Want to be a Coach?

Starting artistic swimming coaching can be daunting but it is very rewarding. The simplest and best way to get involved is by volunteering as a synchro coach at your local club.

The head coach and existing volunteers at the club will help you along the way. But for those just starting out, here are some top tips to help you through those first months.

Know

You may be thinking “I am just starting out, I don’t know much about synchro” and that is fine!

What you do need to know is what you are willing to do, so you want to consider:

• Which days/sessions do you want to help out with?
• Is there an age range/ability group you want to work with?
• What sort of session are you more interested in – figures, routines, land, stamina, everything?
• Are you hoping to become a qualified coach or judge in the future?

If you are unsure who you would like to work with, try to watch some sessions to get ideas of how they run and see what you think.

Contact

Once you have an idea of those points, it’s time to contact someone from the club.

Many clubs have a volunteer coordinator who is a good point of contact.

If you are unsure who to turn to then, the club secretary should be able to direct you to the right person.

There are specific requirements that need to be met when people are volunteering, so don’t be surprised if you are asked to fill in some paperwork or become a formal member of the club.

Prepare

It is helpful if you can prepare a bit yourself before you start.

That doesn’t mean hours of reading or teaching yourself about synchro. Instead, consider these points:

• Do you have suitable clothing? These are footwear for poolside and appropriate clothes.
• If you have decided on a group working towards a Synchro Skills Program colour grade, go to the eLearning portal or print out the guide. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it right now. Having it with you means you can look through it when needed.
• Introduce yourself to other coaches and explain you are looking at getting into coaching. You may wish to have a chat with one coach in particular if you have chosen a particular group you wish to work with.

Shadow

Before you take any groups on your own, you should gain some experience by shadowing a current coach. To start off, this involves literally just standing or sitting with a coach when they work with a group and listening to what they are saying. Once you feel confident, ask the coach questions about what they are doing and why they are giving that feedback to the swimmers.

Most coaches are happy to help people learn; you can gain a lot from this. You may even start to see faults in skills and be able to give some basic corrections.

Qualify

When you feel ready, it is essential to get qualified. A qualification will allow you to get accreditation at competitions and also cover you under the club's insurance policy.