Duration: 40 hours

Fee: Call facility for details

The Water Safety Instructor Course provides instruction through video and hands-on skill building.  The course includes all the water safety and drowning prevention tools and information needed to plan and conduct courses in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program.

Purpose:

• Train instructor candidates to teach water safety, including the Basic Water Rescue course, all levels of the Learn to Swim, Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, and Longfellow's Whale Tales.
• Expand on information on the American Red Cross Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) course (included in 40 hours);
• Identify key elements and strategies for planning and preparing effective and safe swim lessons;
• Identify key class management principles, elements and strategies for planning, preparing, and conducting safe swim lessons;
• Describe the importance of effective observation for teaching and how to develop it;
• Observe swimming skills and accurately classify them and suggest appropriate interventions to improve them. 

Prerequisites:

• Be at least 16 years of age by the final scheduled session of the instructor course
• Successfully swim the following strokes consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts:
  • Front crawl - 25 yards
  • Back crawl - 25 yards
  • Breaststroke - 25 yards
  • Elementary backstroke - 25 yards
  • Sidestroke - 25 yards
  • Butterfly - 15 yards
• Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling)
• Tread water for 1 minute.

Certification Requirements:

• Attend all class sessions;
• Complete all reading assignments;
• Participate in all activities;
• Successfully complete all practice-teaching assignments;
• Pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent (40 correct answers out of 50 questions);
• Demonstrate maturity and responsibility throughout course.

Certificates Issued & Validity Period:

Authorization is for 2 calendar years. All authorizations expire on December 31. Initial authorization may be less or more depending on when training is completed.

Additional classes will be added to the website as available and listed on the Aquatic Instructor Hotline (262) 970-7413.

Course Sections