Program Goals and Standards

Key Points:

The Goal of Swim Instructor and Swim Lesson Training

• The goal of swim lessons is to create a simple, fun learning environment that meets the desired learning outcomes to produce quality swimmers.
• During Learn-to-Swim lessons:
• Emphasize basic teaching fundamentals and do not try to provide too much information.
• Focus efforts on hands-on activities in the water.
• Be a good communicator with participants to keep classes interesting and participants engaged.
• Use a wide range of games and other activities as appropriate.
• Provide direction and demonstration of skills prior to participant performance.
• A good swim instructor will talk about the skill at hand, physically demonstrate the skill and then take each child individually out for the skill just demonstrated.
• Provide positive feedback to participants following the performance of any skills.
• Come up with new ideas for games and ways to teach skills that can keep participants from getting bored and burned out.
• Use in-service trainings as a forum for the exchange of new ideas and activities among swim instructors to help keep swim lessons fresh and exciting.

JES Swim Instructor Standards

• Swim Instructor classes (classroom and water) can vary between four (4) and twelve (12) hours based on the experience of those attending the class and class size.
• While Program Coordinators design their own site-specific swim instructor training classes, such design must still adhere to the following JES national standards:
• All instructor candidates must be 15 years of age or older to enroll and participate in a JES swim instructor training course.
• All swim instructor candidates must be able to perform all the strokes and skills associated with the swimming levels for which they seek certification to teach.
• All instructor candidates must possess a valid certificate from a nationally recognized training agency for CPR and First Aid certification.
• The maximum teaching ratio for conducting a JES swim instructor course is fifteen (15) swim instructor candidates to one (1) program coordinator.
• A lifeguard must be on stand and in position to provide protection during in-water training.
• Instructor candidates must possess personal qualities that will allow them to convey a professional image, a sincere enjoyment of children, and enthusiasm for teaching others to swim.
• It remains the exclusive responsibility of the program coordinator to determine each instructor candidate's suitability prior to certifying any JES Instructor.

Becoming a JES Swim Instructor

• There are several ways that a person can become a JES Swim Instructor. The Program Coordinator can be flexible in using these approaches:
• Provide the full swim instructor course, including stroke and skill verification, and teach backs among the candidates. This is often appropriate for those with no previous teaching experience.
• Provide a modified approach with an overview of the swim instructor course (e.g. philosophy, levels, teaching approach, administration, etc), stroke and skill verification, and shadowing / co-teaching of swim class(es) with an authorized Program Coordinator or Swim Instructor designated by the Program Coordinator in lieu of teach-backs to other candidates. This is often appropriate for those with some teaching and / or aquatic experience.
• Reciprocity - Provide an overview of the Swim instructor course (philosophy, levels, teaching approach, administration, etc), and stroke and skill verification. Monitor the Swim Instructor's performance in a swimming class. This is often appropriate for those who are current experienced credentialed Swim Instructors or Swim Instructor Trainers with other nationally recognized programs.
• Provide the full swim instructor course utilizing ePub course also including stroke and skill verification and teach backs among the candidates. This is often appropriate for those who are short on time when conducting this training. Participants can learn on their own before performing and pre-requisites.