What Makes a Good Teacher?

By Rob McKay - Lifestyle Swim School

Recently, we interviewed Coach Rob McKay from Boca Raton, Florida about the job of a swim instructor. He and his wife Kathy have been operating the Lifestyle Swim School since 1981. Here's what Coach McKay told American Learn to Swim.

Coach McKay, what advise do you have on teaching infants?
"To teach infants, you need a teacher who is playful and in tune with the child. They have to understand readiness and when to proceed or hold back on skills. Women tend to be better with the infants because they tend to be more nurturing and good with the children in the water, but men can learn to be, too. We have a great website: www.babyswimming.com, to inspire people to teach infants and toddlers We have had around 8,000 visitors a month! I guess the most important thing is to really understand the kids, be gentle, and have an upbeat aura. You want them to love swimming and continue it for their whole lives."

Coach McKay, what skills do you think make a good teacher?
"A good teacher knows the curriculum and skills. That's the first priority. Practice how you relate with the kids and how you phrase drills. Make sure it's age appropriate. I use about 50 gags with the kids to make them laugh- to entertain them. They need this! For example. I juggle and do tricks with them. I will kick up a ball behind me and shoot it over to them. I will make funny duck noises and other sounds. I let them give me 5 and knock me over in the process. Basically, I lose all my dignity to make them laugh! You also need to keep things moving and keep everyone involved. There shouldn't by any down time."

Coach McKay, what tips would you give a new swim teacher to help them improve their teaching skills?
"Once again, you must recognize the child's readiness first. Then, as you are teaching, say their names and be pro-active. Always recognize something good that they have done and point that out. Joke with them, compliment the, tell them stories, be friendly, and use your imagination. I always try to compliment each child at least once a day because they usually are always doing at least one thing right. Say their name so they know they are important. The little kids love imaginative things, and toys always help, too. If they see you are having fun, they will enjoy themselves more, too!"

Coach McKay, what advice do you give your staff on readiness?
"An easy way to tell if they are ready is to just look into their eyes. See if they are relaxed. Notice if their muscles are tense, or if they are verbalizing what they are feeling, either through positive or negative feedback (smiling or crying). You have to really pay close attention. Many parents pressure their kids to learn how to swim in a compressed time frame and they aren't as concerned about whether or not the child is comfortable with the situation. We want the kids to relax in the water and not panic, that way if they happen to fall in, they will relax first and then be able to swim as we teach them, Don't be pressured by parents! If a child cries, they should never force a child's head under water. They deserve to be treated with respect and care."

What about the fearful child?
"If a child is crying, you certainly should not force them to do anything. Do not put their head underwater and don't push them. The best thing to do is be playful and try to make them feel comfortable. I always sing songs, or have toys for them to play with, and once they see that swimming lessons can be fun, they are more apt to relax. To get them used to having water on their faces, we use little squeeze balls or puppets, and spray a little water on them so they can adapt to it slowly. If a child is traumatizes from other lessons that they have taken, it could take a while for them to calm down while they are in the water, and get used to it. From my coaching experience, it takes on average 16 lessons to calm down a frightened child, and 32 lessons if they have been through extremely bad, forceful lessons. Be patient with them as they adapt and have fun with them."

Can teaching swimming be a career?
"You have to love it! And you have to be willing to work a lot of hours. Sacrifices have to be made because someone has to do the job. You have to find the market for the sport and fulfill the need of that market. There is a huge market for lessons on weekends and so you have to be available to teach then. The same thing goes for lessons in the evenings. That is more convenient for working parents and so you have to arrange your schedule around what works for them. Also, you can't teach for the money, the rewards are found in seeing the kids excel and learn the sport. Ultimately, you should find teachers who have the same philosophy as you and then you can split the load and have a great program!"