It’s free to sign up!

Step 1: Once on our website (Swim-Buddies.com) select “Sign up”

Step 2: “Create a Client profile”:

• Add Swimmers (multiple add)
• Select Swimmer color 
• To show on your Swim Buddies Calendar 
• Any relevant info for each swimmer that instructor should know (bio, previous experience with water, medical info, fun interests, goals)
• This information will be shared with the instructor when you request a booking with your instructor.
• This information will help instructores personalize their class to the Swimmer’s needs.
• Sign waver for swimmers

Step 3: Verify your identity

• Once you complete and submit your identity verification it will notify our team that your profile is ready for review. Keep your eye on your email for approval or next steps. You should hear from us within ###. Once approved your profile will be visible in the Swim Buddies marketplace and you will be able to contact instructores.
• If you change your mind and no longer want to use Swim Buddies, select I no longer want to be a Client on Swim Buddies at the bottom of the page.

Book now pay letter

• Allows you to schedule classes in advance. No need to pay in advance for lessons happening weeks away. 
• Payout process: You will be charged for your class once it is complete. Payments will be paid to your instructor’s bank account once class is complete

Add a payment method to your account:

• To complete your profile and be able to book classes, you must add a payment method:
• “Profile” → “Manage My Account” → “Payment Details”
• PayPal/Credit information saved to profile to book a class.

Class Insights

• “Profile” →  “Manage My Account” → “Class History”
• Future classes (monthly calendar view)
• Different colour for each Swimmer
• Type of class
• Price of class
• instructor name
• Time
• Class history (monthly calendar view)
• Different colour for each Swimmer
• Type of class
• Price of class
• instructor name
• Time

To modify a booking, clients will need to cancel the class and re-book it. 

We understand things happen and you may need to cancel your booked class. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry! You can cancel your class by going into your Class Calendar → selecting the class you want to book → Select “Cancel this class” or ”Cancel this and all future classes”. This will notify your instructor right away of the Cancelation and open the spot as available in the Swim Buddies marketplace. 

Note: When selecting “Cancel this and all future re-occurring classes” you will be canceling all classes made by this account on the date and time selected. If you have a separate class booked on a separate day and/or time with this client and would like to cancel that as well, it will need to be done separately through clicking into that specific class.

Cancelation Policy: If you cancel within 48hrs of the booked class you will be charged for the full class.

Swim Buddies instructores set their own Class price which is transparently shown on each instructores profile.

Prices can vary because instructores take various factors into account when setting their rate including:

• • Experience
  • Length of classes
  • Type of class
    

Instructores are recommended to set prices competitive with similar offerings at local pools and are not to ask for tips.

There are many great perks to joining Swim Buddies including:

• At home swim lessons! No need to go anywhere, instructores can come to you.
• Small, high quality classes
• More focus and feedback to each swimmer 
• See improvements faster!
• Safety
• Choose your instructor
• Pick who joins your class
• Schedule your class based on your availability
• Competitive pricing
• Support local instructores directly!
• Easy to book in just a few taps.

You can find the information on each instructors profile.

Instructors can teach anyone from 4months and up. As a parent, you can decide when it is the right time to start. For swimmers ages 5yo and below, 30min classe lengthes are recommended.

All swim abilities are welcome; from beginners to competitive!

All Swim Buddies instructores must be 18 years old or older with valid, up to date, nationally recognized certificates, and a passed background check.

Lifesaving Society certifications can be verified through Lifesaving Society website through Find a Member by searching the instructores Member ID. 

Instructores generally use the programs they are certified in, such as Lifesaving Society Instructor, as the basis for their lesson plans and feedback. Additionally, small class sizes allow instructores to personalize the class based on the individual swimmer’s skills and learning goals. Each instructor adds their own teaching style, expertise, techniques to their classes!

The fundamentals of swimming across all programs generally include:

• Comfortability in water
• Breathing
• Floating
• Gliding
• Kicks and Propulsion
• Stroke Timing and Coordination in:
  • Front Crawl
  • Back Crawl
  • Breaststroke
  • Butterfly
• Treading 

Additionally, instructores can also teach water safety skills such as:

• Shallow and deep-water entries (pool permitting)
• Safe behavior around the water

All instructors must pass a background check which verifies there are no past criminal convictions.

We work with a reputable online background check company to process the government database to process verified background checks. 2 pieces of ID are required and one must be 18 years of age or older to complete it.

Yes! Your friends can invite you to their swim class or they can choose to give you writen permission to use their pool for your class. 

It is never too late to start! Many adults chose to learn swimming.

There are various motives to wanting to learn how to swim or to improve your swim skills. For example, Swimming is a great low impact way to exercise, increase circulation, and de-stress at any age.

Accidents do happen. To avoid your class being disrupted of cancelled, if a swimmer is not yet 100% potty trained, Swim Diapers are mandatory to wear during swim class.

Instructores can cancel a class if the swimming conditions are not appropriate. If a child has an accident in the pool or a non-swim diaper explodes, the instructor will need to evacuate the pool and the class may be canceled.

Connect with your insrtuctor on your swimmers swim goals.

You can also refrence this level conversion chart:

Swimming, like any new skill, takes practice and progression is different for everyone. Some individuals need more practice than others and that is okay! It does not mean anything is wrong. Some factors that affect progression may include:

• • Frequency of classes
    • it is recommended to have swim classes 2-3 times a week to maintain promote progression and minimize regression between classes.
  • Previous swimming knowledge
  • Coordination
  • Focus during class
  • Individual Swim goals
    • For example, “Learning how to swim” can mean being able to float and doggy paddle to some, and to others it may mean learning strong front crawl and tread water.

Most instructores will provide feedback to students directly during the class as well as summarize progress after each class. It is up to the instructor to provide report cards to their swimmers. instructores may also provide summaries through SMS, email or PDF, at their discretion.

At a minimum, you should bring a bathing suit, towel, hair tie (for long hair), flip flops, Swim Diaper (for swimmers who are not 100% potty trained yet) and goggles to every lesson. You can also opt to bring a swim cap.

Feel free to connect with your instructor regarding any ther equipment needed for the class.

Instructores will ensure they have all equipment necessary available at their lesson. Whether they are allowed to use the equipment at the pool or they bring equipment with them.

Swimming lessons are a great gift for someone that would like to learn to swim. We are working on making this option available soon!

If you are running late to your class, just send a message to your instructor with updates. When you arrive, you can still enjoy the remainder of the booked class time. Note that the Class will not be extended if the swimmer arrives late.

Complete the remaining time of class and discuss with your instructor some options: such as extra time at next class.

Please reach out to Swim Buddies if this happens. Instructores that show a pattern of late arrivals may be removed from the platform.

All pools used for swim lessons must maintain pool temperature and chemistry adherence with regional safety standards. 

Ensure pool chemistry test logs are up to date and available to view.

Rare situations where pool water is unsuitable for use including incidents of vomit or fecal matter, instructor will cancel the remainder of the class. Please report this to Swim Buddies.

Start your own swim lesson business and get connected with clients around your area with 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Once on our website (Swim-Buddies.com) select “Sign up”

Step 2: “Create a Coach profile”:

• Select your services and set your price.
• Select one colour for each service to show on your Swim Buddies Calendar
• Personalize your profile to stand out! (Bio, experience, interests, certs)
• (Tips on how to make your profile stand out here: ****)

Step 3: Complete a Background Check (Vulnerable sector check)

• Once you complete and submit your VSC this will notify our team that your profile is ready for review. Keep your eye on your email for approval or next steps. You should hear from us within ###. Once approved your profile will be visible in the Swim Buddies marketplace and clients will be able to contact you.
• If you change your mind and no longer want to use Swim Buddies, select I no longer want to be a Coach on Swim Buddies at the bottom of the page.

Ensure your certifications are  valid and up to date.

Direct Deposite *****

If you are running late to your Class, connect with your Client as soon as possible with updates. When you arrive, you can still enjoy the remainder of the booked class time. Accommodations may be arranged between you and your client to make up the time. For example, arrange for a longer class next class to make up for missed time.

Note: Your client may report your late arrival to Swim Buddies. Coaches that show a pattern of late arrivals may be removed from the platform

The best way to do avoid large gaps in your day is to start with your most open availability, then once you've got your first booking for the day, reduce the hours to show you are only available on times directly adjacent to the booked class. As the adjacent hours fill up, continue to add available hours and grow a multi-hour day with no gaps.

If you travel between client locations, it is recommended to leave some time blocked off between lessons to allow you time to clean up, give feedback summary to clients, use the bathroom, have a snack etc. and arrive on time for your next class. Adjust this gap based on class locations.

All Swim Buddies instructors must have a nationally recognized certificate from Lifesaving society. 

Other learn to swim programs or coaching certifications such as YMCA, NCCP, Total Immersion, etc. can be valuable in helping a Coaches profile stand out. However, these certifications, on their own, cannot currently be used.

Some of certifying partners do offer transfer courses that will bring you up to speed on Lifesaving Society curriculum in much less time than starting the courses from the beginning.

All Swim Buddies Coaches are independent operators who are responsible for obtaining and maintaining their own certifications. 

When a class is booked in your calendar, you will receive a text message and/or email notification from Swim Buddies. You can edit the notification preferences in profile settings. This notification will alert you of your new booking and accept of reject it. To view all booking information, log in to your Swim Buddies account. All your bookings can be viewed in your profile calendar.

Photos or videos are great for recording swim progress, reviewing strokes, or sharing your learn-to-swim journey with friends and family. Clients and students should feel welcome to take photos and videos at their lessons if they discuss and receive consent from both ends.

Coaches are not required to wear a specific uniform while teaching. It is encouraged to wear appropriate and comfortable swimming attire that will keep you adequately warm in the water.

There are various ways to provide feedback to your swimmers. Here are some resources to the most common publicly available swim program documents, complete with detailed worksheets, report cards, and curriculum comparisons:

Lifesaving Society Swim For Life:

• Parent & Tot Worksheets
• Preschool Worksheets
• Swimmer Worksheets
• Fitness Swimmer Worksheets
• Adult Worksheets
• Swimabilities Worksheets
• Parent & Tot Progress Cards: Colour | Black/White
• Preschool Progress Cards: Colour | Black/White
• Swimmer Progress Cards: Colour | Black/White
• Fitness Swimmer Progress Cards: Colour | Black/White
• Adult Progress Cards: Colour | Black/White
• Curriculum Comparison Charts
• Canadian Red Cross Swim & Lifesaving Society Swim For Life
• YMCA Swim & Lifesaving Society Swim For Life
• Canadian Red Cross Swim & YMCA Swim
• I Can Swim & Lifesaving Society Swim For Life

Please note, the documents above are hosted by their respective parent organizations and are made available for educational purposes only, in line with the principles of fair use.