Training Plus+

Floaters TrainingPlus+ was set up in 2002 to provide training for swimming teaching and operations professionals of the highest quality and that was not otherwise available in the South East.

Its remit includes:

Accredited has included:

• An ASA, IoS and STA Education and Training Centre,
• An RLSS and NARS training centre
• Sports Coach UK, HSE etc.

In 2006, certain delivery processes, qualification pathways, course content and accreditation matrices were changed in such a way that it became impossible to deliver some courses and we are therefore reviewing our options.

Swimming Teaching Pathway:

To become an UKCC swimming teacher it now appears necessary to do the following:

• Attend ASA Level 1 course: 5 day. This allows the successful candidate to assist only in the workplace. Practical swimming development appears to be confined to assisting a qualified teacher in delivering lessons.
• Carry out 15 hours accredited teaching in the workplace
• Attend ASA Level 2 course: 8 day. This equips the candidate with teaching mechanics to teach pupils up to being able to swim approximately 100m. Practical swimming development may be carried out on course or afterwards in the workplace.
• Attend CPD courses to learn about diving and mechanics to teach swimming beyond 100m ability. There is no assessment required.
• Attending part of ASA Level 1 Coaching course. We understand that high level swimming mechanics knowledge for the teaching (not Coaching or Training) of pre-competitive swimmers is in this course. This may only be conducted under the umbrella of a "Swim 21" organisation. This precludes any private swimming training providers.

We understand that the new Level 1 and 2 syllabi define the key areas and learning outcomes, but there does not seem to be any guidance on content. What this means in practice is that the information you will receive (particularly in nutritional, motivational and sports science) will depend entirely on the knowledge, experience, attitude and bias of the tutor delivering the course. 

At present, we do not believe that we are able to deliver any qualification course under these confusing and exclusive arrangements. They are less accessible, more time consuming and will deliver less competent teachers in an age when we are desperate for greater regulation and higher competence on behalf of the pupils to whom we are entrusted.

Alternatives 

We are currently looking into qualification alternatives and as soon as we have found a suitable qualification that fits our high degree of quality and content, we will let you know.

Continued Professional Development

On the CPD front, again we are prevented from delivering any "accredited" seminars on the grounds of cost ("accreditation" requirements will put a days programme up to approximately £90), intellectual property ("accredited" seminars require all presentations to be lodged in their "library" for the use by others) and content (all accredited seminars are required to be approved by a panel of "experts" which means that for example, a olympic sports rehabilitation scientist will need to be vetted by a panel who will know less about the subject that the presenter).

In essence, meaningful CPD appears to be dead. We are however considering offering CPD that is actually useful, but not accredited by the ASA, however, indications are that under the cloud of the non-sensical "license" arrangements, teachers may fear obtaining information that has not been "accredited" and low attendance will sadly make it uneconomic.

Let us know what you think.