I'm a lifeguard and would like to teach swim lessons because I'm currently getting paid a little over minimum wage but swim lessons run about $5 for every session, 30 minutes. I was a competitive swimmer for 4 years and now I just swim at lesuire but have never taught others before, I think its something I would really enjoy, but eventhough I'm a good swimmer myself, I'm not really certified to teach anyone else. If anyone out there teaches swim lessons, I thought maybe you could give me some pointers on what to do, what not to do. Thanks, Amber
Parents
Former Member
Amber,
I would certainly acknowledge that getting you WSI certification is one way to go. It will equip you to teach swimming competently, and provides a credential that is widely recognized.
I would also point out that WSI, and the Red Cross method for swimming the various strokes, is one of many schools of thought on how to swim. (The YMCA course of instruction for children is another school of thought, and another option.) It depends on what you want to do.
If you are interested in teaching people how to swim COMPETITIVE freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly (as your background seems to suggest), I would argue that the Red Cross or YMCA programs are a bit off the mark. What you want is a reference oriented more towards coaching competitive swimmers, even if you never make it out of the sections on how to coach relative beginners.
If you are inclined more towards the competitive bend (and you know better than we do what would interest your prospective students/customers), there are a number of resources out there. First, there is the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA, www.swimmingcoach.org), which offers both reference material, and an actual certification process. Second, there is the Total Immersion school of thought for teaching swimming (www.totalimmersion.net). They specialize in methods for teaching people without a competitive swimming background how to swim competitive strokes more efficiently (e.g. runners and bikers who want to become triathletes). They also offer a program for becoming a "TI certified instructor."
Based on my experience, what would I personally recommend to a budding swim instructor on a budget? Spend the $20 on Swimming Made Easy from Total Immersion. It has a lucid explanation of their theory. It has a good set of drills for each of the 4 strokes. I have used it with success, both in my own USMS swimming and coaching a summer youth league team. Moreover, I have shared it with one of my fellow coaches, who is an experienced YMCA swimming instructor. She likes the drills, and has used some of them in her YMCA classes. The cost of the book is modest, and the method really does work. Some folks have criticized TI for being a marketing schtick for TI products. Yes, you can spend a lot of money on seminars and videos, but you don't have to.
This is not to say you should definitely use TI, or anything else, instead of the Red Cross program. I am merely mentioning this to let you know of some other options.
Matt
Amber,
I would certainly acknowledge that getting you WSI certification is one way to go. It will equip you to teach swimming competently, and provides a credential that is widely recognized.
I would also point out that WSI, and the Red Cross method for swimming the various strokes, is one of many schools of thought on how to swim. (The YMCA course of instruction for children is another school of thought, and another option.) It depends on what you want to do.
If you are interested in teaching people how to swim COMPETITIVE freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly (as your background seems to suggest), I would argue that the Red Cross or YMCA programs are a bit off the mark. What you want is a reference oriented more towards coaching competitive swimmers, even if you never make it out of the sections on how to coach relative beginners.
If you are inclined more towards the competitive bend (and you know better than we do what would interest your prospective students/customers), there are a number of resources out there. First, there is the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA, www.swimmingcoach.org), which offers both reference material, and an actual certification process. Second, there is the Total Immersion school of thought for teaching swimming (www.totalimmersion.net). They specialize in methods for teaching people without a competitive swimming background how to swim competitive strokes more efficiently (e.g. runners and bikers who want to become triathletes). They also offer a program for becoming a "TI certified instructor."
Based on my experience, what would I personally recommend to a budding swim instructor on a budget? Spend the $20 on Swimming Made Easy from Total Immersion. It has a lucid explanation of their theory. It has a good set of drills for each of the 4 strokes. I have used it with success, both in my own USMS swimming and coaching a summer youth league team. Moreover, I have shared it with one of my fellow coaches, who is an experienced YMCA swimming instructor. She likes the drills, and has used some of them in her YMCA classes. The cost of the book is modest, and the method really does work. Some folks have criticized TI for being a marketing schtick for TI products. Yes, you can spend a lot of money on seminars and videos, but you don't have to.
This is not to say you should definitely use TI, or anything else, instead of the Red Cross program. I am merely mentioning this to let you know of some other options.
Matt
