Swim Instructor

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of the Health and Wellness Director or Aquatics Coordinator, the Swim Instructor is responsible for the safety and well being of his/her students, coming to class prepared, writing evaluations and progress reports at the end of each session, and showing respect and enthusiasm towards the swim program and participants.

KNOW HOW

Swim Instructors must be enthusiastic, portray a positive mental attitude and carry out YMCA philosophies and goals. Instructors must be able to relate positively to a variety of people including other staff and patrons. Instructors must be organized, prepared for lessons and eager to teach. The incumbent is required to possess current CPR-PR, First Aid and proficient swimming and rescue/safety skills, a professional attitude, courteous and alert personality, and be a responsible individual who is dedicated to his/her work, and have experience working with children.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

• Maintains a safe aquatic environment through the enforcement of all YMCA of Saginaw policies and regulations.
• Teaches according to YMCA guidelines and practices.
• Instructors are expected to be punctual, in uniform, have a lesson plan prepared, and be committed to continuity in a session.
• Instructors are paid a rate per class.
• Instructors are not to allow students in the pool until the class is starting and the instructor is in the water first.
• Instructors will know the names of all students by the end of the first class in each session.
• Instructors must pick up equipment after classes or swim lessons and adjust the lane line(s) as needed.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

• Responsible for finding substitutes for any class or shift that may be missed.
• If an instructor must miss a class, then s/he is responsible for finding a substitute and communicating changes with the Aquatics Coordinator/Director.
• It is highly recommended that instructors not miss the first or last day of any session.
• Records students attendance, monitors progress of students and completes written evaluations at the end of each session.
• Responsible for knowing and carrying out facility rules and emergency action plan.
• All other reasonable duties as assigned that meet work experience and training by supervisor.

Qualifications

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Proficient swimming and safety skills
• Professional, alert, courteous and tactful
• Current CPR-PR and First Aid
• Experience teaching swimming lessons or previous competitive swimming experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• YMCA Teaching Fundamentals
• YMCA Principles of Aquatic Leadership
• YMCA Preschool or Youth certifications
• YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor
• Red Cross Water Safety (WSI) Instructor

FUNCTIONAL ATTRIBUTES of the POSITION

Essential functions are the fundamental job duties, meaning the position exists to perform the function; there is a limited number of employees among whom the performance of the function can be distributed; and/or the incumbent is hired for expertise or ability to perform the function due to its high specialization. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and associated Federal regulations protect qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of employment. To be considered qualified, an individual must be able to perform the essential functions of a position, with or without reasonable accommodation. It is important that the physical tasks associated with the essential functions be identified appropriately so that persons with disabilities can determine if any accommodation is necessary.

GENERAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES LIST:

Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.

Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and make fine discriminations in sound.

Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

VISUAL ACUITY:

The worker is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, thoroughness of work assigned (i.e., security guard, inspection, etc.)

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.

The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside. The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.

YMCA COMPETENCIES:

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives.

Collaboration: Assists with inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience. Provides youth with coaching, guidance and support.

Personal Growth: Facilitates change; models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge.