This intensive program is specifically designed to educate parents (or a close family friend) how to swim with the child in the water. During the first lesson, both the parent and child join the Fast Track Coach in the pool to learn the basic swimming skills. This provides the parent with the tools to continue practicing in-between sessions, reinforcing the swimming skills with the child.

Thereafter, the thirty-minute private lessons (scheduled multiple times per week) consist of only the Fast Track Coach and the child, helping the child progress in these skills and become more independent. The instructor’s goal is to work on the skills with the child in a fun and friendly way, but there may be some tears for a few days since the swimmer is being pushed. About half way through the course, most children are all smiles!

Once equipped, the instructor drops the child into the pool to test the child's independent ability to safely get back to the wall. After the swimmer (at minimum) is able to get back to the wall without assistance, the Fast Track Coach will invite the parent to join the coach and the swimmer into pool to learn the child's range of abilities in the water.

The Fast Track is scheduled for multiple sessions per week, completing the program at a faster pace. The basic skills the Fast Track Coach will cover with the parent and the swimmer include the following:

• Jumping into the water and returning to the wall

• Kicking with a noodle

• Swimming with proper form (a flat body)

• “Choo-chooing” on the wall

• Rowing and kicking to the wall

• Floating on back

• Diving under the water

Note: You may notice that the curriculum for the Fast Track is also covered in the Gradual Track. However, the Fast Track is accelerated and pushes the swimmer to learn the skills faster and in a shorter amount of time. You may explore more about the Gradual Track below.

Water safety is an important life-saving skill, and our Swim Express Coaches take it seriously. Whether the swimmer is 18 months or 12 years, every child will accomplish a different outcome.

By the end of the Water Survival Fast Track course, the child (at minimum) will be able to independently make it to the wall in the pool once tossed in fully clothed. Once achieved, the instructor will continue to refine the basic skills listed above.

Once they have mastered the basic skills, the swimmer receives a ribbon, representing a “ticket” to hop onto the Swim Express Train to begin their swimming journey. You may explore more about our Swim Stations below!