YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Swim Instructor

YMCA Metro Washington•Bethesda, MD

16d

About The Position

The Swim Instructor teaches basic, intermediate, and advanced group and private swimming lessons for participants of various ages. The instructor ensures appropriate safety procedures, communicates directions and corrections clearly, and maintains class control and discipline. Instructors arrive on the pool deck at least five minutes before class, dressed in a bathing suit, with equipment and attendance roster ready. They must remain with their class until students have left or their safety has been transferred to a department lifeguard on deck. The instructor develops lesson plans for each session and provides practical lesson plans for substitutes. They evaluate participants’ stroke technique and maintain current skill sheets, progress records, and attendance records after each class. They prepare student evaluations with recommendations and explanations about whether a student should remain at the current level or advance. Instructors keep the teaching area uncluttered, return equipment to its proper place, interact with participants and parents with enthusiasm, patience, courtesy, tact, and concern, and attend staff and instructor meetings. Other duties may be assigned. The role has Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, with different age, experience, and certification qualifications. The position requires the physical ability to meet YASA Lifeguarding prerequisites, lift and move objects weighing 40 pounds or more, swim 500 yards, actively teach the YMCA swim program in the water, and see and hear participants who are in distress or requesting assistance.

Requirements

Basic level: At least 16 years of age.
Intermediate level: At least 17 years of age and at least two years of experience.
Advanced level: At least 18 years of age and four years of aquatics teaching experience.
Outgoing personality and ability to relate well to participants of various age groups.
Attentive, multifaceted, reliable, and a proven problem solver, with a positive mentality.
CPR and First Aid completion cards.
Basic level: Obtain YMCA Swim Lesson Certification within nine months.
Intermediate level: One swim lesson certification, such as YMCA swim lesson instructor, Red Cross WSI, or an equivalent outside-agency certification; YMCA lifeguard certification is also listed.
Advanced level: At least two water-instruction certifications from the listed examples or similar certifications; copies of certifications and reference checks are required.
Intermediate level: YMCA Aquatic Safety Awareness course completion may be substituted at the Aquatic Director’s discretion.
Physical ability to meet all prerequisites for YASA Lifeguarding.
Ability to lift and move objects weighing 40 pounds or more.
Ability to swim 500 yards.
Ability to actively teach the YMCA swim program in the water.
Ability to see and hear participants in distress or asking for assistance.

Responsibilities

Ensure adequate safety procedures are in place for each class.
Communicate directions and corrections clearly and concisely.
Maintain class control and discipline.
Arrive on the pool deck at least five minutes before class in a bathing suit, with equipment and attendance roster ready.
Remain with the class until students have left or their safety has been transferred to a department lifeguard on deck.
Develop lesson plans for each class session and practical lesson plans for substitutes; complete and sign a substitute slip for missed classes.
Evaluate participants’ stroke technique.
Keep skill sheets, student progress records, and attendance records up to date after each class.
Prepare student evaluations with recommendations and comments about remaining at the current level or moving to the next level.
Teach group and private lessons.
Keep the teaching area uncluttered and return instructional equipment to its proper place.
Treat class members and parents with enthusiasm, patience, courtesy, tact, and concern.
Attend and participate in staff and instructor meetings.
Perform other duties as required.