This programme equips you with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to design and deliver high-quality swimming sessions—whether you’re guiding a team at club level or preparing athletes for competition.

Training is delivered in a hybrid format:

• Brightspace e-learning for self-directed study
• Educator-led online sessions for deeper exploration and discussion
• On-pool practicals and in-club assessments to apply what you’ve learned

Before enrolment, participants must:

• Be 16 years or older at the course start date
• Hold a Swim Wales Trainee Coach Membership and a valid Swim Wales DBS
• Complete a Swim Wales recognised safeguarding course
• Undertake at least 5 hours of poolside observation and assistance with a Swim Wales member club

The qualification is built around five key units:

1. Being a Swimming Club Coach – The Person (self-directed online)
2. The Coach and the Organisation (self-directed online)
3. The Coach and Technical Requirements (educator-led)
4. The Coach in Action – Training and Competition (at your home club and a Swim Wales-licensed competition)
5. Practical Assessment (at a designated Swim Wales member club)

1. Roles and Responsibilities of a Swimming Coach
2. Identify the Legal aspects associated with a Swimming Coach Role
3. Understand what an equitable and inclusive coaching environment is
4. Explain different methods of communication and how to use them
5. Understand your swimmers and apply the five pillars of coaching
6. Understand and explain the optimal athlete development framework and the optimal coach development framework, and winning behaviours
7. Understand the importance of Coaching as a Collaborative Team
8. Explain how to meet the needs of different participants and those with a para swimming classification or other additional needs
9. Identify the key Stakeholders/Roles within your club and outside
10. Understand the competition pathway within Swim Wales and its structure
11. Identify CORE Aquatic Skills Fundamental Movement Skills, Scientific Principles, Starts and Turns
12. Understand and apply the theories in relation to the four strokes, along with faults and corrections
13. Understand Anatomy and physiology and explain the Components of fitness and training classifications
14. Effective planning, the importance of Pre and Post pool and understand the technical rules and regulations
15. Applied Practical Learning and gather data to inform performance and planning in competition

The Swim Wales Coaching Certificate Course Specification Booklet provides a clear overview of the qualification structure, learning outcomes, assessment requirements and progression pathways. It is an essential resource for anyone delivering or undertaking the Swim Wales Coaching Certificate.