oops, don’t forget about the swim instructors 2007

Oops, Don’t Forget Oops, Don’t Forget About the Swim About the Swim

Instructors!Instructors!Presented byPresented by

Stephanie Shook, CPRP, WSITStephanie Shook, CPRP, WSITPrince William County Park AuthorityPrince William County Park Authority

Prince William, VirginiaPrince William, Virginia

Why Train the Instructional Why Train the Instructional Staff?Staff?

Why Train the Swim Instructional Why Train the Swim Instructional Staff?Staff?

• Maintain energy & enthusiasm

• Initial certification class only once

• Individual skill improvement

• Improve teaching skills

• Staff retention

• Teamwork & mutual respect

• Consistency of program

• Customer expectations are high

• Revenue Makers• Develop a career path

Why Train the Instructors?Why Train the Instructors?

Instructor Class only 1 time!Instructor Class only 1 time!

Water Safety Instructor course is the introduction:

Swimming & safety skills Photographic eye Providing feedback Lesson planning Adapting skills Customer Service Safe environment “Real life” discipline issues

“That’s a lot to learn, retain, & put to use”


Instructors Need Skill ImprovementInstructors Need Skill Improvement

• Swim Strokes & Turns

• Knowledge of stroke drills

• Ability to demonstrate drills

• Safety demonstrations


Improve & Develop Teaching SkillsImprove & Develop Teaching Skills

• Adapting skills to individuals

• Class organization & control

• Lesson planning to meet timeline

• Discipline Issues• Practice drills – a

variety of methods• Effective feedback

• Effective use of pool space

• Challenging students• Involving the parent in

the learning process


Staff RetentionStaff Retention

• Increased Confidence

• Growth & Development

• Sense of accomplishment & pride


Teamwork & Mutual RespectTeamwork & Mutual Respect

• Appreciate difference in styles

• Loyalty to team

• Sharing of ideas/networking


Consistency of ProgramConsistency of Program

• Expectations are clear

• Equal training

• To Pass or Not to Pass?


Customer Expectations are Customer Expectations are HighHigh

• Want Results!

• Water Time!

• Time spent with child!


$$ Revenue Makers $$$$ Revenue Makers $$

• Impact on bottom line

• Customer retention

Train for financial success

Develop your staff to move up the chain!

Career Path of Swim Instructional Career Path of Swim Instructional StaffStaff

• Placing seeds opens possibilities

• A path greatly increases the likelihood that someone will decide to walk on it

• To walk this path, training and growth is very important

Career Path of Swim Instructional Career Path of Swim Instructional StaffStaff

Instructor Aide

MentorshipWater Safety Instructor

Lesson Coordinator

Instructor Trainer Aquatic Programmer

Instructor AidesInstructor Aides

• Paid or Volunteer

• Don’t meet prerequisites• Age• Skill

• Don’t want to be “in charge”

WIN – WIN Situation

Benefits of Instructor AidesBenefits of Instructor Aides

• Benefits for the Aide• Pre-Experience• Pre-Training• Variety of Instructional Styles• Don’t want to be “in charge”


• Benefits for the Program• More individual attention with students• Student gets more practice & feedback• Extra help for less cost (lower paid)• Recruitment of WSI’s• Substitute if another teacher is late or is a no-show


• Benefits for the Instructor using an Aide

• Leadership & supervisory experience• Accomplish more in a class• Help with a big and/or challenging class

Water Safety InstructorsWater Safety Instructors

• Certified to teach a variety of levels & age groups

• Certified to teach Water Safety Presentations

• Can teach Water Safety Aide classes

MentorshipMentorship

• Can assist the Instructor with• Block & lesson plans• Skills & drills• Communicating with parents

• Listen to concerns• Provide constructive criticism• Provide professional encouragement• Give practical advice

Assigning a Mentor is great development for the Mentor & the “Mentee”

Lesson CoordinatorLesson Coordinator

• A “dry” employee

• Instructor guidance, supervision, & feedback

• Customer Service

• Troubleshooting

Water Safety Instructor TrainerWater Safety Instructor Trainer

Be on the lookout for qualities:Be on the lookout for qualities:

• Skills & knowledge• Varied teaching

experiences• Maturity• Interpersonal skills

• Leadership skills• Role Model• Enthusiasm• Respect

How to Become an Instructor How to Become an Instructor TrainerTrainer

Application

Training PlanTeaching Experience Options

Authorization

Aquatic ProgrammerAquatic Programmer

• Professional Position

• Need:• Organizational skills• Patience• Willing to take risks• Believes in people• Enthusiasm

It’s a fantastic opportunity for quality staff to aspire to!

Types of TrainingTypes of Trainingfor Instructional Stafffor Instructional Staff

Types of Training forTypes of Training forInstructional StaffInstructional Staff

• Orientation

• Teaching

• In-Service Training


Orientation:

• Orient to “your” program• Before teaching alone• Pre-season/change of season• Current & returning staff

Add a water session, practice teaching, & idea sharing to your orientations.


Teaching:

• Co-instructing• As a new teacher• Experienced teachers

• Teach with an Aide• Teach a variety of levels & age groups

• Get out of comfort zone• Broaden experience• Tend to understand & retain more of what we teach

to others


Teaching:• Assign a Mentor

• Provides development for both employees• Creates a 2-way sense of responsibility

• Teach Water Safety Presentations• Develop “presentation” skills• Different experience

• Customer Evaluations• Written feedback from another perspective• Establish goals based on feedback

Teaching opportunities provide the best learning


In-Service Training

• On a regular schedule• Mandatory• Fun but focused

Develop your goals, then make lesson plans to support them

In-Service TrainingsIn-Service Trainings

Use a Variety of Sources:Use a Variety of Sources:

• Instructor CD ROM• Instructor’s Corner• WSI course videos• WSI course lesson

plans & activities• “Real students” visit• Tape of the Olympics• Total Immersion

• Guest speaker– Swim Coach– Diver– Instructor Trainer– School teacher– Rehab specialist

• Teambuilding Activities

• Use your experienced Instructors to lead a session

In-Service TrainingsIn-Service Trainings

Use a Variety of Formats:Use a Variety of Formats:

• Team Scenarios

• Round table discussions

• Practice teaching assignments

• Teambuilding Activities

• Swim Practice

• Develop a teaching library

Training TopicsTraining Topics


• Skill practice– Better skills = more confidence

• Drill practice– Perform and teach drills for a variety of strokes

• Safety– Methods for teaching and correct demonstration– Emergency scenarios: evacuations, injuries, etc.


• What should that skill look like at specific levels?

• To pass or not to pass?

• Providing specific feedback• How to fix it

• Maximizing pool space usage• Class organization• Drills & practice• Sharing space with others• Making the most of what you have


– Provide challenging scenarios & have teams provide ideas/solutions

– “Works for me” discussion

– Block plans – plan for a short session, how will they cover all the material

– Dealing with combined levels

– Private Instruction


• Special needs students/classes• Use of equipment• Explanations – keep it simple• Dealing with last minute changes

– Weather– Poop/vomit in pool– Pool space changes– Substituting without a plan

• Dealing with discipline issues


• Keeping a class moving/engaged

• Using games, songs, & toys– Puppet shows

• Teaching individuals in a group class– Teaching what the individual is ready for

Training TopicsTraining Topics• Customer Service

– How to involve the parent(s)

– Dealing with the parent that’s too involved

– Giving homework

– How to tell them that they didn’t pass– What to do next

– Selling programs


• Broaden the Knowledge Base

– Recreational Water Illnesses

– National Aquatic Safety Month

– VAT program

Motivate Instructional Staff!Motivate Instructional Staff!

Motivate Instructional StaffMotivate Instructional Staff

• Use trainings to celebrate!

• Introduce staff recognition• “Pass the fish”

• Let a staff member present a topic

• Round table discussions• Employees have a voice• Employees contribute

Motivate Instructional StaffMotivate Instructional Staff

• Include them in “annual” lifeguard competitions

• Site or agency newsletter

• Post pictures on bulletin boards

• Post summaries of customer feedback

• Solicit their help with problem solving• This is a creative group!

Thank You!Thank You!

Contact Me:

Stephanie Shook

[email protected]

703-730-1057