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What does a Swim Coach do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A swim coach is someone who teaches and trains people how to swim. A swim coach provides tips and techniques for people to follow if they want to learn how to swim. Demand for swimming teachers is growing, especially during summer where people travel to the beach and resorts to enjoy their vacations. A swim coach should know how to determine a student's skill, provide suitable teaching methods, and enhance the student's current swimming skill through specialized and customized swimming lessons.

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Swim coach responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real swim coach resumes:

  • Perform additional responsibilities as deemed appropriate by school and district supervisors such as organizing and managing elementary school mathematics information nights.
  • Instruct children, in groups and individually, on the specifics of softball skills.
  • Teach and demonstrate use of swimming equipment such as flippers, flotation devices, and kicking boards.
  • Provide a strong focus on improve leadership, discipline and group cohesion as well as a process orient approach to swimming.
  • Assess & instruct students on swimming styles from the basics to technicalities in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
  • Instruct students to swim freestyle independently
  • Work with underprivilege children teaching softball skills.
  • Continue enhancing and refinement of leadership skills, along with communication and critical thinking
  • Perform additional responsibilities as deemed appropriate by school and district supervisors such as organizing and managing elementary school mathematics information nights.
  • Analyze and break down game tape for film sessions and individual recruiting videos using the HUDL program.

Swim coach skills and personality traits

We calculated that 36% of Swim Coaches are proficient in CPR, Customer Service, and Lifeguard. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Dedication, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Swim Coaches that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • CPR, 36%

    Coach at swim meets - Maintain USA coaching credentials, background check, CPR, and water safety certifications.

  • Customer Service, 12%

    Provided customer service, developed inter-personal skills, and developed management skills.

  • Lifeguard, 11%

    Supervised designated swimming areas and enforced safety rules and regulations as a lifeguard.

  • Kids, 7%

    Worked with kids on their swimming technique, encouraged progress, and communicated with parents and fellow coaches throughout the summer.

  • Water Safety, 7%

    Lead and coordinate practices and provide one-on-one instruction for water safety and technical development.

  • Training Programs, 7%

    Developed personal training programs for individual swimmers to further progression and development of stroke specialties.

Common skills that a swim coach uses to do their job include "cpr," "customer service," and "lifeguard." You can find details on the most important swim coach responsibilities below.

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a swim coach to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "because coaches instruct, organize, and motivate athletes, they must be able to convey information clearly." Additionally, a swim coach resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "encourage skill development for team maintain communication with parents create and execute proper swim instruction for 8-11-year-old children"

Dedication. Many swim coach duties rely on dedication. "coaches must attend daily practices and assist their team and individual athletes in improving their skills and physical conditioning," so a swim coach will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways swim coach responsibilities rely on dedication: "coached children ages 4-18 to promote teamwork and dedication learned skills in communication, leadership, and patience"

Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for swim coaches to perform their duties. For an example of how swim coach responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "being able to relate to athletes helps coaches and scouts foster positive relationships with their current players and in recruiting potential players." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a swim coach: "demonstrated astute leadership and interpersonal skills in managing the daily operations of the park district pool facility. ".

Leadership skills. For certain swim coach responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "leadership skills." The day-to-day duties of a swim coach rely on this skill, as "coaches must motivate, develop, and direct athletes to help them reach their potential." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what swim coaches do: "provided leadership and served as a role model. "

All swim coach skills

The three companies that hire the most swim coachs are:

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Compare different swim coaches

Swim coach vs. Head basketball coach

Head Basketball Coaches are responsible for training and guiding athletes in achieving skills, sportsmanship, and discipline in the basketball sport. Their duties include organizing basketball programs, demonstrating individual and team development techniques, communicating team regulations and rules, and conducting basketball tryouts. They also work with the athletic director in scheduling practice dates, conduct informational parent meetings, and organize uniform fitting. Head Basketball Coaches also report on injuries, educate on safety procedures, and maintain model sportsmanship conduct.

The annual salary of head basketball coaches is $10,765 higher than the average salary of swim coaches.Even though swim coaches and head basketball coaches are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require cpr, role model, and championship in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between swim coaches and head basketball coach. For instance, swim coach responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "lifeguard," "kids," and "water safety." Whereas a head basketball coach is skilled in "basketball program," "ncaa," "player development," and "athletic program." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Head basketball coaches tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $43,839. In contrast, swim coaches make the biggest average salary, $35,539, in the education industry.head basketball coaches tend to reach higher levels of education than swim coaches. In fact, head basketball coaches are 6.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Swim coach vs. Assistant volleyball coach

Assistant Volleyball Coaches are responsible for supporting the head coach in managing a volleyball team. Their duties include demonstrating game strategies, running drills, strength training, nutrition advice, and weight training. They also administer adequate equipment supplies, organize schedules for teams, maintain player records, and help demonstrate training strategies. Assistant volleyball coaches also organize fundraising activities and work with subject faculties in tracking and ensuring athletes' academic performance.

A career as a assistant volleyball coach brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a swim coach. In fact, assistant volleyball coaches salary is $10,166 higher than the salary of swim coaches per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both swim coaches and assistant volleyball coaches have skills such as "role model," "safety rules," and "student athletes. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, swim coach responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cpr," "customer service," "lifeguard," and "kids." Meanwhile, an assistant volleyball coach has duties that require skills in areas such as "ncaa," "volleyball program," "assist head," and "iii." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Assistant volleyball coaches earn a higher average salary than swim coaches. But assistant volleyball coaches earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $52,398. Additionally, swim coaches earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $35,539 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Assistant volleyball coaches tend to reach similar levels of education than swim coaches. In fact, they're 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Swim coach vs. Basketball coach

A basketball coach is responsible for training players for school or basketball tournament leagues. A basketball coach prepares the players by providing them game techniques, developing their maximum potential through a series of practice and games. Basketball coaches identify each player's strengths and weaknesses, creating unique strategies during the mentorship. They must be highly knowledgeable of basketball's disciplines and rules, guiding them to improve their stance and movement. A basketball coach must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling the team's performance.

An average basketball coach eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of swim coaches. The difference in salaries amounts to basketball coaches earning a $10,935 higher average salary than swim coaches.swim coaches and basketball coaches both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "cpr," "role model," and "safety rules," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from swim coach resumes include skills like "customer service," "lifeguard," "kids," and "water safety," whereas a basketball coach is more likely to list skills in "teamwork," "basketball program," "grade girls," and "jv. "

Basketball coaches earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $46,389. Comparatively, swim coaches have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $35,539.When it comes to education, basketball coaches tend to earn similar degree levels compared to swim coaches. In fact, they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Swim coach vs. Volleyball coach

A volleyball coach leads and oversees a team of volleyball players to achieve short and long-term goals. Among their responsibilities include devising training and assessment plans, setting training and practice schedules, establishing guidelines, and developing strategies to enhance the players' teamwork, skills, and sportsmanship. They may also liaise and build positive relationships with sponsors, present progress reports to managers, and resolve issues and concerns should there be any. Moreover, a volleyball coach must encourage the players to reach goals, all while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for them.

Volleyball coaches average a higher salary than the annual salary of swim coaches. The difference is about $9,703 per year.According to resumes from swim coaches and volleyball coaches, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "cpr," "private lessons," and "role model. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A swim coach uses "customer service," "lifeguard," "kids," and "water safety." Volleyball coaches are more likely to have duties that require skills in "grade girls," "varsity volleyball," "volleyball program," and "girls volleyball. "In general, volleyball coaches earn the most working in the education industry, with an average salary of $45,384. The highest-paying industry for a swim coach is the education industry.volleyball coaches reach similar levels of education compared to swim coaches, in general. The difference is that they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of swim coach

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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