Swimming instructor jobs

Type of Job

Working as a swimming instructor, you will help people of all ages and abilities to develop swimming skills and techniques.

What is the job about?

Swimming instructors work with either groups or one-to-one. Main duties include:

• Assessing participants' ability
• Planning and delivering sessions
• Ensuring that safety standards are followed
• Check that life-saving equipment is in working order
• Teaching swimming techniques
• Evaluating teaching sessions and providing feedback
• Enforcing all pool safety rules

Key Skills & Knowledge needed

Swimming instructors need first and foremost to have an interest and ability in swimming. To teach effectively you will need:

• Good speaking skills
• The ability to inspire confidence and motivate swimmers
• Good organisational skills
• The ability to encourage people

Qualifications and experience needed

Swimming instructors in the UK can qualify with either the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) or the Swimming Teachers Association (STA).

Starting qualifications are the ASA/UKCC Level 1 Certificate for Teaching Aquatics, which qualifies you to support fully-qualified teachers or coaches.

To work on your own without supervision you will need to complete one of the following:

• ASA/UKCC Level 2 Certificate for Teaching Aquatics
• ASA Level 2 Certificate for Teaching (Aquafit)
  
  

Alternatively, you can qualify as a swimming teacher by taking STA teaching qualifications.

What other training and development could I do?

You can qualify as a senior coach by completing the ASA/UKCC Level 3 Certificate for Coaching Swimming, while the Level 4 Certificate for Coaching will qualify you to coach competitive athletes at the highest level.

Salary and benefit expectations

Swimming instructors typically work part-time and are paid between ?10 and ?30 an hour.

Where else can I go for more information?

Contact:

Swimming Teachers' Association (STA)
Anchor House
Birch Street
Walsall
West Midlands
WS2 8HZ
Tel: 01922 645097
www.sta.co.uk

SkillsActive
Castlewood House
77-91 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Advice line: 08000 933300
www.skillsactive.com

Amateur Swimming Association (ASA)
18 Derby Square
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 5AL
Tel: 01509 618700
www.swimming.org/asa/