Aquatics Swim Coach

Ymcadetroit; Royal Oak, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 2,066,000 - 3,031,000; Part time

Job summary

South Oakland Family YMCA in Royal Oak, Michigan is seeking a Swim Coach 1 to deliver workouts, supervise practices and meets, and motivate swimmers in the YMCA swim team program.

Under the direction of the Head Coach, you will teach strokes, assess skill development, and promote safety and the YMCA values of respect, responsibility, and inclusion. Evening and weekend availability is expected.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

Responsibilities

• Lead swimmers through skill mastery and practice, varying by age and skill level.
• Provide a safe environment for YMCA competitive swimming and learning.
• Encourage an enjoyable YMCA experience for all participants.
• Evaluate swimmers and teach stroke technique to progression levels.
• Promote YMCA values of inclusion, fair play, and teamwork.
• Attend meets and staff trainings as required.
• Communicate rules and be accessible to members and families.

Skills

Coaching ability

Safety minded

Flexible schedule

Job description

South Oakland Family YMCA, 1016 W. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 4:00 AM

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the foundation of community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Imagine going to work knowing that what you do each day positively affects the lives of the people in your community. Working at the Y, you’ll discover more than just a job—you’ll enjoy a career with the chance to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around you.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Head Coach and Lead Coaches, the Swim Coach 1 is responsible for providing instruction and motivation for participants in the South Oakland YMCA swim team program. The Swim Coach 1 delivers workouts that are provided by the Head and Lead Coaches, instructing and motivating swim team participants. Swim Coaches 1 support the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Swim Coach 1 is expected to give support and encouragement to assist swimmers in learning the specific progressive or competitive program. Ensure safety and cleanliness of the program area and adherence to all YMCA safety standards and rules.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead swimmers through skill mastery and swim practices, depending on age and skill level. Ensure swimmers understand the key targets for the practice group. Facilitate growth toward the next practice group level.
• Provide a safe environment that allows swim team participants to learn YMCA Competitive Swimming and Diving.
• Encourage and support swimmers to provide an enjoyable YMCA experience.
• Evaluate swimmers' skills; provide the skills needed to master strokes.
• Incorporate into the program YMCA values of equal participation, family involvement, working toward individual goals, keeping winning in perspective, teaching fair play, and good sportsmanship. Encourage working with the whole person - spirit, mind, and body.
• Work swim practices and meets as assigned, ensuring the safety of the swimmers.
• Conduct practices with energy and enthusiasm.
• Attend meets as needed.
• Attend team-building events.
• Provide support and encouragement to participants.
• Incorporate character development objectives into the program to reinforce the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and inclusion.
• Regularly check equipment for necessary repair or replacement. Advise parents (if the swimmer is young) if the equipment requires replacement.
• Provide excellent service to members, volunteers, and participants.
• Communicate all YMCA rules and ensure that you are accessible and identifiable.
• Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
• Perform other related duties as required
• Remains current in knowledge of, and operates within YMCA swimming rules and regulations.
• Follows all YMCA policies, rules, regulations, and procedures, including emergency and safety procedures. Completes incident and accident reports as necessary.
• Serves as a YMCA advocate.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Minimum of two years of competitive swim team experience preferred. An ideal candidate will have at least two years of coaching experience as well as knowledge of skill and stroke development.
• Certifications: American Red Cross Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid and Emergency Oxygen certification, and concussion training that meets state standards.
• Ability to work a non-traditional schedule, including nights and weekends.
• Must be able to establish and maintain harmonious relationships with co-workers, volunteer leaders, members, and the community.
• Current YUSA coach safety training, concussion training, and Principles of Competitive Swimming and Diving; if not currently certified, must certify within 90 days of employment.
• Must be able to demonstrate swim team coach skills in accordance with YMCA standards.

YMCA COMPETENCIES:

• Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives.
• Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.
• Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices throughthe engagement of the team. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.
• Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change; models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions of the position and to supervise program activities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Hear noises and distress signals in the aquatic environment, including in the water and anywhere around the zone of responsibility.
• Remain alert with no lapses of consciousness or distractions.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit (“YMCA”) is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. The YMCA does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring or other terms or conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sex, age, religion, national origin, genetic information, ethnicity, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military status or application or any other basis protected by state, federal or other applicable law.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children in our programs. We hold all staff, regardless of position, to the highest possible standards. We require all staff to be screened regularly and sign a code of conduct. All staff will be monitored when interacting with
program participants. We take any inappropriate interactions between program
participants and with staff very seriously and will fully cooperate with
authorities in any case of abuse.

South Oakland Family YMCA, 1016 W. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States of America