Welcome to the Gold Medal Swim School from our family, to your family. Since 1993, the Gold Medal Swim School has been welcoming, teaching, and saving the lives of Arizona swimmers. Founded by Olympic Champion Mike Troy and Olympic Coach Mike Walker, we are committed to providing your family the best swimming experience possible and we look forward to getting to know your family each and every week.
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We come to work every day and simply LOVE KIDS. We love them on the good days AND the tough days. We value you and your children and we thank you for trusting us with them each week. We are committed to making this the best swim school on the planet and we welcome your questions, comments, thanks, feedback, and guidance on how we can make this an even better experience for your children. Please feel free to call or text owner Mike Walker, day or night, at (480) 287-4000.
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We now invite you to dive into the information in the following pages and really soak it all in. In your Welcome Packet, you will learn even more about what makes us special and what sets us apart in the swim school industry. You’ll learn about our staff, our programs, our curriculum, our Core Values, and what make us – us.
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Department Leader of Customer Service Department Leader of Facilities
Please arrive 15 minutes early for your class. Oftentimes babies and toddlers are not afraid of swimming/water but can be intimidated in a new environment.
Arriving early makes all the difference and almost always guarantees a happy swim class!
If you or your swimmer needs to use the bathroom during class, please use our on-deck bathroom.
Safety Staff watch the pool at all times and our transitional safety breaks double the number of eyes on the water and pool deck. Security cameras monitor all classes.
Instructors are drug tested and background checked prior to hire, have 80 to 100 hours of training, and teach weeks of mock classes alongside a trainer before teaching their own classes. We are committed to providing the best quality swim lessons for your child!
After class, you are welcome to play with the toys until the showers clear up. A large, family-friendly shower area is provided for swimmers use after each lesson. Swimsuits must remain on in the shower area at all times.
There are several stalls and changing tables in the changing room to accommodate your family before and after each lesson. Store your belongings on the hooks in the shower area or in the cubbies in the changing room while your swimmer rinses in the shower.
To learn more about our state-of-the-art pool sanitation system and our commitment to a clean and safe environment for your family, click here.
Our Baby Swim program includes 5 Core Values which all carry over to our Learn to Swim and Competitive programs. Everything we do at Gold Medal Swim School starts with the Core Values, from Baby Swim all the way to the Olympics. These five Core Values should be used for life. Laying the groundwork with these values ensures strong and healthy life-long swimmers! The instructor will lead you and your swimmer through skills each week until you both are confident and relaxed with the skills. We believe students should learn to swim at their own pace and should never be forced into an aquatic activity. Each Baby Swim class is 30 minutes in length and includes 15 – 20 skills. 6:1 student/adult to instructor ratio.
Our curriculum utilizes a layered approach and skills are mastered when they are performed successfully with overlapping Core Values. This takes time and practice! Consistent, high-quality repetition leads to mastery and builds a strong platform to launch both confident survivors and great competitors.
Instructors follow timed lesson plans comprised of skills and Core Values, but the real success happens when instructors tailor these to each student’s needs. You can expect to see skills uniquely delivered to each individual student within the group dynamic. Low student to instructor ratios allow us to teach our swimmers more effectively.
Instructors go underwater with students! The only way to properly assess tension and relaxation levels is to actually watch and acknowledge them. We also think it is FUN to go underwater and see smiling faces! Students become more confident when their instructor is doing the skills alongside them.
We go underwater with your swimmer not only to watch them let go of their air, but to check their relaxation, comfort, and stress level. We want to help your swimmer learn to relax as they let go of their air because it gives them the best possible chance to swim fast for a long distance or even propel themselves in a survival situation.
Please contact a staff member if you have forgotten anything, we have extras and are happy to help make your experience as smooth as possible!
Swimmers age three years or younger must wear a reusable swim diaper while in the pool. Disposable diapers and disposable swim diapers are not reliable and are not permitted in the pool. Swim diapers are provided as an annual registration gift and are available for purchase at the front desk.
Parents/caregivers are asked to wear proper swim attire while in the pool. Baby Swim swimmers may also wear a swimsuit over their swim diaper, if desired.
Parents/caregivers are encouraged, but not at all required, to go underwater with their swimmer. We recommend goggles for parents/caregivers, but we do not recommend them for Baby Swim swimmers.
Bring shampoo or soap to rinse off in our shower area after class if you would like. Bring a towel to dry off your swimmer after all that splashing!
Our FREE Unlimited Swim program is offered year-round and provides students the opportunity to take additional classes at no extra charge. We offer Unlimited Swim because we believe consistency is the best way to learn and develop lifesaving swimming skills.
Baby Swim students are eligible for Unlimited Swim. Students must be perpetually enrolled to book Unlimited Swim. We recommend one Unlimited Swim class – in addition to the student’s perpetual class – per week for peak progression.
Unlimited Swim requests are for same-day bookings only. Openings are limited and are based on class availability. To request an Unlimited Swim class, submit the Unlimited Swim Request form after 9:00 PM the night before you would like to book a class. If space is available in one of the class times you request, we will book you into the class for FREE! Limit: One class per day. For more information on Unlimited Swim, click here.
Consistency is essential to learning and internalizing the lifesaving swimming skills we teach at Gold Medal Swim School. For this reason, we offer FREE makeup lessons for missed lessons, regardless of the reason.
Baby Swim students are eligible for makeups. Makeups are valid up to one calendar year from the date the associated class was missed. To receive credit for a makeup, report the class absence prior to 9:00 AM the day the class will be missed. For more information on Class Absences, click here.
Students must be currently enrolled to schedule a makeup. Makeups are scheduled based on class availability and may be booked up to seven (7) calendar days in advance. All Makeups are submitted through our customer portal, Udio. Once makeups are scheduled, they cannot be changed, rescheduled, or cancelled. Makeups hold no cash value. For more information on Makeups and how to submit them, click here.
Consistency is essential to learning and internalizing the lifesaving swimming skills we teach at Gold Medal Swim School. For this reason, we offer FREE makeup lessons for missed lessons, regardless of the reason.
All programs practice our safety skill: Sit, Listen, and Wait with Safe Entry. This skill is enforced every time a student enters the pool, without exception.
Each Baby Swim class begins with the swimmer’s adult placing them on the side of the pool and asking them to wait while the adult enters the water. Once the swimmer has shown that they can wait to enter the water, the adult can invite them to enter safely. The wait time will vary based on the swimmer and the level.
Safe Entry teaches swimmers to roll to their tummy and enter the water feet-first while they hang on the wall with their hands and their head above the water.
These two skills alone can save lives. Advanced self-rescue techniques, while helpful, should not be necessary if a swimmer practices the Sit, Listen, and Wait technique.
Every single second makes a difference. If your swimmer were to enter the pool unsupervised, we hope they would hang on the wall after a Safe Entry, not be struggling in the middle of the pool. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of practicing and reinforcing these techniques during your swimming experiences outside of our swim school.
The second safety skill introduced in Baby Swim is the Turnaround Survival Sequence. This skill teaches your swimmer how to enter the pool, turnaround, and swim safely, confidently, and effortlessly back to the wall.
The final safety skill learned in Baby Swim III teaches toddlers, through a progression of skills, how to jump into the pool and roll to their back to breathe.
Please remember that swimming skills are simply one potential prevention strategy and swimming lessons do not “drown-proof” children. Children MUST have constant adult supervision around water at all times.
Swimmers often need about 8 – 10 swimming lessons to acclimate to the aquatic environment. Using our water acclimation skill sets at home, you can eliminate most of the tears, fears, and tension associated with the first few swim lessons.
These skills are to be practiced in a relaxed environment with a willing swimmer. Please respect their need to stop if they are not enjoying the swim!
Watch your baby’s face as you practice this skill. Your baby will begin to show signs they recognize your verbal cue such as closing their eyes, squinting, flinching, closing their mouth, thrusting their tongue, or spitting.
Fill a small cup with water.
Count “1, 2, 3,” and say, “eyes wet!”
Gently sprinkle the water over the back of your baby’s head, and eventually over their eyes and mouth, as well.
Once your baby is comfortable with breath control with a cup submersion on a verbal cue, they are most likely ready to be submerged for up to five seconds.
Congratulations!
Look for a relaxed body, a small burst of movement in the legs and/or arms, and smiles!
Once your baby is relaxed and comfortable with water sways, they are ready to begin the rest of the water acclimation skill sets in the bathtub or in a warm pool!
Look for signs of relaxation, such as palms facing down, head laying back in the water, relaxed feet and legs, or steady breathing and/or talking.
(Infant)
(Toddler)
Once your baby is comfortable submerging their ears for more than 10 seconds, they are ready for an independent back float and survival kicks on their back in the pool!
Look for bubbles and underwater acclimation and extended breath control
Once your baby submerges on their own, they are ready for seated dives with glides into the pool!
We look forward to seeing you around the pool!
Department Leader of Customer Service Department Leader of Facilities
Please arrive 15 minutes early for your class. Oftentimes babies and toddlers are not afraid of swimming/water but can be intimidated in a new environment.
Arriving early makes all the difference and almost always guarantees a happy swim class!
If you or your swimmer needs to use the bathroom during class, please use our on-deck bathroom.
Safety Staff watch the pool at all times and our transitional safety breaks double the number of eyes on the water and pool deck. Security cameras monitor all classes.
Instructors are drug tested and background checked prior to hire, have 80 to 100 hours of training, and teach weeks of mock classes alongside a trainer before teaching their own classes. We are committed to providing the best quality swim lessons for your child!
After class, you are welcome to play with the toys until the showers clear up. A large, family-friendly shower area is provided for swimmers use after each lesson. Swimsuits must remain on in the shower area at all times.
There are several stalls and changing tables in the changing room to accommodate your family before and after each lesson. Store your belongings on the hooks in the shower area or in the cubbies in the changing room while your swimmer rinses in the shower.
To learn more about our state-of-the-art pool sanitation system and our commitment to a clean and safe environment for your family, click here.
Our Baby Swim program includes 5 Core Values which all carry over to our Learn to Swim and Competitive programs. Everything we do at Gold Medal Swim School starts with the Core Values, from Baby Swim all the way to the Olympics. These five Core Values should be used for life. Laying the groundwork with these values ensures strong and healthy life-long swimmers! The instructor will lead you and your swimmer through skills each week until you both are confident and relaxed with the skills. We believe students should learn to swim at their own pace and should never be forced into an aquatic activity. Each Baby Swim class is 30 minutes in length and includes 15 – 20 skills. 6:1 student/adult to instructor ratio.
Our curriculum utilizes a layered approach and skills are mastered when they are performed successfully with overlapping Core Values. This takes time and practice! Consistent, high-quality repetition leads to mastery and builds a strong platform to launch both confident survivors and great competitors.
Instructors follow timed lesson plans comprised of skills and Core Values, but the real success happens when instructors tailor these to each student’s needs. You can expect to see skills uniquely delivered to each individual student within the group dynamic. Low student to instructor ratios allow us to teach our swimmers more effectively.
Instructors go underwater with students! The only way to properly assess tension and relaxation levels is to actually watch and acknowledge them. We also think it is FUN to go underwater and see smiling faces! Students become more confident when their instructor is doing the skills alongside them.
We go underwater with your swimmer not only to watch them let go of their air, but to check their relaxation, comfort, and stress level. We want to help your swimmer learn to relax as they let go of their air because it gives them the best possible chance to swim fast for a long distance or even propel themselves in a survival situation.
Please contact a staff member if you have forgotten anything, we have extras and are happy to help make your experience as smooth as possible!
Swimmers age three years or younger must wear a reusable swim diaper while in the pool. Disposable diapers and disposable swim diapers are not reliable and are not permitted in the pool. Swim diapers are provided as an annual registration gift and are available for purchase at the front desk.
Parents/caregivers are asked to wear proper swim attire while in the pool. Baby Swim swimmers may also wear a swimsuit over their swim diaper, if desired.
Parents/caregivers are encouraged, but not at all required, to go underwater with their swimmer. We recommend goggles for parents/caregivers, but we do not recommend them for Baby Swim swimmers.
Bring shampoo or soap to rinse off in our shower area after class if you would like. Bring a towel to dry off your swimmer after all that splashing!
Our FREE Unlimited Swim program is offered year-round and provides students the opportunity to take additional classes at no extra charge. We offer Unlimited Swim because we believe consistency is the best way to learn and develop lifesaving swimming skills.
Baby Swim students are eligible for Unlimited Swim. Students must be perpetually enrolled to book Unlimited Swim. We recommend one Unlimited Swim class – in addition to the student’s perpetual class – per week for peak progression.
Unlimited Swim requests are for same-day bookings only. Openings are limited and are based on class availability. To request an Unlimited Swim class, submit the Unlimited Swim Request form after 9:00 PM the night before you would like to book a class. If space is available in one of the class times you request, we will book you into the class for FREE! Limit: One class per day. For more information on Unlimited Swim, click here.
Consistency is essential to learning and internalizing the lifesaving swimming skills we teach at Gold Medal Swim School. For this reason, we offer FREE makeup lessons for missed lessons, regardless of the reason.
Baby Swim students are eligible for makeups. Makeups are valid up to one calendar year from the date the associated class was missed. To receive credit for a makeup, report the class absence prior to 9:00 AM the day the class will be missed. For more information on Class Absences, click here.
Students must be currently enrolled to schedule a makeup. Makeups are scheduled based on class availability and may be booked up to seven (7) calendar days in advance. All Makeups are submitted through our customer portal, Udio. Once makeups are scheduled, they cannot be changed, rescheduled, or cancelled. Makeups hold no cash value. For more information on Makeups and how to submit them, click here.
Consistency is essential to learning and internalizing the lifesaving swimming skills we teach at Gold Medal Swim School. For this reason, we offer FREE makeup lessons for missed lessons, regardless of the reason.
All programs practice our safety skill: Sit, Listen, and Wait with Safe Entry. This skill is enforced every time a student enters the pool, without exception.
Each Baby Swim class begins with the swimmer’s adult placing them on the side of the pool and asking them to wait while the adult enters the water. Once the swimmer has shown that they can wait to enter the water, the adult can invite them to enter safely. The wait time will vary based on the swimmer and the level.
Safe Entry teaches swimmers to roll to their tummy and enter the water feet-first while they hang on the wall with their hands and their head above the water.
These two skills alone can save lives. Advanced self-rescue techniques, while helpful, should not be necessary if a swimmer practices the Sit, Listen, and Wait technique.
Every single second makes a difference. If your swimmer were to enter the pool unsupervised, we hope they would hang on the wall after a Safe Entry, not be struggling in the middle of the pool. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of practicing and reinforcing these techniques during your swimming experiences outside of our swim school.
The second safety skill introduced in Baby Swim is the Turnaround Survival Sequence. This skill teaches your swimmer how to enter the pool, turnaround, and swim safely, confidently, and effortlessly back to the wall.
The final safety skill learned in Baby Swim III teaches toddlers, through a progression of skills, how to jump into the pool and roll to their back to breathe.
Please remember that swimming skills are simply one potential prevention strategy and swimming lessons do not “drown-proof” children. Children MUST have constant adult supervision around water at all times.
Swimmers often need about 8 – 10 swimming lessons to acclimate to the aquatic environment. Using our water acclimation skill sets at home, you can eliminate most of the tears, fears, and tension associated with the first few swim lessons.
These skills are to be practiced in a relaxed environment with a willing swimmer. Please respect their need to stop if they are not enjoying the swim!
Watch your baby’s face as you practice this skill. Your baby will begin to show signs they recognize your verbal cue such as closing their eyes, squinting, flinching, closing their mouth, thrusting their tongue, or spitting.
Fill a small cup with water.
Count “1, 2, 3,” and say, “eyes wet!”
Gently sprinkle the water over the back of your baby’s head, and eventually over their eyes and mouth, as well.
Once your baby is comfortable with breath control with a cup submersion on a verbal cue, they are most likely ready to be submerged for up to five seconds.
Congratulations!
Look for a relaxed body, a small burst of movement in the legs and/or arms, and smiles!
Once your baby is relaxed and comfortable with water sways, they are ready to begin the rest of the water acclimation skill sets in the bathtub or in a warm pool!
Look for signs of relaxation, such as palms facing down, head laying back in the water, relaxed feet and legs, or steady breathing and/or talking.
(Infant)
(Toddler)
Once your baby is comfortable submerging their ears for more than 10 seconds, they are ready for an independent back float and survival kicks on their back in the pool!
Look for bubbles and underwater acclimation and extended breath control
Once your baby submerges on their own, they are ready for seated dives with glides into the pool!
We look forward to seeing you around the pool!
Department Leader of Customer Service Department Leader of Facilities
Please arrive 15 minutes early for your class. Oftentimes babies and toddlers are not afraid of swimming/water but can be intimidated in a new environment.
Arriving early makes all the difference and almost always guarantees a happy swim class!
If you or your swimmer needs to use the bathroom during class, please use our on-deck bathroom.
Safety Staff watch the pool at all times and our transitional safety breaks double the number of eyes on the water and pool deck. Security cameras monitor all classes.
Instructors are drug tested and background checked prior to hire, have 80 to 100 hours of training, and teach weeks of mock classes alongside a trainer before teaching their own classes. We are committed to providing the best quality swim lessons for your child!
After class, you are welcome to play with the toys until the showers clear up. A large, family-friendly shower area is provided for swimmers use after each lesson. Swimsuits must remain on in the shower area at all times.
There are several stalls and changing tables in the changing room to accommodate your family before and after each lesson. Store your belongings on the hooks in the shower area or in the cubbies in the changing room while your swimmer rinses in the shower.
To learn more about our state-of-the-art pool sanitation system and our commitment to a clean and safe environment for your family, click here.
Our Baby Swim program includes 5 Core Values which all carry over to our Learn to Swim and Competitive programs. Everything we do at Gold Medal Swim School starts with the Core Values, from Baby Swim all the way to the Olympics. These five Core Values should be used for life. Laying the groundwork with these values ensures strong and healthy life-long swimmers! The instructor will lead you and your swimmer through skills each week until you both are confident and relaxed with the skills. We believe students should learn to swim at their own pace and should never be forced into an aquatic activity. Each Baby Swim class is 30 minutes in length and includes 15 – 20 skills. 6:1 student/adult to instructor ratio.
Our curriculum utilizes a layered approach and skills are mastered when they are performed successfully with overlapping Core Values. This takes time and practice! Consistent, high-quality repetition leads to mastery and builds a strong platform to launch both confident survivors and great competitors.
Instructors follow timed lesson plans comprised of skills and Core Values, but the real success happens when instructors tailor these to each student’s needs. You can expect to see skills uniquely delivered to each individual student within the group dynamic. Low student to instructor ratios allow us to teach our swimmers more effectively.
Instructors go underwater with students! The only way to properly assess tension and relaxation levels is to actually watch and acknowledge them. We also think it is FUN to go underwater and see smiling faces! Students become more confident when their instructor is doing the skills alongside them.
We go underwater with your swimmer not only to watch them let go of their air, but to check their relaxation, comfort, and stress level. We want to help your swimmer learn to relax as they let go of their air because it gives them the best possible chance to swim fast for a long distance or even propel themselves in a survival situation.
Please contact a staff member if you have forgotten anything, we have extras and are happy to help make your experience as smooth as possible!
Swimmers age three years or younger must wear a reusable swim diaper while in the pool. Disposable diapers and disposable swim diapers are not reliable and are not permitted in the pool. Swim diapers are provided as an annual registration gift and are available for purchase at the front desk.
Parents/caregivers are asked to wear proper swim attire while in the pool. Baby Swim swimmers may also wear a swimsuit over their swim diaper, if desired.
Parents/caregivers are encouraged, but not at all required, to go underwater with their swimmer. We recommend goggles for parents/caregivers, but we do not recommend them for Baby Swim swimmers.
Bring shampoo or soap to rinse off in our shower area after class if you would like. Bring a towel to dry off your swimmer after all that splashing!
Our FREE Unlimited Swim program is offered year-round and provides students the opportunity to take additional classes at no extra charge. We offer Unlimited Swim because we believe consistency is the best way to learn and develop lifesaving swimming skills.
Baby Swim students are eligible for Unlimited Swim. Students must be perpetually enrolled to book Unlimited Swim. We recommend one Unlimited Swim class – in addition to the student’s perpetual class – per week for peak progression.
Unlimited Swim requests are for same-day bookings only. Openings are limited and are based on class availability. To request an Unlimited Swim class, submit the Unlimited Swim Request form after 9:00 PM the night before you would like to book a class. If space is available in one of the class times you request, we will book you into the class for FREE! Limit: One class per day. For more information on Unlimited Swim, click here.
Consistency is essential to learning and internalizing the lifesaving swimming skills we teach at Gold Medal Swim School. For this reason, we offer FREE makeup lessons for missed lessons, regardless of the reason.
Baby Swim students are eligible for makeups. Makeups are valid up to one calendar year from the date the associated class was missed. To receive credit for a makeup, report the class absence prior to 9:00 AM the day the class will be missed. For more information on Class Absences, click here.
Students must be currently enrolled to schedule a makeup. Makeups are scheduled based on class availability and may be booked up to seven (7) calendar days in advance. All Makeups are submitted through our customer portal, Udio. Once makeups are scheduled, they cannot be changed, rescheduled, or cancelled. Makeups hold no cash value. For more information on Makeups and how to submit them, click here.
Consistency is essential to learning and internalizing the lifesaving swimming skills we teach at Gold Medal Swim School. For this reason, we offer FREE makeup lessons for missed lessons, regardless of the reason.
All programs practice our safety skill: Sit, Listen, and Wait with Safe Entry. This skill is enforced every time a student enters the pool, without exception.
Each Baby Swim class begins with the swimmer’s adult placing them on the side of the pool and asking them to wait while the adult enters the water. Once the swimmer has shown that they can wait to enter the water, the adult can invite them to enter safely. The wait time will vary based on the swimmer and the level.
Safe Entry teaches swimmers to roll to their tummy and enter the water feet-first while they hang on the wall with their hands and their head above the water.
These two skills alone can save lives. Advanced self-rescue techniques, while helpful, should not be necessary if a swimmer practices the Sit, Listen, and Wait technique.
Every single second makes a difference. If your swimmer were to enter the pool unsupervised, we hope they would hang on the wall after a Safe Entry, not be struggling in the middle of the pool. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of practicing and reinforcing these techniques during your swimming experiences outside of our swim school.
The second safety skill introduced in Baby Swim is the Turnaround Survival Sequence. This skill teaches your swimmer how to enter the pool, turnaround, and swim safely, confidently, and effortlessly back to the wall.
The final safety skill learned in Baby Swim III teaches toddlers, through a progression of skills, how to jump into the pool and roll to their back to breathe.
Please remember that swimming skills are simply one potential prevention strategy and swimming lessons do not “drown-proof” children. Children MUST have constant adult supervision around water at all times.
Swimmers often need about 8 – 10 swimming lessons to acclimate to the aquatic environment. Using our water acclimation skill sets at home, you can eliminate most of the tears, fears, and tension associated with the first few swim lessons.
These skills are to be practiced in a relaxed environment with a willing swimmer. Please respect their need to stop if they are not enjoying the swim!
Watch your baby’s face as you practice this skill. Your baby will begin to show signs they recognize your verbal cue such as closing their eyes, squinting, flinching, closing their mouth, thrusting their tongue, or spitting.
Fill a small cup with water.
Count “1, 2, 3,” and say, “eyes wet!”
Gently sprinkle the water over the back of your baby’s head, and eventually over their eyes and mouth, as well.
Once your baby is comfortable with breath control with a cup submersion on a verbal cue, they are most likely ready to be submerged for up to five seconds.
Congratulations!
Look for a relaxed body, a small burst of movement in the legs and/or arms, and smiles!
Once your baby is relaxed and comfortable with water sways, they are ready to begin the rest of the water acclimation skill sets in the bathtub or in a warm pool!
Look for signs of relaxation, such as palms facing down, head laying back in the water, relaxed feet and legs, or steady breathing and/or talking.
(Infant)
(Toddler)
Once your baby is comfortable submerging their ears for more than 10 seconds, they are ready for an independent back float and survival kicks on their back in the pool!
Look for bubbles and underwater acclimation and extended breath control
Once your baby submerges on their own, they are ready for seated dives with glides into the pool!
We look forward to seeing you around the pool!
