What does a Swim Instructor do?

Swim Instructors work at public pools, private pools, gyms, swimming schools and other facilities that offer swimming lessons. They work with all ages, from infants to adults, teaching swimming lessons in one-on-one and small-group settings. For beginning students, they focus on water safety and becoming comfortable in the water. Instructors work with advanced students on refining their strokes to improve their form.

The job duties go beyond just teaching swimming techniques. The Swim Instructor must maintain a safe and engaging environment while providing constant supervision. Customer service is an important aspect of the job, especially when working with younger students and their parents. Swim instructors evaluate the students to ensure they learn the skills. They also document attendance, injuries, incidents and complaints.

Swim Instructor skills and qualifications

When writing your Swim Instructor job description, think about the key skills the applicants need to succeed in the role. Common qualifications include:

• Strong swimming skills
• Proficiency of various swimming techniques (e.g., freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly)
• Ability to break down swimming techniques into understandable steps
• Knowledge of water safety protocols, including rescue techniques and emergency procedures
• Safety-minded approach
• Patience, compassion and encouragement
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Alertness and attention to detail
• Flexibility to work with all ages and skill levels
• Observational and assessment skills
• Teaching skills

Swim Instructor experience requirements

The experience requirements for a Swimming Teacher job description typically focus on swimming experience. This can be personal experience with various swimming techniques. Applicants might gain this experience by participating on swimming teams,swimming for exercise or with previous experience in a similar role such as a lifeguard. It’s also helpful to have teaching experience to be able to instruct students effectively.

Swim Instructor education and training requirements

Swim Instructors don’t typically need formal education for the position. Some organizations require Swim Instructors to complete a training course to instruct swimming lessons, such as an American Red Cross Swim Instructor Certification. Candidates also typically need to be certified in first aid and CPR. Swim Instructors often receive on-the-job training in specific techniques.

Job description samples for similar positions

A Swim Instructor job description might not be the perfect fit for your hiring needs. In that case, check out these similar job description samples for inspiration:

• Lifeguard
• Instructor

Swim Instructor job description FAQs

What is the difference between a Swim Instructor and a Swim Coach?

A Swim Instructor focuses on teaching the fundamentals of swimming at various levels. The lessons often focus on safety and proper strokes. While Swim Instructors can work with advanced swimmers, they often work more with beginning and intermediate swimmers. The lessons help them feel comfortable swimming recreationally or for fitness. Swim Coaches often work with advanced swimmers to improve their techniques to help them become better swimmers, often to participate in swimming meets.

What makes a good Swim Instructor?

Beyond being a strong swimmer, an effective Swim Instructor knows how to teach effectively and adjust their instruction to the audience. For example, they might use fun games when teaching toddlers to swim. Being able to adapt lessons based on how students progress can make lessons more effective. It’s also important to choose candidates who understand the importance of water safety and know how to maintain a secure environment.

How can you make your Swim Instructor job description stand out?

Detail the ages and skill levels of students to ensure the candidate wants to work with those groups. Describing the types of lessons they’ll teach can help generate excitement. It’s also helpful to mention special perks, such as paid Swim Instructor certification, complementary pool passes and other discounts. When writing a job description for Swim Instructor positions, describe the company culture and use wording that reflects the company’s values.