Interested in enjoying your job, while helping kids?

If you love working with children Aquatic Achievers is the place for you. Our greatest resource is our staff.

Why it’s a great place to work

Aquatic Achievers is committed to providing opportunities for career development and progression for all employees. We aim to make Aquatic Achievers a better place to work so that we can continue to retain and attract great people. The reason why employees choose Aquatic Achievers as a workplace, are: Constructive leadership Vibrant team orientated environment Comprehensive pre-appointment training Ongoing training and support from our highly experienced team Success is openly recognised and rewarded on a regular basis Skills development and personal development encouraged and supported long term career path Do you possess the following values ? If you answer 'yes' then we would love to hear from you. These seven core values ('The Magnificent Seven') are central for all team members. Loyalty Integrity Responsibility Persistent / hardworking Professionalism Teamwork Energy

Solo-1

Aquatic Achievers has been established since 1969. Over the years Director Neil Douglas has developed the internationally acclaimed Solo-1 swim teaching program for children. The Aquatic Achievers Solo-1 program is made up of 14 skill levels. Each level advances the child's skills, step by step in an easy, achievable progression from the age of 3 months to 12 years. The goal at the end of the program is for children to be able to swim 1km unassisted with good technique.

Solo-1 TRAINING

Aquatic achievers provides comprehensive pre-appointment and ongoing training for all instructors. Age and previous experience are no barrier. We welcome candidates from the age of 17 years right up to 65 years of age. If you have had no previous experience in the aquatic industry, don't worry, our training will guide you through all you need to know before you start teaching.

Our recruitment process includes: Initial interview In water class observation sessions (part of the interview process) Provision of written lesson plans Hands on training, working alongside one of our experienced team Training DVD's Competency based lesson assessment 5 training modules incorporating teaching through to management Trainees will have full training and confidence before teaching.

Flexible Hours: We are able to offer team members varying shift times, allowing you to balance your hours with university studies, school or family life. Shifts include mornings, after school and evenings, as well as weekend times, meaning you can mix and match hours to suit your lifestyle. All of our centres are open 6 or seven days a week so there are work times available on the weekends.

The Best Facilities: Classes are conducted in purpose built indoor heated facilities. Our water is heated to 32 degrees year round to ensure your continual comfort. We also have heated change rooms and hot showers.

Team Environment: Aquatic Achievers' team members have the chance to enjoy a number of great social and personal development opportunities throughout the year.

These include:

• Staff Christmas parties for each centre
• Annual Bowls trophy played for between all the centres
• All centres' end of summer party to celebrate our achievements
• Centre based social activities
• Annual Personal Development presentation for staff and partners
• Opportunity to network at conferences and seminars

What makes a good swim teacher ?

No background needed whatsoever.

 

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that you need a swimming background to be a teacher – NO WAY. Quite often our best teachers at our swim schools are non-swimmers. And vice versa, some of the worst teachers are ex-swimmers who have no idea what steps to teach children or have no affinity with children.

 

Become certified, get insurance

 

Most developed countries have laws or guidelines about becoming a swimming teacher. Many poorer or developing nations don’t. Find out what is legal and get it done. Insurance is also important as accidents can occur in water at all times. Most of the time you will need swim teacher’s accreditation to get insurance. Either way find out how your system works, it’s worth the time.

 

Specialize when you start

 

There are many sub categories you can break swim teaching up into. We strongly recommend that in the beginning you specialize in one area so you can build you confidence with that age/ability. For the sake of this article, I will use the system at Aquatic Achievers, however there are many other ways to do this.

Babies

We usually classify babies aged between 3 months and 3 years. Here you will be instructing parents on how to teach their own children, similar to train the trainer.

Solo

Aged between 2.5 and 4 years, this is commonly viewed as the hardest group to teach, because they are so unpredictable. The solos are going through that stage in their life where they are testing the boundaries, so experience and good strategy is a must. Don’t be surprised when a darling 3 year old turns into a nightmare who throws tantrums.

Learn to Swim

These kids can range from 3 years and above. Here we are teaching the basics of swimming safety, and also stroke preparation. These kids generally respond to upbeat and entertaining classes where skills are reinforced by repetition and muscle memory.

Stroke correction

Here we are at the crossroads before squads. This area is where we want to improve the technique of Backstroke and Freestyle, so that children can swim well and enjoy the aquatic environment. Repetition is also key here, however swim teachers also need to become good at motivating kids to continually do an activity that in itself is tiresome and difficult. Great swimming instructors have kids begging to come back next week after a hard swimming session.

 

Watch other great teachers

 

Watch brilliant teachers and you learn, simple as that.

 

Be aware the cycles/complacency

 

A common tendency for swimming instructors is become cocky after some success. We see it all the time after about 1 year of teaching. Almost everyone goes through it. The kids love you, parents praise how good of a teacher you are and you listen and think you can do no wrong – big mistake. It’s at this point you need to search for the really difficult teaching situations, which are endless. Here are some examples:

• the babies who want stop crying,
• the terrified parent when in the water with their baby
• the overweight 8 year old that cannot kick properly,
• the 3 year old who screams continuously,
• the 4 year old who won’t put their face in the water,
• the seven year old who disrupts the class by punching others,
• the little girl who hates male teachers,
• the petrified 5 year old who cannot stop shaking,
• the 6 year old who is as stiff as a board – the list goes on and on.

A realization that you can always become better will help you deal with these harder kids/situations.

Neil Douglas who started Aquatic Achievers and still teaches today at the age of 64 sais he learns something every time he hops in and is always watching children’s behaviour and body movements.