Swimming coaches give instruction in swimming to people of all ages and abilities. 

They may work with people learning to swim as a leisure activity, or with those competing as amateurs or professionals. This can include teaching:

• complete beginners
• competent swimmers wanting to improve their style
• competitive swimmers involved in national and international competitions.

Some swimming coaches specialise in a particular area such as aquatic aerobics, adult and child activities or working with people with disabilities.

Hours and Environment

As a swimming coach you will often have to work evenings and weekends. If you are involved with training competitive swimmers you will need to be present at training sessions and competitions, which often involves long working hours at unsocial times. This may also include a large amount of travel. Many swimming coaches work part-time.

You could work in various places, including schools, health centres, private health clubs and swimming clubs.

Skills and Interests

To be a swimming coach you should have:

• enthusiasm, interest and ability in swimming
• good verbal communication skills
• the ability to inspire confidence and motivate performers
• perseverance and patience
• good organisational skills
• the ability to be encouraging and put people at ease.

Entry

To become a swimming coach you will need a teaching/coaching qualification suitable for the level you wish to teach. Qualifications are offered by:

• the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) - the national governing body (NGB) for swimming, diving, water polo, open water and synchronised swimming
• the Swimming Teachers Association (STA).

It is an advantage if you are involved as a volunteer with a local swimming club or youth group.

You will usually begin by helping with classes under the supervision of a qualified coach. As a starting point you can  do the following qualifications:

The ASA Helper Certificate is an introductory qualification which covers swimming, diving, aquafit, synchronised swimming, water polo and disabilities.

The ASA  Level 1 Certificate for Teaching (Swimming) is the first qualification in teaching/coaching for those helping to teach a limited range of basic skills to groups of up to six people. 

The STA Student Teacher Certificate can also be used as a first step to a career as a swimming coach.

The ASA Level 2 Certificate for Teaching (Swimming) is the basic industry standard if you want to teach unsupervised. To do this qualification you need to:

• be at least 18
• have the ASA Level 1 Certificate or the Irish ASA/STA, Welsh ASA, Scottish ASA Preliminary Teacher Certificate or the ASA Primary School Teachers Certificate for the teaching of swimming
• have completed 15 hours verified teaching/coaching since achieving the Level 1 Certificate.

See the ASA and STA websites for full information - there are links in Further Information below.

Training

Once you have the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) Level 2 Certificate for Teaching you can do further qualifications, depending on the level you want to teach. These include:

• ASA Level 3 Club Coach - for coaching competitive performers in a club and in groups of up to 30
• ASA Level 4 Coach - for coaching at district and national level.

See the ASA website for more details on their range of courses, entry requirements and course locations (there is a link in Further Information below).

You can also do courses run by the Swimming Teachers Association (STA), including courses for teachers in schools, and for aquatic aerobics teaching (aquacise).

STA qualifications include:

• STA Level 2 Swimming Teachers Certificate Beginners for those teaching classes of up to 10 beginners unsupervised and larger groups if supervised
• STA Level 2 Swimming Teachers Certificate Full - for teaching classes of all sizes and abilities
• STA Level 2  Aquacise (ATC) - for teaching aqua sessions for most ability ranges and all fitness levels from beginner to athlete
• STA Level 2 Certificate in Aquatic Teaching (Baby and Preschool) - for introducing babies and very young children to aquatic activities
• STA Level 2 Certificate in Aquatic Teaching (Special Needs) - for teaching basic aquatic skills to those with special needs.

You must be at least 18 years of age for all of these.

See the STA website for full details of all their courses - there is a link in Further Information below.

You may also be able to work towards NVQs/SVQS levels 2 and 3 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations: Coaching, Teaching and Instructing. New National Occupational Standards for Coaching, Teaching and Instructing at levels 3 and 4 are being developed.

Opportunities

Although demand for swimming coaches is high, there are very few full-time paid jobs. Employers include:

• local authorities
• outdoor pursuits centres
• holiday camps
• private hotels
• large sports clubs
• sports centres.

You could start by working part-time as a volunteer.

Professional sports coaching is very competitive and you will be judged by the success of the individual or team you coach.

As an experienced swimming coach you could progress to becoming a swimming development officer.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

The majority of swimming coaches work part–time and are paid an hourly rate. Salaries recommended by the ASA are:

Assistant swimming teachers £5.50 an hour.
Full ASA qualified swimming teachers £11 an hour.
Club coaches £13 an hour.
Fully ASA qualified club coaches £15 an hour.
Senior coaches at district, national, international level £20 an hour.

Further information

114 Cardigan Road
Headingley
Leeds
LS6 3BJ
Tel: 0113 274 4802 Anchor House
Birch Street
Walsall
West Midlands
WS2 8HZ
Tel: 01922 645097 Castlewood House
77-91 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Advice line: 08000 933300 18 Derby Square
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 5AL
Tel: 01509 618700