Frequently Asked Questions
What sets you apart from other swim schools?
Just one of the BIG differences your child will experience with lessons at Little Strokes Swim Academy is our professional swim instructors! All of our experienced adult instructors are former swimmers and swim coaches who have years of competitive swimming and swim coaching under their belts. All of our instructors are high school graduates; we do not begin hiring at age 15 like other swim schools. When looking at recent employment ads for other swim schools, we couldn't help but notice "No swimming experience necessary! Minimum age 15!" on almost every single one. Competitive swimming experience is a job requirement at Little Strokes. We feel that someone instructing swimming should be a former swimmer and an adult, no exceptions. All of the training our instructors receive is spent on how to instruct, not how to swim. Being able to boast instructors who are themselves; swimmers, coaches and teachers, means that our instructors not only have the tools to teach the science of swimming, but a fundamental love and understanding of the sport.
What is your make-up policy?
At least 7 days notice is required for any planned absences, and each swimmer is allowed 2 unplanned absences per year for illness or other unexpected events, provided we are notified before the absence. A makeup lesson will be put on your account for family-generated absences as listed above; once you reach 2 unplanned absences no makeups will be provided. Credits will not be given for these family-generated planned and unplanned absences. Additionally, we are unable to provide you with a makeup lesson if you contact us after you've already missed your lesson. Makeup lessons are to be used outside of your normal swim lessons time, they cannot be used as payment for future lessons in your same class spot.
Makeup lessons stay on your account for one year from the absence/cancellation date, and your swimmer does not need to be currently enrolled to schedule a makeup! The makeup lesson must be completed before the one year expiration date. Additionally, If your swimmer has a makeup lesson on their account, they DO NOT need to use it during the current session. Makeups from the School Year Session can be used during the Summer Session, even if your child is not enrolled in the Summer Session.
If Little Strokes cancels lessons because of inclement weather, instructor illness, or chemical issues, etc. a makeup lesson will be placed on your account the following day or shortly thereafter. These Little Strokes-generated makeup lessons can be turned into credits within 60 days of the makeup lesson.
Please allow for 2 business days for absences to be approved in Jackrabbit by the Office Manager. Thanks for your cooperation & understanding!
Please log into your parent portal to report an absence or schedule a makeup.
What is your severe weather policy?
Closures for severe weather will be determined on a case-by-case basis. With classes every half hour, we have more flexibility than school districts, so will will not follow their closures. We do not close for lightning. If the pool is closed due to the weather, we will notify everyone affected by text and email. If time allows we will post the closure on Facebook. You can send an email or stop at the desk the next week and we can schedule a makeup for the weather cancellation, or you can use the parent portal to find a makeup spot on your own. Please note that makeups are posted in Jackrabbit the day following the closure, not the day of the closure. Credits can be given upon request.
My children are different ages/levels, can they swim in the same class together?
At Little Strokes, we teach to the child, not to a particular class level. The instructor will work with your child on their specific needs, no matter what the class level. We can combine almost all ability levels together into a class, so please let us know if combining siblings together would work for you!
Do you offer any discounts or coupons?
Little Strokes offers a multiple student discount of 10% off your total lessons cost if you enroll more than 3 children per session. All families new to Little Strokes can receive a $10 discount on their first lesson by filling out a referral form. The current Little Strokes family making the referral also receives a $20 discount on their lessons! Throughout the year we may offer coupons in the local paper or fliers distributed around town.
I have a friend looking to enroll their children, do you have a referral program?
We do! For each new family you refer that enrolls at Little Strokes, you will receive a $20 referral credit on your account. What makes it even better? The new family gets a $10 credit on their account as well! The main way our business grows is by word of mouth, so we thank you for taking the time to refer us to your friends.
What makes the pool at Little Strokes more conducive to lessons than other pools?
We keep our water and air at a comfortable 91°, so the pool area is always wonderfully warm! Our pool slopes from 3.5’ to 4.5’, making it the perfect depth for children of all ages. During lessons, children stand on platforms in the water so that they are safely contained and are able to observe the lesson. The lane lines in our pool can be configured in many ways, allowing us appropriate room in each class. Our pool is 28’x42’, and its small size leads to a calmer, quieter environment better suited for learning new skills and gaining confidence in the water.
Why is perfect stroke technique so important?
At Little Strokes we teach your child to swim the four competitive strokes correctly from the day they start our program. Swimming with proper stroke technique is the safest, most efficient way to swim. It is important to eliminate bad habits before they start so why not start at the very beginning? When your child is ready to move onto swim team, they will already have perfected the strokes they need to begin competing right away.
When do you teach treading water?
Treading water is the last skill that we teach once children have a good handle on the 4 competitive strokes. We say this because once your child learns a solid butterfly and breaststroke, treading water becomes second nature. Teaching treading water too early teaches children to swim with their heads up, which is the opposite of what they should be doing.
Why do you require a non-disposable swim diaper instead of something like Little Swimmers?
The material used to absorb water in disposable swim diapers such as Little Swimmers clogs our pool filters. We find that reusable, non-disposable swim diapers work better to keep fecal matter contained while keeping our pool free of fillers and waste. Non-disposable swim diapers are required for any children not yet potty-trained, and are available for sale at the front desk. Non-disposable swim diapers also fit more snugly around the legs and waist.
What is continuous enrollment?
At Little Strokes we offer 2 different sessions per year - School Year and Summer - to provide greater flexibility in scheduling. Once your swimmer has registered for a specific class, they will stay enrolled in that class for the session unless they’d like to change classes or cancel their enrollment. Occasionally an instructor’s schedule may change, and we will work with those families to find an appropriate class. Since lessons are continuous, we will no longer charge per session, but instead will charge per month. Monthly costs are calculated based on the number of each day of the week each month. Tuesday might have 4 classes and Wednesday might have 5. On the 20th of the month, your credit card on file will be charged for the upcoming month. (January 2025’s lessons will be processed on credit cards on December 20th, 2024). If you would like to stop lessons, we need to know at least one month ahead of time to be sure to remove any upcoming credit card processing. No refunds will be given for cancellations with less than a month notice.
Enrollment for school year sessions will be carried over from one school year to the next, but summer registration will be open and schedule changes are encouraged. If you are able to move to a morning class in the summer, we appreciate it. You will need to register for summer lessons even if you are enrolled in school year lessons.
We will award wristbands 4 times per year. The upcoming wristband weeks are:
2024: December 15-21
2025: March 15-21. June 1-7.
The dates lessons will be closed in 2024 & 2025 are:
2024: October 31 PM. November 25-December 1. December 21-31
2025: January 1, March 22-30. April 20-21. May 24-26.
Session dates:
School Year 2024-2025 Session Starts: September 6th, 2024
School Year 2024-2025 Session Ends: June 7, 2025
Can I have a copy of the New Enrollment Welcome Packet I received when I registered?
Yes! If you are unable to locate the welcome email from Little Strokes, simply click on the button below to download a pdf copy. The Welcome Packet includes information about reporting absences, our makeup policy, our severe weather policy, as well as step-by-step tutorials for the most common tasks in Jackrabbit.