require an adult in the water, it is more important to have Mom and Dad on board for the weekly lesson. For families who prefer to wait until their swimmers can take lessons independent of a parent, we offer beginner levels for all age groups. Just remember, the window of opportunity to learn to swim well begins to close at 6 and is almost completely closed by age 11. (2)

(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts.
(2) Cecil Colwin, Breakthrough Swimming

Swimmers who participate in the Backfloat Baby® program have a number of advantages:

  • They are able to gain an introduction to lessons with the added comfort of having Mom or Dad (Grandma, Grandpa, or another trusted caregiver…) right there with them.
  • They are given a very early introduction to the fundamental skills taught in the older levels and mistakes can be fixed before they have a chance to become bad habits.
  • They are given the opportunity to form safe habits (walking on the pool deck, proper entry/exit, how to react if they fall in the water, etc.) at an earlier age.
  • Graduates of the Backfloat Baby® program will have mastered many independent skills and in some cases will be able to move directly to a higher level in the Littles program (3-5 years).

It is so much more! In each Backfloat Baby® class, you will enter the water with your little one and your instructor will lead you through a series of songs and games. Each activity is geared towards the age and development of the swimmers and is designed to teach a specific skill set. Skills taught throughout the 4 levels of Backfloat Baby® classes range from water adjustment to safe entry and exit of the water to independent paddling and back floats.

Each class you attend will follow roughly the same routine from the start of class to the finish. While the routine will seem repetitive to you as an adult, it is vitally important to creating an ideal learning environment for children of this age. The routine helps them to know what will happen next and this aids in comfort, confidence, trust, and a sense of control – all of which promote better learning.

The Backfloat Baby® program is designed to acclimate our youngest students to the water and eventually help them to transition into independent classes more successfully. You will be amazed what babies and toddlers are capable of in the water!

Children just starting out will learn:

  • Water Adjustment Skills
  • Breath Control
  • Comfort with short submersions
  • Comfort on their back, relaxing with their ears submerged under water (with full support)
  • Proper response to falling in the water (turn, swim to wall, and climb out.)
  • Depth awareness

Graduates of the Backfloat Baby® program will have learned:

  • Independent swimming for short distances with no floatation
  • Independent back float
  • Flipping from back to front independently
  • Flipping from front to back with assistance
  • Independently entering water over their head and safely climbing out
  • A joy and healthy respect of the water!

All children under the age of 3 are required to wear a reusable swim diaper. While we understand that some children are potty trained before age 3, we also know that accidents do happen. A child that normally is very good about communicating when they need to use the bathroom may not realize the effect 91 degree warm water can have on a little body or may get caught up in the fun of swimming and not want to leave. If an accident does happen, depending on the nature of the accident, the pool must be closed until it is safe to swim again. This can result in numerous children missing out on their swimming lessons that day. To prevent this, we do require all children under age 3 to wear reusable swim diapers.

We require that all swimmers under age 3 wear a reusable swim diaper. While there are many disposable swim diapers on the market today, these products rarely seal as effectively around the waist and legs as the reusable swim diapers. As children in our classes are moving around and climbing in and out of the pool, an effective seal is necessary to prevent leaks. Because a leaky diaper can lead to pool closures and missed lessons for numerous children, we choose to require the more effective reusable swim diapers.

In most cases we recommend any swimmer under age 3 starts with our Backfloat Baby® 1 class, whether they are 6 mos. old or 35 mos. old. The Backfloat Baby® 1 class is much more than just “songs and games for babies.” The class is designed to teach each child how to properly hold their breath, how to hold their body to allow them to back float, how to safely enter and exit a pool with out stairs, and so much more! The class is also designed to help teach you, the parent, how to teach your child. You will learn different ways to hold your swimmer in order to better support them as they learn to float on their back, to teach them how to properly climb out of the water if they fall in, the proper way to hold them when practicing submersions, valuable information about water safety and the reasons why certain skills are so important, and even the words to all those songs! Even for a young swimmer who is comfortable in a pool with floatation, loves the bath tub, or already puts their face in, there can be great advantages to starting at the beginning and learning the fundamentals of the skills.

However, there are those swimmers who have already mastered the skills of a supported back float with ears fully submerged and short submersions under water. If this is your situation, call our office and they can help you find the right level for your swimmer.

One of the reasons we start lessons at 6 months is that, in most cases, a fear of the water has not set in. By getting ahead of it and introducing water adjustment in a safe and baby friendly environment, odds are good your child will develop a healthy respect and joy of the water rather than fear.

However, some babies and young toddlers will already have developed a fear or dislike of the water. In these cases, we highly recommend sticking your lessons out as stopping or avoiding water could cause a child’s fear to become worse as they grow older. Most importantly, keep up a strong line of communication with your instructor. They will help you pinpoint what skills are making your child nervous and introduce you to various coping mechanisms to work on with your little one both in the pool and at home. They can also help introduce various skills and games to help your child find something they do enjoy. If your swimmer is crying in class, don’t feel that you need to force participation in every skill. Work with your instructor to find modified exercises or games to help with increasing comfort while still practicing skills. With the right approach, constant encouragement, and a whole lot of patience, your little one will be splashing and smiling in the water!!

State law prohibits glass and food on the pool deck. A plastic baby bottle or water bottle may be brought on the pool deck. Please enjoy any snacks in our view room.
Many parents are surprised to find that their child is more comfortable submerging under water than floating on their backs. This is due to a number of reasons, the main one being that in order to float independently on their back, a child’s ears must be fully submerged under water. Doesn’t sound scary, but remember that our balance is controlled by our inner ears. Water flowing in and around the ear can cause a child to feel as though they are falling. It is a strange sensation that often is overcome by exposure and repetition. Eventually, with enough exposure, that feeling will be completely normal.

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