The Swimming New Zealand Swim Teacher Award (SNZ STA) is a great opportunity for swim teachers to develop skills and understanding in aquatic education.

  • SNZSTA is a nationally recognised training programme developed to

train people to teach swimming and personal survival.

  • On completion of the SNZSTA course requirements, participants also receive the National Certificate in Recreation and Sport – Aquatics (Swim Education) 43 Level 3 credits
  • SNZSTA covers how people learn, teaching and learning styles and effective communication
  • SNZSTA outlines health and safety requirements in and around the aquatic environment
  • SNZ STA explains the progressions of learn to swim
  • SNZSTA provides the tools to assist in the planning and delivering an effective swimming lesson
  • Also included are lessons on giving instructions, customer service, contributing to a team, professional behaviour and promotion of customer security, enjoyment and learning in recreation are also included.

To complete the award participants are required to:

  • attend a one day course participating in theory and practical learning sessions in both the classroom and pool
  • complete a written work book
  • gain 20 hours of experience swim teaching
  • write up 10 lessons plans and evaluate these
  • be practically assessed by a Swimming New Zealand accredited Evidence Gatherer

The Early Childhood Swim Teacher Award course (ECSTA) is for the swim teacher who wants to develop their skills teaching Baby and Pre-school classes.

  • The ECSTA course and resources have been developed in consultation with Gill Connell who is recognised worldwide as a leading educational consultant in child development, movement, word study and perceptual motor development.
  • ECSTA reflects the aims and aspirations of the New Zealand Ministry of Education Early Childhood Curriculum – Te Whariki
  • The course provides information to assist swim teachers to develop and deliver aquatic education programmes that empower parents and caregivers to create a safe, fun learning environment at home, in the pool, and in other aquatic environments
  • ECSTA covers sequential and developmentally appropriate aquatic skills, attitudes and knowledge
  • Upon completion of the course swim teachers develop an understanding of safest attitudes and practices in and around water
  • ECSTA shows swim teachers how to link their early childhood lessons with Sport NZ’s Physical Literacy approach, which considers their physical; social and emotional; cognitive; and spiritual needs.

To complete the award participants are required to:

  • attend a one day course participating in theory and practical learning sessions in the classroom and pool
  • complete a written work book
  • gain 20 hours of experience swim teaching
  • write 20 lessons plans
  • be assessed by a Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor.

Attend only option available for this award, see website for more details

The Teaching Swimmers with Disabilities (TSWD) course is a great opportunity for you to develop skills and gain confidence in aquatic education for swimmers with disabilities.

  • The TSWD course provides information to assist swim teachers to develop and deliver aquatic education programmes to embrace strategies for inclusion of swimmers with disabilities
  • TSWDcourse covers concepts of disability including language, teaching tips and principles of movement in the water
  • Upon completion of the course swim teachers develop an understanding of safest attitudes and practices in and around water in regards to their swimmers with different disabilities
  • TSWD shows swim teachers how to link their lessons with Sport NZ’s Physical Literacy approach, which considers a person’s physical; social and emotional; cognitive; and spiritual needs.

To complete the award participants are required to:

  • attend a one day course participating in theory and practical learning sessions in the classroom and pool
  • complete a related assignment
  • gain 20 hours of experience swim teaching
  • be assessed by a Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor.

Attend only option available for this award, see website for more details

The School Age and Adult Swim Teacher Award (SAA) is for the swim teacher who wants to develop skills and gain confidence in aquatic education for school age and adult swimmers.

  • The SAA course provides information to assist swim teachers to develop and deliver developmental series of swimming lessons in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly to swimmers of all ages
  • The SAA course provides information on all four strokes, correcting faults in all four strokes, starts and turns and dryland drills
  • The SAA course focuses on the differences and similarities between teaching swimmers of all ages
  • Upon completion of the course swim teachers develop an understanding of safest attitudes and practices in and around water in regards to their swimmers
  • SAA shows swim teachers how to link their lessons with Sport NZ’s Physical Literacy approach, which considers a person’s physical; social and emotional; cognitive; and spiritual needs.

To complete the award participants are required to:

  • attend a one day course participating in theory and practical learning sessions in the classroom and pool
  • complete pre and post course assignments assignments
  • gain 20 hours of experience swim teaching
  • be assessed by a Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor.

Attend only option available for this award, see website for more details

The Teacher of Competitive Strokes course (TOCS) is for the swim teacher or coach who wants to improve their knowledge oncompetitive strokes, starts and turns, and drills.

  • Swim teachers and coaches at this level are encouraged to work as an assistant coach under the supervision of a coach with the appropriate qualifications.
  • Upon completion of the TOCS award, swim teachers and coaches will have gained the skills and knowledge to deliver training sessions that develop swimming techniques.

To complete the award participants are required to:

  • attend a one day course participating in theory and practical sessions in the classroom and at the pool
  • complete a written work book
  • complete 20 hours of post course coaching (novice and junior swimmers, generally defined as swimmers 12 years and under and swimming 25m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke), 5 hours of which is working under the supervision of an approved coaching mentor
  • be a member of NZSCTA.

Attend only option available for this award. See website for more details

The Swimming New Zealand Train the Trainer (TTT) Course is a great opportunity for senior swim teachers, pool deck supervisors, program co-ordinators and swim school managers to develop skills and understanding in effective training processes for staff. You will take away many tips and tools to support you in dealing with difficult situations, managing your staff training responsibilities, and your communication with customers and staff.

  • The TTTcourse provides information to assist senior swim teachers to develop and deliver learning sessions for learning and training experiences within their team whilst understanding how adults learn
  • This course assists participants in identifyingtheir own leadership style and assists with identifying key aspects of good leadership
  • TTT course provides information on how to provide feedback , assessment and evaluation in a range of settings
  • Upon completion of the course swim teachers develop an understanding of safest attitudes and practices for establishing learning environments for adult learners
  • TTT shows swim teachers how to link their lessons with Sport NZ’s Physical Literacy approach, which considers a person’s physical; social and emotional; cognitive; and spiritual needs.

To complete the award participants are required to:

  • attend a one day course participating in theory and practical learning sessions in the classroom
  • complete pre and post course assignments
  • be assessed by a Swimming New Zealand education advisor running a learning session

Attend only option available for this award, see website for more details

The Diploma qualification is recommended by Swimming New Zealand as the highest qualification for all professional teachers of swimming in New Zealand. Any person teaching swimming may complete the diploma. E.g. swim school directors, swim school employees, swim club coaches, school teachers providing they meet the pre-requisites

The Diploma qualification by itself will not improve your swim teaching ability. This you must do for yourself through additional study, practice and experience. The qualification will have served its purpose if it contributes to your improvement as a swimming teacher and the improvement of teachers who work with you.

Diploma in Swim Teaching pre requisites;

  • Hold all New Zealand Certificate in Swim Teaching modules
  • Hold a current First Aid certificate
  • Have completed 500 logged teaching hours. Hours must be logged on the approved Swimming New Zealand Form The 500 logged hours can only be started once the last NZCST module has been awarded.
  • Submit a proposed research topic for approval.
  • Recommended age of 18 years minimum

To complete the diploma participants are required to:

  • Submit a 20, 000 word document on your research topic
  • Presentation to their peers on your research topic