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Swimming teacher or coach

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Sport and leisure
Care

Career outlook for swimming teacher or coach

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£15,500

Experienced

£28,000

Currently employed in Scotland

9,500

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

As a swimming teacher, you would help people of all ages and abilities to learn swimming skills and how to exercise in water.

As a swimming coach, you would instead train competitive swimmers.

In either role, you would:

  • Teach or coach one-to-one or in groups
  • Plan and deliver lessons or training sessions
  • Explain and demonstrate swimming techniques
  • Fix faults in technique and find ways to improve performance
  • Make sure safety standards are followed
  • Check that life-saving equipment is in full working order
  • Manage assistants and helpers
  • Deal with minor injuries and accidents

As a swimming coach you would also check on the physical and mental condition of your swimmers. You would support your swimmers by going to their events and competitions.

Working conditions

Hours

Swimming teachers and coaches often work evenings and weekends, especially during competitions. If you are coaching swimmers at a high level, you would usually work long hours. There are lots of opportunities for swimming teachers and coaches to work part-time.

Environment

You could work in a variety of places, including schools, health centres, private health clubs and swimming clubs.

Travel

Competitions can take place all over the UK and sometimes abroad, which could mean that you spend some time away from home.

UK employment status

Full-time

29%

Part-time

46%

Self employed

25%

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  • Reflecting
  • Supporting
  • Verbal communication
  • Empathising
  • Respecting
  • Ethical
  • Coaching
  • Mentoring
  • Motivating others

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

Before you can work on your own you must gain a teaching or coaching qualification from the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) or the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) such as a UKCC level 2 Certificate or STA Professional Certificate in Teaching.

You need to be 17 years old before you can take these courses.

Useful subjects

  • English
  • Maths
  • Physical education
  • Sciences, in particular biology/human biology
  • Care

You will also need

You may need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland for some jobs.

Helpful to have

It is helpful to complete level one ASA or STS qualification which will qualify you to support fully-qualified teachers or coaches.

Qualifications and experience that show fitness and coaching skills such as Skills for Work Sports & Recreation (SCQF level 4/5).