Big Blue Swim School: Making Waves in Children's Swim Education

Big Blue Swim School is a U.S.-based franchise that provides swim lessons to children aged three months to 12 years. The brand was founded in 2009 by former competitive swimmers Chris DeJong and John Lonergan, with the first school opening in Wilmette, Illinois.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Big Blue began franchising in 2018 and has grown rapidly, with dozens of locations now open across multiple states. The franchise delivers a unique, distance-based swim curriculum focused on water safety and skill development.

Lessons are held in 90-degree pools within family-friendly facilities that include comfortable viewing areas for parents.

Big Blue also utilizes its own software, LessonBuddy™, to simplify scheduling and track student progress in real time—enhancing both parent satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Training

Big Blue Swim School provides a comprehensive training structure to ensure franchisees and their teams are equipped to operate according to brand standards. Here are the key training programs offered by the franchisor:

1. Initial Orientation and Training: The Managing Owner must attend a two-day initial orientation covering the franchise system. Additional classroom and on-the-job training is also provided at locations such as corporate headquarters, an existing school, or the new franchise location. This training must be completed before the school opens.
2. Training for School Employees: Franchisees are responsible for ensuring all school employees are properly trained for their roles. The franchisor may provide tools and recommendations to support this, and periodically updates training materials to align with changes in brand standards.
3. Retraining: If the initial training is not completed satisfactorily or the school does not meet operational standards, retraining may be mandated. Fees apply for retraining sessions, and the school’s opening may be delayed until training requirements are fulfilled.

Territory Protection

Big Blue Swim School provides its franchisees with an Area of Protection, which grants exclusive rights within a specified geographical area. This area is typically defined based on a roughly 10-minute drive radius from the school location or the center of a designated trade area, using physical markers such as streets and highways.

The franchisor determines and may revise the exact contours only in cases of school relocation. During the franchise term, neither Big Blue Swim School nor its affiliates may open or allow another franchisee to open a school operating under the same concept within the protected area.