North Toronto Aquatic Club - Frequently Asked Questions

1. How and when can I register? Registration for the regular 8 month session takes place during the summer. It starts as soon as the new season is announced in June and continues until the club is full. Returning members may register before we accept new members. The families of new children will be contacted to set up a Water Test.

2. I am a returning member and forgot to register? Please register on-line. If all the classes are full, you may email the club with your request. In September, if something comes available due to a withdrawal, we will contact you.

3. What/when is the Water Test? All children, new to our Children’s Swim Classes, must come in for a Water Test so that we may place them in the best level. We schedule the Water Test for September, before our season starts, on the same day of the week as your lessons. At the time of the Water Test, we confirm the time of the lesson. It also gives parents a chance to see our pool, and to meet our Aquatic Supervisor and a few of our instructors. Teens may contact the club and book a Water Test to determine if they are ready for Lifesaving and Instructor courses. Adults do not require a Water Test.

4. Can I FAX, e-mail, or drop-off my application and payment or give you my credit card number? All registration is now being handled on-line. Please follow the link to Quick Enrollment to register. Please do not email the club any application or payment information. If all the classes you are interested in are full, you may email the club with your request. In September, if something comes available due to a withdrawal, we will contact you.

5. Do we need to live in the area in order to join the club? There are no geographic restrictions to joining the club. Most NTAC swimmers live south of Wilson Avenue, north of Eglinton Ave, west of Bayview Ave, and east of Bathurst Ave. We urge families coming from longer distances to consider whether they will be prepared to make the weekly drive, particularly during the winter months.

6. My child has been swimming every day during the summer and/or passed a level at camp. I am registering them in a level higher than when they finished in the spring. Please register your child in the level they were assigned at the end of our term. We will move them to the appropriate level during the first couple of weeks of class.

7. We are new members and my child has finished Level OgoPogo 1. Can I register him in Level 02? Please refer to our Level Descriptions, found in Children’s Programs to best determine the level. Then register your child. If we accept you into the club, we will schedule a Water Test before the beginning of term. At the Water Test we will confirm the level and lesson time. This will give you an opportunity to see our pool and meet a few of our staff including our Aquatic Supervisor.

8. My child is almost 3. Can she start at the beginning of the term? All children must be 3 before they start lessons. Children can start after their 3rd birthday, if space permits. Please email the club with your request.

9. Can I try out a few classes before deciding whether to register? NTAC does not allow ‘try-outs’. You must register and you may then withdraw as per the refund policy if you decide not to continue.

Refunds, Credits & Make-up classes

1. What is your refund policy?
a) All refunds will be issued by cheque.
b) Full Refund: If we cannot accept you, we will process a full refund.
c) Cancellations: must be made in writing or via e-mail (info@ntac.ca)

Children’s Swim Classes	Before the fifth class; refund less a $50 non-refundable charge. After the fifth class – no refunds.
Lifesaving & Instructor Courses	No refund after the start of the first class.
Adult Swim Classes	Before the fifth class; refund less a $50 non-refundable charge. After the fifth class – no refunds.
Spring Swim Classes	Before the third class; refund less a $25 non-refundable charge. After the third class – no refunds.

2. We want to stop coming for a while; can I get a credit for the balance of the year? No. NTAC does not offer credits if you decide not to continue part way through the season.

3. We are going away/My swimmer has been sick. When can we do make-up classes? NTAC pool time is fully booked and we are not able to accommodate make-up classes.

4. What happens if swimming is cancelled? We make every effort to telephone all swimmers. We will schedule an extra week at the end of term, if scheduling permits.

Children’s Swim Classes

1. What is the ratio of swimmers to instructor? Our Levels 00 to 01 have a 3:1 ratio. This gradually increases to 8:1 for Level 05 and up and for our Intro to Synchro class.

2. How can I watch my child? NTAC believes your child will learn better if they are not distracted by having parents watch. Children who will not go onto the pool deck without a parent present should register elsewhere for a ‘Parent and Tot’ swim program. Our Aquatic Supervisor will find you if your child needs you.

3. When is Parent Viewing Week? We open the Pool Gallery 3 times per year for parent viewing. Check our calendar for specific dates. Our Aquatic Supervisor is available in the Gallery to answer questions at that time.

4. Children’s Fitness Tax Credit Receipts? Receipts are available from Quick Enrollment.

5. Do children pass or get a badge at term end? NTAC has continuous evaluation for regular Learn to Swim lessons. This means your swimmer will pass when he/she is ready. This can occur any time during the swim season. Sometimes your child may be in a level for more than one entire season. At other times they may progress several times during the year. Swim levels are determined based on skills, not age.

6. Does NTAC use the ‘Ultra’, ‘Swimmer’, ‘Tadpole’, or ‘SwimKids’ Levels? NTAC has developed our own 14 Level children’s learn to swim program (Level 00 - Level 13). We believe learning to swim is a life skill; regardless of which ‘system’ is used. Our program has fewer items to be mastered in the lower levels, and our highest level far exceeds the highest level of the Red Cross, Lifesaving Society and City of Toronto programs. We can let you know which level to register your child in for summer camp upon request.

Lifesaving and Instructor Courses

1. Do you offer ‘crash’ Lifesaving and Instructor courses? NTAC believes that the required skills and endurance are best taught over the course of a term. As such, we do not offer ‘crash’ courses. Our courses start in September and January and they are one term long.

2. How many candidates are in a class? Bronze Star – 8:1 ratio, All other courses – 12:1 ratio.

3. Do you offer recertifications? We do not offer regularly scheduled recertification classes. We sometimes offer a recertification for our staff and can accommodate extra candidates. Contact us for further information.

4. I want my child to start in regular classes in September and move to a Lifesaving/Instructor Course in January. How do I do that? Please register your child in the September course using the on-line process. Then immediately send the club an email with your request for a January transfer. The General Manager will contact you to confirm the transfer and if required, make arrangements for the collection of additional fees.

5. I am confused about the pre-requisites. You may email or call the Club for clarification. NTAC does not determine the pre-requisites. They are set by the Lifesaving Society (416 490-8844) and the Red Cross (905 890-1997). If you are unsure whether your child has the required pre-requisites you must contact the individual organization directly. We cannot contact them on your behalf.

6. Why does NTAC need proof of pre-requisites? The pre-requisites are set by the Lifesaving Society and the Canadian Red Cross. When a candidate successfully completes a course, we include the pre-requisite(s) when submitting the test sheet. To register for Bronze Medallion (if under 13), Bronze Cross, NLS, and Instructors we require a legible photocopy or the 6 digit alphanumeric code found on a permanent Lifesaving Society certificate. To register for Instructors:, we require a legible photocopy of the Canadian Red Cross AWSI or the 8 digit ID# number found on the permanent certificate. Standard First Aid for NLS: we require the 6 digit alphanumeric Lifesaving Society code or we require a legible photocopy if the certificate comes from the Canadian Red Cross, St John Ambulance, or Canadian Ski Patrol.

7. Children’s Fitness Tax Credit Receipts? Receipts are available from Quick Enrollment. Standard First Aid & CPR C is not an eligible course.

Adult Swim Classes

1. What is the difference between learn to swim, masters and open classes? The learn to swim class focuses on skill development and confidence in the water. The masters class is a workout for confident swimmers. The open classes can accommodate all adult swimmers working at their own level.

2. I am a beginning level swimmer. Can I be accommodated? Adults are taught at their own level. Our instructor gears the lessons to your needs.

3. I can swim. Should I join the learn to swim or the masters class? Swimmers in the masters class should be able to easily swim at least 100 m continuously and swim in the deep end. The workouts focus on stamina, technique and endurance. The goal is a 1.5km continuous swim by the end of the season. All others should join the learn to swim or open class.

4. Do you do triathlon training? We do not offer specific triathlon training. We can help with stroke techniques, endurance and speed.

5. How many in a group? We may have a maximum of 12 adult swimmers per class.

Spring Swim Classes

1. Who can register? These classes are for children age 3 and up who are just beginning to swim.

2. How many weeks is the session? The session is 4 weeks long. The children have 2 lessons per week for a total of 8 lessons.

3. When can we register? Registration begins in late March when the spring schedule on our web-site has been updated with the current year’s information.

4. What is the ratio of swimmers to instructors? Our Levels 00 and 01 have a 3:1 ratio. Our Level 02 has a 4:1 and Level 03 has a 6:1 ratio.

5. When is Parent Viewing Week? We open the Pool Gallery once for parent viewing during the spring swim classes. The parent viewing date can be found on the spring schedule.

6. Children’s Fitness Tax Credit Receipts? The Spring Swim Classes are not eligible because the session is too short and does not meet the Revenue Canada criteria.