The Full Training Course
Instructors' Frequently Asked Questions

Question: "What is the goal of the MSI Training Program?"
Answer: To make lessons for true beginning swimming students—those who are afraid—available to all so that every person can be safe in water. (Every time we say "safe," we mean as safe as possible in the moment.)

"Can you give the training program in less time?"
No, just as you can't fly from London to New York in twenty minutes. We've endeavored to keep the arrangements and schedule simple and do-able. We want you to be completely prepared to succeed with afraid students and to teach Miracle Swimming. Students cannot find this level of progress anywhere else, so 3000 adults internationally have told us since 1983.

"What am I agreeing to in the Licensing Agreement?"
The licensing agreement says that:

• when you complete the 8-day training in good standing, you will be a MSI-Trained instructor, empowered to deliver our first 3 courses: our Introductory half-day class which is a feeder to the Beginning class, our Beginning class, and our Next Step class which bring a person to freedom in deep water.

• you'll become an LASI (Licensed Afraid Student Instructor) once you've delivered 3 full Miracle Swimming courses to at least 1 person each in the 12 months following your training. This keeps your familiarity with the information fresh and requires that you practice it and learn it. Until that time, you will be a Trainee. It takes several years to learn the material fully. The term, "afraid" applies to any true beginner: those who are fearful and those who are only mildly concerned due to their unfamiliarity with the water.

• you will have a territory of 25 miles radius which is protected from being licensed to another LASI. The exception to this is in locales where the MSI/ISHOF (International Swimming Hall of Fame) program to make every human safe in water licenses other local instructors in order to help meet the need of all beginning swimming students in that area. It will take years before every city and town is fully trained. Yours may not be for a decade or more: it's impossible to know. The intention is that there is plenty for everyone. There is a vast population of true beginners available to be taught. We don't yet know how the MSI/ISHOF program will affect the 25 mile radius territories in the future.

• you'll pay a licensing fee of $200 each year, billed in June. This fee is included in your training fee for the first year or partial year. Trainees pay royalties on Miracle Swimming classes taught, according to the following schedule: In the first year the royalties are 10% of Miracle Swimming revenues or $200/quarter, whichever is less, paid at the beginning of each quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1). Minimum royalties are $50/quarter. The second year, royalties will be 10% of Miracle Swimming class revenues or $200 at the beginning of each quarter, whichever is lower. Third year royalties are 10% or $300 per quarter, whichever is lower, and so on. These numbers are based upon your expected increased revenues from Miracle Swimming courses and private lessons each year and are meant to reflect a small percentage of your revenue. The quarterly payment will increase and level off at a cap to be determined later. It's meant to be no higher than 10% of your Miracle Swimming gross revenue.

• you may pass along what you learn to your staff, but you may not certify another instructor in Miracle Swimming and they will not be recognized as trained or licensed Miracle Swimming instructors;

• you'll provide the contact information of each of your Miracle Swimming students and the feedback forms of your classes so feedback can be discussed and your progress as a Miracle Swimming instructor can be followed and enhanced. MSI can be in touch with the students about its vacation classes. This makes more products available to your market, but is not intended to take students away from your market.

• in exchange for the Licensing fee, you'll receive 12 monthly teleconferences during the 12 months following your training; marketing assistance during the training to help you get your classes up and running; you will be listed on our web site as a location where people can take Miracle Swimming, ranked by experience in teaching Miracle Swimming. In exchange for royalties, you receive updates in training materials; access to course materials for students; you'll be referred when we receive calls asking, "Do you teach Miracle Swimming in my town?" You'll become part of the body of Miracle Swimming Instructors (BOI) connected by email and phone to dialog with other instructors who are mastering or who have mastered the material. You'll be able to capitalize on the brand recognition of MSI's Miracle Swimming classes (expected to partner with ISHOF), book, and video. You'll have the opportunity to travel to be a spotter at a MSI Vacation class for your added training and practice, and to be asked to teach and be paid for a MSI Miracle Swimming class that we need to staff in the U.S. and abroad.

The Training teaches instructors to teach afraid students to trust themselves and the water. It's based on the trustworthiness of our system and the instructors. Instructors and Licensees must continue to earn this trust to be successful. Knowing violations of trust are cause for severence of affiliation from MSI. This refers specifically to use of the training, proprietary training materials, student course materials, and the identification of the Miracle Swimming system as such. In other words, if you're teaching Miracle Swimming technology, it's a Miracle Swimming class.

"When will I see the Licensing Agreement?"
The Licensing Agreement will be sent to you at least one month before your training. Please read it and bring any questions with you to the training. It will be signed and turned in there.

"What shall I charge for Miracle Swimming Classes?"
You may charge what the market will bear in your community. We suggest that you use your normal pricing formula applied to a 24 hour course which uses 8 hours on land. We suggest that in the beginning, you not charge the price MSI charges, but a price your clientele will pay.

"What if I can't teach Miracle Swimming as well as MSI at first?"
Every instructor has his/her own style and there will always be differences in the delivery. As long as the system is followed and the message is delivered and students understand, the job will get done. Your job is simply to make students happy they took your class by following the system.

"Why do you ask the True/False question on the application?"
The ability to teach the MSI material is not in everyone. The True/False statement is an item we've come up with that helps us get to know you in more depth than the application provides.