My name is Madeline McKim (Maddie), and I am a recent graduate from Loyola Marymount University. Growing up in a military family, I moved often and had a wide variety of life and swimming experiences, including learning from many coaches and connecting with many teams. It is as a result of these opportunities that I developed a fondness for the competitive swimming industry. My experience with swimming taught me how integral athletic activities are for the well being of individuals and the development of important life skills, such as adaptability and collaboration. In high school, I worked as a summer swim instructor, and during my first year of college, while I was home due to school covid-19 closures, I worked as an Age Group/Pre-Team coach with my previous club. It was in these positions I learned about coaching and the organization of athletics.
While pursuing my degree at LMU, I worked as a private swim instructor and a lifeguard to continue learning more about coaching and athletic management. In Spring of 2024, I graduated with Summa Cum Laude and a bachelor's degree in communication studies and a minor in business administration. Connecting the studies of communication within organizations and the investigation of management and business goals, I intend to utilize both fields of study to grow within my career in athletics.
As a lifeguard at Loyola Marymount University's recreation facility, we supervised the pool's and the swimmers' safety. In order to do so, we enforced the rules and regulations of the entire facility. This also allowed us to maintain efficiency in our tasks and possible rescues in and out of the pool. Beyond our Red Cross certifications, we were trained to handle facility equipment such as lane lines, guard towers, clocks, and lights. We operated the equipment for our shift rotations and athletic events. Additionally, we communicated with coaches, athletes, managers, other facility workers, and other guards to provide an enjoyable experience at the facility for all.
As a private swim instructor for Lil' Guppies, I traveled to clients’ homes to conduct private swim lessons for all age groups. In these lessons, it was my goal to teach safe swimming practices, increase comfort levels in the water, and make swimming an enjoyable experience for every student. While management oversaw all the coaches within the organization, we were each given responsibility regarding communication with the clients about the lesson plans and progress of the student, coordination with management, and the time management of our own schedules. I enhanced my organization skills in this position due to the independent yet collaborative nature as well as my time management skills.
In this position, I organized and conducted swim lessons to introduce safe recreational practices in a group setting. I collaborated with multiple coaches of all backgrounds to ensure we provided an insightful and gratifying experience for both the athletes and their families. As this particular group was intended for families who were not sure if competitive swimming was going to be for them, it was up to me to ensure the practices not only improved the student's swimming skills but also provided a clear and positive example of what competitive swimming entails with this team. I was given the opportunity to teach a few lessons independently to enhance my leadership skills and gain more experience as a swim coach.
In this summer program, I supervised and conducted group swim lessons for students between the ages of 5-12 while coordinating with other coaches. It was important each student was given guidance on the skills in the lesson plans in a way that was easily understood and productive. Not only was this program intended to keep children safe in the water but it also encouraged competitive spirit and curiosity about learning. The organization of mini-meets for our students interested in racing was the first opportunity I had to learn about the behind-the-scenes of competitive swimming events. We were given various responsibilities at the events to ensure they ran efficiently and families had a pleasant time watching their children grow in a fun environment.