Role: Swimming Teacher and Coach
Company: City of Belfast Swimming Club
Track Record: Through volunteering swimming coach Mark Angus managed to turn a hobby he loved into a career.
HOW I BECAME A SWIMMING TEACHER
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I have been teaching learn to swim lessons for seven years now and swim coaching in a competitive club setting for six years.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Mathematics and Physical Education.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I completed an undergraduate degree in Finance at Queen’s University Belfast and before this I attended Bangor Grammar School.
How did you get into your area of work?
I was completing my Duke of Edinburgh Award while still at school and part of this requires you to volunteer at a local club. I started to volunteer a few hours week teaching and coaching with my local swim club. From there, as with most volunteer positions, I started dedicating more and more hours and soon it became a major part of my life.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I have always enjoyed and been involved in the sport of swimming as well as some other aquatic disciplines, but while at school I would never have imagined I would be able to make a career out of the sport I love.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Yes, I had to undertake both my Level 1 (assistant) and Level 2 qualifications in Teaching Swimming. I also hold both my Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Coaching Swimming.
All of the above I completed through the Swim Ireland education pathway.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
To be able to teach/coach you do need to have the relevant qualifications however there are many awarding national and governing bodies from which you can study and take the exams.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
In my opinion the main personal skill required is good interpersonal skills. This job, like other teaching positions requires excellent communication and the ability to interact with students, colleagues and other members of the public.
What does a typical day entail?
My usual day starts at 5am with my first coaching session running from 6am-8am. After this I have personal clients and private one-to-one / group lessons before the children’s learn to swim classes begin in the afternoon again. I usually finish my last coaching session by 9pm.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best aspect of the job for me is when you witness the student/swimmer master the specific skill that they have been working hard to achieve.
The most challenging part of my job is tailoring my teaching and delivery to meet the individual needs and learning styles of the student, to allow them to achieve their best.
Why is what you do important?
Each year in the United Kingdom there are nearly 400 accidental drownings and I strongly believe that every person should have the ability to swim and have the basic knowledge/understanding of what to do if they ever get into trouble or see someone else who is in trouble. That’s why I am delighted to be working with City of Belfast Swimming Club, The Royal Life Saving Society UK, Speedo and charity Hope For Youth to launch our Ripple Effect initiative which is aimed at raising awareness of safety in water throughout local communities.
The scheme, which is being piloted in Elmgrove Primary School currently promotes water safety and drowning prevention and will equip local children with the knowledge and essential swimming skills needed to minimise dangerous incidents.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Volunteer your time at your local swim club and find a good mentor to learn from. This will help boost your confidence, interpersonal skills and also knowledge base. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to work with some of the most respected coaches in Northern Ireland and I have tried to learn as much as I can from them.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
I would like to lifeguard on a beach in Australia, especially Bondi Beach.
If you could go back, what is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
I would tell myself to relax and trust your knowledge and teaching ability.
Describe your ideal day off.
It starts off with a lie-in to mid-morning followed by going to the gym. In the evening I would go out out for dinner and to the cinema.