Swim Group Instructor-Aquatics at Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges Inc – East Orange, New Jersey

POSITION SUMMARY:

Teaches YMCA swim lesson program classes while maintaining safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck, and surrounding areas. Creates a safe and positive atmosphere that promotes member safety and engagement in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for teaching YMCA swim lesson program classes of up to 12 children. Instructors must teach in the water for every class.
• Must be able to teach freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, elements of butterfly and elementary backstroke and sidestroke.
• Teach the correct skills for the level of class and evaluates student progress based on criteria.
• Make eye contact with students and communicate in terms of students understanding. Asks students questions to monitor their understanding and provide students with feedback on their activities.
• Use positive motivation. Use teachable moments to speak about character development and address behavior with appropriate techniques.
• Must be able to see all students at all times during lesson, never turns back on class.
• Must be skilled in observing the behavior of swimmers in the water and be ready at all times to stop dangerous behavior.
• Maintains effective, positive relationships with the members, participants and other staff.
• Use a variety of organizational patterns maximizing swim time for every student. Smoothly keep class moving from one activity to the other.
• Use teaching aids and equipment appropriately with activities and incorporate games in to classes.
• Balance working with students individually and allowing students to practice on their own.
• Keeps accurate attendance and all other class records current and organized.
• Clean area after every swim lesson class.
• Attends all staff meetings and training as required.

OTHER DUTIES/EXPECTATIONS:

• Must be 5-10 minutes early to every shift and record time worked correctly with limited mistakes.
• Must find coverage if unable to attend a shift. Contact must be made ahead of time if a scheduled shift cannot be worked.
• Flexibility, may be asked to substitute for other employee’s shift or work beyond assigned shift in an effort to ensure safety and proper coverage.
• Mandatory attendance for in-services. In-Service meetings will be scheduled in advance.
• In the event of pool closure, must accommodate an alternate date for swim lesson.
• For Private Swim Instruction, must complete accurate private lesson timesheet at the end of each workday. Must complete and maintain all records assigned as current and up-to-date.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum age of 16 years.
• Proven knowledge of various swim strokes and teaching levels.
• Previous experience teaching swim lessons preferred.
• Strong vocal ability to project instruction clearly during lessons.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Must achieve YSL or American Red Cross certification within 1st year of teaching swim lessons.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to swim at least four laps (200 yards) of freestyle and be able to scissor kick (sidestroke) or breaststroke kick.
• Must be willing and able to teach in the water for each class. Must be able to enter and exit pool without assistance.
• Must be able to remain alert.
• Adequate ability to hear noises and distinguish distress signals.
• Ability to lift up to 55 lbs.
• Ability to communicate verbally, including projecting voice across distance in normal and loud situations.