ISR Self-Rescue® Survival Swim Lessons vs. Traditional Swim Lessons: Do You Know The Difference?

Every year it seems I get the same question from parents regarding the cost of ISR Self-Rescue® instruction lessons versus traditional lessons. The best explanation I can give was written by fellow Michigan ISR Master Instructor Michael Petrella 4 years ago, he writes:

"​I did the math on traditional swim lessons vs. ISR lessons. The rate I received from the local YMCA was $80 for a four-day session, 45 minutes per day. The Instructor to student ratio for the little ones, 3-year-old with little to no skills, is 4 students to 1 Instructor. (This is being generous. The ratio is more likely 6 to 1.) That works out to $80 for 45 minutes per student. I charge $75 a week and you get 50 minutes of one-on-one, specialized instruction from an aquatics behavioral specialist that has his own children and understands them, not a 19-year-old college swimmer home on summer break. I’m talking about an ISR Instructor schooled in behavior psychology and the aspects of sensorimotor learning, and shaping behavior, physiological conditions as they relate to the water, emotional learning, who has spent over 80 hours studying video and analyzing the effects of positive reinforcement and how it is applied at the precise moment in time to be effective. Oh, I almost forgot, with ISR you do have to pay a $105.00 application fee so our DOCTORS & NURSES on staff can ensure your child will receive a safe lesson. Yes, we have real-life doctors and nurses that review registrations. Here is the most important thing to consider. At the end of what would be 6 sessions (6 weeks), your child will have REAL skills to swim and more importantly rollback to float to save their life in an emergency situation. I’m talking fully clothed with jeans and a sweatshirt and shoes and a diaper on. Did I mention that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under 4? The sooner the safer! Don’t even get me started on the dangers of ‘Pop Tot’ & ‘Mommy & Me’ classes that teach babies that water is fun without teaching them what to do if they go and get into all that fun!"

If cost is not the issue then think about the quality of instruction you are receiving.  My question when you shopped for a car seat, did you buy the cheapest one or did you look at the ratings and get the best car seat with the best safety record?

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