STA Certificate in Teaching Swimming—Beginners
Aim
Holders of the STC(B) can teach up to 10 beginners. This would be equivalent to teaching ILSP “First Steps Stanley Series”, the “Octopus Series” and the “Goldfish Series”, they may also act as an assistant teacher and may teach larger classes or advanced skills under direct supervision of a suitably qualified swimming teacher.
Pre-requisites
• Be 16 years of age or older;
• Be a member of the STA;
• Satisfactorily complete the following Units
◊ Unit 1—Aquatic Teaching Foundation;
◊ Unit 2—Teaching Beginners;
•Hold a NaRS Pool Safety Award or an acceptable equivalent recognised by the STA.
Validity of Award
5 years.
Length of Course
28 hours
Course Information
Unit 1—Aquatic Teaching Foundation
The topics covered in this unit are:
• The legislative background, health, hygiene and safety;
• Child protection and integration of special needs pupils;
• The principles of teaching and planning, basic anatomy, physiology, hydrostatics and hydrodynamics.
Unit 2—Teaching Beginners
The topics covered in this unit are:
• Swimming lesson planning;
• Teaching positions;
• Teaching beginners basic aquatic skills;
• Introducing stroke analysis;
• Front crawl;
• Back crawl;
• Butterfly leg action.
• Breastroke.
Assessment
The qualification is assessed as set out below; candidates must satisfy all of the following:
• Completion of the end of unit worksheet to the satisfaction of the course tutor;
• Answer the end of unit multi-choice questions, each worth 1 mark, with a 70% pass mark;
• Completion of the Portfolio to the satisfaction of the course tutor (Foundation and STC(B);
• Undertake poolside teaching during the course covering the following skills:
◊ Regaining feet—prone & supine;◊ At least 3 different confidence exercises;◊ Push & glide;◊ Font & back paddle;◊ Simultaneous and alternating leg action;◊ Front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke to beginners;◊ Shallow water practices associated with diving.
At least 30 minutes of the above teaching must be at an STC(B) standard and directly observed by the course
tutor.
• External examination:
◊ Teaching a 10 minute lesson to 4 beginner pupils;
◊ Teaching a 5 minute lesson to 4 improvers;
◊ Complete a 25 multiple-choice question paper (Pass Mark 18).
