Our Services

Policies

We want every lesson, coverage booking, and event to be smooth, safe, and professional. These policies help us stay consistent, fair, and focused on safety for clients, families, and guests.

Cancellations & Missed Sessions

Please provide at least 48 hours’ notice for cancellations. Late cancellations and no-shows may be charged in full. For event lifeguarding and extended private coverage, cancellation terms may vary depending on the size, duration, and staffing of the booking.

Weather & Unsafe Conditions

Services may continue in light rain or imperfect weather, but South Fork Swim reserves the right to pause, delay, reschedule, or end any lesson or event due to lightning, thunder, dangerous surf, poor visibility, high winds, unsafe water conditions, or any other safety concern.

Pool, Beach & Site Readiness

Clients are responsible for making sure the lesson or event location is reasonably safe and ready before service begins. Pools should be clean, usable, and easily accessible. Beach and waterfront bookings must have safe access and any required permissions in place.

Adult Supervision

Lifeguard coverage and swim instruction do not replace responsible adult supervision. A parent, guardian, or designated adult must remain present and attentive during lessons involving minors. For events, hosts remain responsible for overall guest supervision and conduct.

Event Lifeguarding Scope

Event lifeguarding is provided for water safety supervision only. Lifeguards are not security personnel, childcare providers, bartenders, or general event staff. Our role is limited to monitoring water-related safety conditions, responding to emergencies, and enforcing reasonable water safety rules when necessary.

Host Responsibility for Events

For private parties and event bookings, the host is responsible for accurately communicating guest count, ages, location details, water features, and any special conditions in advance. Hosts are also responsible for making sure guests cooperate with basic safety instructions and do not interfere with our staff’s ability to monitor the water.

Alcohol, Drugs & Unsafe Conduct

South Fork Swim strongly discourages swimming by anyone who is intoxicated, impaired, reckless, or otherwise unsafe in or around the water. Lifeguards may warn, restrict, or refuse water access to any participant they believe is creating an unreasonable safety risk. Clients and hosts remain responsible for guest conduct.

Coverage Limits & Staffing

Our staffing recommendations are based on the information provided at the time of booking, including guest count, ages, water type, and event format. If actual conditions differ materially from what was disclosed, South Fork Swim may require additional staff, modify coverage, restrict activity, or suspend service if safe supervision cannot be maintained.

Skill Development

Every swimmer progresses at a different pace. Our lessons are designed to build confidence, awareness, and strong fundamentals, but no lesson or program guarantees complete water safety or a specific result.

Medical, Behavioral & Participant Disclosure

Clients must inform South Fork Swim in advance of any relevant medical conditions, injuries, behavioral concerns, non-swimmer status, or other circumstances that may affect safety or instruction. Failure to disclose important information may limit our ability to provide safe service.

Liability & Waivers

Swimming, waterfront activity, and water-based events involve inherent risks. All participants, or their parent or legal guardian where applicable, must complete any required waiver before participating. South Fork Swim assumes no liability for injuries arising from unsafe site conditions, undisclosed participant issues, intoxication, reckless conduct, lack of adult supervision, or failure to follow staff instructions.

Instructor & Lifeguard Assignments

All services are provided by certified lifeguards and trained instructors. While we do our best to maintain scheduling consistency, staff assignments may change due to availability, illness, weather, or logistics. Any substitute staff member will meet our standards for safety and professionalism.

Right to Refuse or End Service

South Fork Swim reserves the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate any service if conditions are unsafe, policies are not being followed, participant behavior is inappropriate, or staff safety is compromised.