Swimfaster.

Yes. The Pre-Competitive program covers all four strokes swum legally, starts, turns, finishes, pace-clock work and race preparation. It suits swimmers heading for a first meet, preparing for a club tryout, or already racing and stuck at a time.

Once a week keeps a swimmer moving forward steadily. Twice a week is the point at which technical corrections start to hold between sessions instead of resetting, and it is what most swimmers working on stroke changes should aim for. Three times a week suits swimmers training toward competition or working to a deadline.

That is normal and it is not a problem. The first time in the water is an assessment: the coach looks at comfort, breathing, body position and stroke, then recommends the right program. You do not need to self-diagnose before getting in touch.

Group lessons run at Newtonbrook Secondary School, 155 Hilda Avenue, North York, ON M2M 1V6 — just west of Yonge Street, north of Finch Avenue in North York. Private one-to-one lessons run at the North Park pool, 75 N Park Rd, Thornhill, ON L4J 0G6. Summer lessons move to private pools; contact the club for current summer arrangements.

Prices across Toronto vary widely between municipal programs, private clubs and one-to-one coaching. At Double Time Swim Club in North York the published rates are $225 for 4 lessons a month, $325 for 8 and $425 for 12, or $500 for once a week, $750 for twice a week and $1000 for three times a week for a 2.5-month season package, plus $75–$100 an hour for a private one-to-one lesson. Prices exclude HST. A second sibling receives 5% off, a third 10%, and new referrals 15% for that semester.

A swimsuit, a towel, goggles that fit, and a swim cap for swimmers with longer hair. Flip-flops for the deck are useful. Anything else specific to the venue is covered in the Club Policy.

A missed practice can be made up in the following month. Beyond that, rescheduling depends on availability in the current timetable — call or email the club as early as you can and the coach will work out what is possible.

Yes — lessons are sold as monthly blocks of 4, 8 or 12 rather than one lesson at a time, matching training once, twice or three times a week, and larger blocks cost less per lesson. There is also a 2.5-month season package paid as one total, which costs less per month again, and private one-to-one hours booked separately.