Course Aims:

To ensure people are qualified to assist qualified Swimming Teachers on a professional or voluntary basis.

To give candidates a basic technical and practical knowledge for the teaching of swimming to
groups of 6 pupils under the direction of a fully qualified Swimming Teacher.

To provide candidates with an understanding of Health and Safety issues in swimming pools.

Pre-Course Requirements:

Candidates must be a minimum age of 16 years prior to the course starting date.

Pre-Course Recommendations:

Ideally, candidates will have a Water Safety Ireland Swimming Teachers’ Life Saving Award or Safety 4 or equivalent before starting the course.

While not essential at the start of, or during the course, all candidates should have achieved the stated life-saving standard before they begin to work more independently.

If it is not possible for a candidate to achieve or obtain the stated life saving criteria the qualification must only be used when a Pool Lifeguard is present and under the direction of fully qualified Swimming Teacher.

Course Structure:

The course will consist of a minimum of 24 hours theory and 8 hours poolside practice.

Candidates must have an attendance in excess of 95% of the scheduled hours to complete the course. An attendance register will be kept by the course provider to support this requirement.

Course Content / Syllabus:

The Assistant Swimming Teacher Award comprises 10 units, as follows:

  • General Information
  • Health and Safety
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Learning and Skill Development
  • Integration of those with Additional Needs
  • Scientific Principles of Movement in Water
  • Six Strokes: Front Crawl, Back Crawl, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Inverted Breast Stroke and Life Saving Side Stroke
  • Other Aquatic Skills relevant to the Teaching of Swimming
  • Stroke and Aquatic Skills Analysis
  • Practical Teaching