Navigation

STA International Open Water Coach

The STA’s International Open Water Coach course provides learners with the knowledge and practical skills to coach open water swimming skills in an open water environment.

Course Specification    Find a Course

Complete International Tutor Application Form

This course is aimed at people who have experience swimming in open water and would like to become an open water coach. Open water coaches are able to take swimmers into open water and coach them in open water skills and improve the swimming technique in an open water environment. They will not be teaching them how to swim.

Learners are required to coach a range of swimmers in an open water environment throughout the course.

On successful completion of the course, learners will be issued with a STA International Open Water Coach Certificate.

On successful completion of the course, learners will:

  • Understand the role of an open water coach
  • Understand and be able to plan coaching sessions
  • Be able to produce a session plan
  • Be able to coach progressive practices for open water swimming strokes
  • Be able to coach open water swimming skills
  • Understand and be able to evaluate a session
  • Understand the equipment requirements of open water swimming
  • Understand the different considerations for open water swimming.
In order to attend the course, learners must:

  • Be 16 years old at the time of the assessment
  • Have open water swimming experience
  • Hold STA membership.
  • Learners will be assessed on their theoretical knowledge and practical teaching
  • Learners are required to correctly answer 10 verbal questions, and complete 1 session plan to the satisfaction of the tutor
  • Throughout the course learners will undertake practical coaching in an open water environment. For the practical assessment, learners are required to coach a 30-minute session to a small group of swimmers. In order for the learner to be deemed competent, the session must be taught independently by the learner without prompting or guidance from the tutor.

Join Our Mailing List

Stay up-to-date with the latest STA and leisure industry news by subscribing to our mailing list!

Subscribe
STA.co.uk

 The Swimming Teachers' Association Limited, company registered in England (No. 01272519) and a registered charity (No. 1051631 in England and Wales and SC041988 in Scotland) whose objective is: "The preservation of human life by the teaching of swimming, lifesaving and survival techniques." Registered office: Anchor House, Birch Street, Walsall, WS2 8HZ, United Kingdom