Everything You Need To Know TO Get Started At X Lab!
Everything you need should be right here – but if we’ve missed out on your question, reach out and we’ll get back to you in a jiffy!
LeARN TO SWIM FOR KIDS AND ADULTS
Because every learner has different abilities, fears and apprehensions, there’s no fixed answer to this question!
At X Lab, we believe building an individual’s water confidence and body awareness come first. This starts with building up their knowledge about how to enter and exit the pool safely, ability to blow bubbles from nose and mouth, and independently using a kick board to move around the pool with confidence.
Thereafter, the time taken to learn to swim varies since every individual has different strengths and learns at a different rate – and that’s not a bad thing!
We cap our classes small enough for swimmers to benefit from both individualised attention based on their developmental needs and the social experience of learning with their peers!
Preschool: 1 instructor : 4 swimmers
Beginner: 1 instructor : 6 swimmers
Intermediate & Adults: 1 instructor : 8 swimmers
All our swimming lessons are capped at 50 minutes, catering to swimmers’ attention spans and energy levels.
Preschool: 45 minutes per class
Beginner, Intermediate & Adult: 50 minutes per class
Our Children's Learn to Swim programme is structured across 20 levels, spanning targeted modules for Preschool, Beginner and Intermediate swimmers.
Our Adult Learn to Swim programme is customised to participants’ needs objectives and structured accordingly.
Enrolling your child at the appropriate level for them is incredibly important – and that’s why each child who joins us first participates in a free trial, where our friendly coaches assess their water confidence and abilities, and go on to assign them to the most appropriate level. As part of our community, swim assessments take place every 12 weeks to ensure children are learning at a level appropriate to them.
ADVANCING TO THE COMPETITIVE SQUAD
It’s ideal that each child completes their respective programme, but we recognise that their learning progression ultimately depends on their goals!
If your child’s objective in learning to swim is to build survival skills, we recommend completing Beginner Level 8. By then, the child will be able to swim the front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke with confidence.
If their objective is to join our Competitive Squad, or to learn the butterfly, or to keep fit through swimming, we recommend progressing to the Intermediate programme.
They definitely can – our team encourages children to learn to swim as best and as fast as they can, based on their own learning goals!
Friendly, no-pressure assessments are conducted every 12 weeks. Swimmers are promoted to the next level if they have demonstrably achieved their current level’s learning objectives -children showing exceptional progress may be recommended by their coaches to jump levels.
Unfortunately, we’re not able to assess kids at a different date because assessments involve external assessors. But don’t worry – if your child is deemed to be progressing well by their Instructor, they will still learn the appropriate skills for the next level. At X Lab, assessments are designed to formalise what children have learned – so skipping an assessment does not mean in any way that they might will fall behind or miss out.
Learn to Swim children who have completed the Intermediate 1 (I1) level are encouraged to try out for the Competitive Squad!
Tryouts take place at the end of each Learn to Swim term. Dates and times are announced poolside and via email... or drop us a message to book your spot!
Competitive Squad tryouts last an hour, and take place concurrent to our regular Squad training.
During the tryout, your child will be asked to demonstrate their proficiency in swimming breaststroke, front crawl and backstroke. Proficiency in butterfly is not a requirement, but may allow your child to be placed in a higher squad.
Your child will also get to meet our Competitive Squad swimmers and our coaches, and are welcome to ask any questions they may have.
Tryouts are designed to be no pressure, exploratory sessions. Swimmers who are not yet ready to commit to Squad trainings are also welcome to return to their Learn to Swim classes, just with the extra knowledge that a spot in the Competitive Squad awaits them whenever they are ready to make the transition!
Absolutely! We've put a few things in place to make sure every Learn to Swim swimmer who qualifies for the Competitive Squad can transition easily.
New intakes start after each quarterly tryout, which means your child will join the Squad in the company of their fellow Learn to Swim graduates.
During their first three months, new joiners will be mentored by our Head Coach Jared Butler during their trainings. This makes sure they're not just grounded with solid swim technicals, but are welcomed and valued as squad members from the get-go!
Lastly, we help our new joiners transition by equipping parents with all the information you need to support your child! Wondering what to expect from their first meet? or what happens during training? or how to balance training with school work? Our coaches are always available for a chat and to help with any questions you may have.
Wet Weather & Attendance
Stuff happens – we get it! Learn to Swim swimmers who miss class with an illness covered by a valid Medical Certificate will be credited with 1 lesson credit that can be used to offset the following term’s fees. This means that if one class (out of 12) is missed in Term 1, you need only to pay for 11 classes in Term 2. If a class has to be missed for a reason that is not supported by a Medical Certificate – such as a scheduling conflict – we’re happy to offer a makeup class, subject to a fit of schedule and activity.
Competitive and Masters fees are paid on a monthly basis, for unlimited trainings during the month. Swimmers who miss training due to illness or scheduling conflicts are therefore welcome to attend training at an alternate time of your choice - no special arrangements needed!
Thanks to our sheltered and indoor pools, classes take place rain or shine, and are usually only cancelled in the case of lightning or haze. That said, should a class get cancelled due to poor weather, swimmers will receive a one lesson credit that can be used to offset fees for the following term. For example: If two classes (out of 12) are missed in Term 1 due to wet weather, you need only to pay for ten classes in Term 2. For Competitive Squad swimmers, training will switch to land-based training in the event of bad weather. Masters swimmers who have training cancelled due to poor weather are welcome to attend training at an alternate time of your choice.
We recognise that weather can vary significantly – while it might be raining at your location, the weather may be fine in other areas of Singapore! This is tricky, we know.
Official bad weather cancellations can only be made 15 minutes before the start of class. For example: A swim class scheduled for 4pm will be cancelled if bad weather persists at 3:45pm.
Learn to Swim classes will be cancelled if there are 15 minutes of consistent inclement weather, starting from the time class is scheduled to start.
For example: A swim class scheduled at 4:00pm will be canceled if inclement weather persists at 4:15pm.
In the case of wet or inclement weather, we consider a class that is cut short by 30 minutes or more as not delivered. In this case, parents will receive a class credit for the next term. For Competitive Squad swimmers, training will switch to land-based training in the event of bad weather.
Our Coaches
All our coaches have gone through an 80-hour Swimming Instructor programme jointly certified by Sports Schooling and International Sports Academy, which includes training about theory, practical, on-the-job training, and a completed first aid and CPR/AED. But our coaches’ learning doesn’t stop there – coaches undergo continuous professional development during their tenure at X Lab – including regular practical workshops, training in child-centered pedagogy, and more.
Our Learn-To-Swim programmes are headed by Jade Ariadne and our Competitive Squad is lead by Jared Butler who bring incredible backgrounds in professional-level sports, sports science and a passion for investing in others’ growth to the teams they lead. Read more about our Head Coaches here!
We understand that anyone can bond and grow attached to their favourite coach!
While we try to minimise coach changes as far as possible, there are instances when switching coaches may be necessary – when a child advances to the next level, for example. That said, all our coaches are equipped to deliver the same engaging swim experience; every coach completes the same 80-hour Swimming Instructor programme – spanning sports theory, practicals, on-the-job training, first aid and CPR/AED – in addition to being trained in child-centered pedagogy and practices. So in the event that a swimmer has to switch coaches during their time at X Lab, we’re confident that it’s only a matter of time ‘til their new instructor becomes their new favourite swim coach!
Swimmers are welcome to indicate their preference for the gender of their swim coach, and our team tries our best to accommodate these requests as far as possible. However, we can’t guarantee that this preference will be able to be met as it is contingent on scheduling complexities.
All our coaches are equipped to deliver the same effective and consistent fun-filled and child-centered swim experience. As such, we are unable to change coaches based on individual requests. However, if there is a specific and valid reason for this request, our team will be happy to explore how we might arrange a transfer to another class that better meets your child's needs.
Life happens, and coaches need the occasional break too! Swimmers and/or their parents will be informed if an instructor will be absent or on leave, and a suitable relief instructor will be assigned to cover their class class.
Rest assured that all coaches are fully equipped to deliver the lessons and block plans they’ve been assigned to, and are all set to deliver the same effective and consistent child-centered swimming experience.
We understand that swimmers can get attached to their coaches, and may feel reluctant to be transferred to a new coach – our team minimises coach changes as far as possible for this reason.
However, there are instances when switching coaches may be necessary after an assessment, and this is because while our coaches undergo the same holistic and comprehensive training in swim instruction, child-centered pedagogy and more – they also bring to the table their own strengths and specialised teaching techniques. In the event that a swimmer should have to switch coaches during their time at X Lab, we’re confident that it’s only a matter of time ‘til their new instructor becomes their new favourite swim coach!
Our Pool And Facilities
Our Olympic-sized pools and world-class facilities are based out of the XCL Campus in Yishun.
If you’re looking for Learn-To-Swim programmes elsewhere in Singapore, our sister school The Swim Lab runs equally excellent swim programmes for kids and adults in Bukit Timah and Buona Vista!
Kids and adults learning to swim have access to a heated, fully-sheltered pool with a depth of 0.8-1.07m, while our competitive squads train in a partially-sheltered, non-heated Olympic-sized pool with a depth of 1.5-2.0m.
Our pools are also equipped with showers and changing rooms so cleaning up and drying off after a swim class or training session is easy peasy!
It is, and it’s free!
Fees, Payment & Registration
We do! All new swimmers participate in a friendly free trial with the objectives of matching their ability to a suitable level, and to introduce them to our programme and swim facilities.
If you’re new – welcome to the X Lab community, we’re excited to have you join us! As a rule of thumb, we ask that payment is made in full via PayNow or bank transfer before the start of term so as to secure your spot.
Term fees paid are non-refundable and non-transferable. We hope that all enrolments will be considered with care and invite you to contact us should you have any questions or concerns prior to registration.
Term
There is! Kids and adults in the Learn-To-Swim programme receive a swim starter kit comprising swim cap, drawstring bag, and towel that will come in handy as they swim with us after confirming their registration with a one-time fee of $50.
Kids joining the competitive squad will be equipped with a competitive kit which costs $340 for girls and $340 for boys. This comprises 2 personalised tees and 1 personalised Turbo backpack embroidered with your child’s name, 1 Turbo swim suit and 1 jacket, so they’ll be all geared up and excited to kickstart their competitive swim adventure.
Please refer to our individual programme pages for comprehensive information about our fees.
Everything Else!
We welcome each swimmer to come to class as they are – whether they bring their excitement, fear, nerves, or boundless energy! That said, appropriate swimming gear, goggles, swim cap, towel, sunscreen, and a set of fresh clothes to change into will be needed as well. A swim cap and towel will be included in each registration pack!
We highly recommend that swimmers wear a swim cap to prevent hair from getting on their faces – every swimmer will be issued their own swim cap upon registration!
We’re happy to explore requests for private classes, subject to the availability of our coaches. However we firmly believe that group lessons provide the ideal environment for individuals to learn from each other and to benefit from interaction with their peers.
X Lab’s Children's Learn-To-Swim curriculum differs from SwimSafer in that our lesson plans are more expansive and less compressed, and focus on strong swim fundamentals, and also cater to toddlers. If you’re keen to find out more about the specific details, please reach out to our team anytime!
C
Our certificates have been recognized by many schools to fulfil the same criteria as SwimSafer 2.0. However, we definitely recommend that parents check with their school administration regarding exemption criteria. Should you like advice about the level a child has to complete at X Lab in order to be exempted from the closest SwimSafer 2.0 equivalent, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.