From Lifeguard to Swim Coach: Learning to Stay Ahead of the Splash

Recently, I made the transition from lifeguard to swim coach to help out. The assignment seemed simple enough: get in the pool, take a lane or two, and help some swimmers improve. Of course, swimming has a way of reminding one that knowing how to swim and knowing how to coach swimming are two different things.

One may be a good swimmer and lifeguard, but competitive swimming is about much more than simply moving through the water. Technique, timing, body position, efficiency, and individual skill levels all matter. So, naturally, one needs to sharpen those skills as well. The video below provides a useful refresher on the four primary competitive strokes.

(Illustrative Only)
Jack illustrates
why its important to
have a strong
launch off the
starting block
with your body
in proper alignment. 
To help swimmers
he invented
the belly flop, 
half committed
dive, that 
makes a big splash
and sound that echos
off the walls
and makes everyone
focus on the swimmer.🙃 It's
called the 
Red Belly Flop.

Swimming also remains one of the better all-around forms of exercise. It provides excellent cardio, develops muscle, and is relatively easy on the joints. In other words, one can get a serious workout without having to explain to the knees why they have been betrayed.

I also hold certifications as a fitness trainer and yoga instructor, so helping people stay active is becoming something of a recurring theme. Need a little help getting moving? Send a message, and one can work with you virtually. No swim cap required.

Swimming Coaches and Professional Development

• The study surveyed 123 swimming coaches from 41 countries about professional development and coaching practices.
• Most coaches regularly sought new knowledge through other coaches, online resources, seminars, and conferences.
• Coaching philosophy often developed through experience, reflection, and continued learning.
• Mentoring was common, with coaches also identifying swimming as a way to develop athletes’ self-discipline and confidence.
• Technology and performance analysis were increasingly used, highlighting the value of continued education and collaboration between coaches and sport scientists.

Dalamitros, A. A., et al. (2023). Swimming coaches’ professional development and training practices: An international survey. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1229066. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1229066