The Swim Instructor is responsible for teaching swimming skills and water safety to participants of all ages through individual or group classes while ensuring a safe and engaging environment. Essential duties include building relationships with participants, following the YMCA swim lessons curriculum, enforcing safety procedures, and managing class logistics like attendance and substitute arrangements.
Requirements summary
Candidates must be at least 16 years old and possess CPR certification before instructing, with six months of experience working with children preferred. The role requires the ability to correctly demonstrate and assess swim skills in the water, strong communication skills to motivate students of all levels, and a willingness to be actively involved in the pool.
JOB SUMMARY Help kids build confidence, self-esteem, and swimming skills and water safety in people of all ages through individual (private lessons) or group classes. As a Swim Instructor, you will get in the pool to safely lead members and participants through fun and engaging swim classes.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 1. Build collaborative relationships with participants and parents to retain class numbers. 2. Instruct participants on proper form and safety in the water while following the YSL (YMCA swim lessons) curriculum. 3. Enforce prescribed safety procedures and rules of good behavior and courtesy within the class. 4. Complete class recommendation forms with feedback for parents in a timely manner. 5. If your personal schedule takes you away from a scheduled shift, find a substitute instructor and provide a prepared lesson plan for them to ensure the class members are given the high-quality lesson. 6. Take class attendance on a daily basis. 7. Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor with coworkers and patrons. Make class participants and parents feel welcome, safe and engaged. 8. Actively participate in required staff trainings and meetings. Maintain required certifications. 9. Act according to facility protocol to ensure safety of all staff and children which includes:
Adhere to policies related to boundaries with staff and children.
Attend required abuse risk management training.
Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.
In addition to the responsibilities above, the following are essential functions when serving as a Private Lesson Instructor: 1.
Teach at least one group class per session in addition to private lessons.
2.
Manage assigned lesson packages: track the number of sessions remaining and communicate with families when it is time to purchase another package.
3.
Collaborate with the Aquatics Director and families to schedule lesson times that work for all, along with goal setting and execution of lessons.
Skills and training 1.
In accordance with state law, instructors must be at least 16 years of age.
CPR certification is required before swim instructors ages 16-17 may begin shadowing and instructing; training provided.
2.
Six months’ experience working or volunteering with children, especially in a small-group setting is preferred.
3.
Must be able to correctly demonstrate and assess swim skills both on the deck and in the water; know the sequence of swimming stages.
Training will be provided.
4.
The ability to communicate with, motivate, and evaluate all ages and swim levels of students is essential.
5.
You are going to get wet!
Instructors must be willing to teach in the pool.
6.
WSI certification or YMCA swim lesson instructor certification is extremely beneficial.
7.
Part of the onboarding process will involve required training in current YMCA curriculum.
8.
Due to the instructional nature of the position, the instructor must actively lead and demonstrate skills.
This will require the significant use of hands, arms and body.
This requires the ability to support and assist struggling participants.
Must be able to speak clearly and project your voice in a noisy indoor pool environment.
COMPETENCIES 1. Building Relationships
Connect people to the Y’s cause by developing inclusive relationships and collaboration. Create sustainable relationships within the Y. Assist members in becoming more connected to the Y and build small communities. 2.
Emotional
Maturity: How we understand and conduct ourselves impacts our relationships. Demonstrate ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations. 3.
Advancing
Our
Mission and
Cause: As a member of a cause driven organization you will support the Y, its members, participants, and staff by living the Y’s values of CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY in all interactions and aspects of job performance and demonstrate the desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. 4.
Safety
Adhere to and enforce safety policies and procedures for the association. 5.
Critical
Thinking and
Decision
Making: You are empowered to make informed decisions within the scope of delivering exceptional customer service. Make these decisions based on logic, experience, and sound judgement while maintaining participant safety.
This job description represents the major functions of the job but is not intended to be all inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for performing other duties as necessary for Association success.
Market context
Swim instruction roles in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, swim instructor openings often reflect steady demand from pools, schools, and community programs that need staff who can teach safely and communicate clearly with children and families. These roles are competitive because employers typically look for CPR certification, comfort demonstrating skills in and out of the water, and prior experience with children. Before applying, confirm your CPR status and review the AI-summarized job requirements and benefits here, which condense the original posting to save research time.
