One of the best parts of teaching swim lessons is watching a child accomplish something they were completely sure they could not do.

At The Swim Farm, our instructors get to be part of those moments all the time.

We are hiring adult Learn-to-Swim Instructors to work with children in 1:1 lessons and very small groups at pools throughout Arlington, Virginia.

Our swimmer-to-coach ratios range from one swimmer in a private lesson to no more than five swimmers in a group. That means you will have time to learn your swimmers’ names, understand what they need, teach skills carefully, and see the difference your coaching makes.

You will not be left alone to figure everything out. Every practice has experienced coaching leadership available to answer questions, offer ideas, and help when a swimmer needs a different approach.

Why instructors enjoy working at The Swim Farm:

• Flexible scheduling that works around the rest of your life
• $20-$40 per hour for this adult instructor position
• Part-time W-2 employment
• 1:1 lessons and genuinely small groups
• Training, shadowing, and continued coaching support
• Opportunities to earn additional Swim Farm certifications
• Higher earning potential as you coach more frequently
• The chance to build real relationships with swimmers and families

Flexible scheduling

You do not have to commit to the same practice every week.

We send our staff a scheduling poll every two weeks. You tell us which practices you are available to work, and we build the coaching schedule from there.

You can coach as much or as little as your schedule allows. Some instructors work nearly every practice. Others coach around full-time jobs, school, family commitments, swim meets, or travel.

Once you accept an assignment, we count on you to be there, prepared and ready to coach.

When we coach

Our weekend practices are:

• Saturday, 5:00-7:00 PM at Yorktown High School
• Sunday, 8:00-10:00 AM at Washington-Liberty High School
• Sunday, 5:00-7:00 PM at Washington-Liberty High School

Most Learn-to-Swim opportunities are during these weekend practices. Additional weekday opportunities may become available as instructors complete training in other Swim Farm programs.

What you will do

• Teach water comfort, breath control, floating, kicking, safe entries and exits, freestyle, and backstroke fundamentals
• Work individually with swimmers and lead small Learn-to-Swim groups
• Help nervous or hesitant swimmers feel safe and successful in the water
• Break skills into manageable steps and adjust lessons based on each swimmer’s needs
• Provide specific, encouraging feedback throughout every lesson
• Monitor swimmers actively and follow all pool and safety procedures
• Communicate with Lead Coaches about swimmer progress and placement
• Continue learning through training, observation, and coaching feedback

Who we are looking for

This position is for applicants who are at least 18 years old.

You do not need an elite swimming background or years of formal coaching experience. Great candidates may be former swimmers, teachers, lifeguards, camp counselors, childcare providers, youth coaches, parents, college students, retirees, or simply people who are dependable and genuinely good with children.

You should be:

• Comfortable working and demonstrating skills in the water
• Patient, positive, and encouraging
• Dependable when you accept a coaching assignment
• Able to communicate well with children, parents, and other coaches
• Interested in learning and open to feedback
• Willing to complete Swim Farm training and an adult background check

Previous swim instruction, teaching, childcare, coaching, camp, lifeguarding, or youth-sports experience is helpful. CPR/AED, First Aid, Lifeguard, and Water Safety Instructor certifications are also valuable, but they are not required to apply.

Pay

Adult instructors hired through this opening earn $20-$40 per hour as part-time W-2 employees.

Starting placement and future pay are based on experience, certifications, coaching quality, performance, reliability, parent feedback, participation, and level of responsibility.

We also reward coaches who make Swim Farm a larger part of their schedule. Coaches who work more frequently can move into higher monthly pay tiers and earn a higher hourly rate. There is no minimum number of practices you must work.

As your skills grow, you may also complete additional Swim Farm certifications, work with different levels of swimmers, mentor newer instructors, and take on greater coaching responsibility.

How to apply

Complete The Swim Farm’s online staff application:

https://www.theswimfarm.com/join-our-staff#jobapplication

After completing the application, please email the following to coachphil@theswimfarm.com:

• A current resume
• Two references who can speak to your reliability, character, and ability to work with children, students, athletes, or customers

For each reference, include the person’s name, relationship to you, phone number, and email address.

Please use the subject line: Learn-to-Swim Instructor Application - [Your Name]

If you care about kids, enjoy being in the water, and want a flexible job where your coaching can make a real difference, we would love to hear from you.