Prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 15
- Swim 500 meters continuously, using these strokes in the following order:
• 200 meters front crawl (using rhythmic breathing & a stabilizing, propellant kick)
• 100 meters breaststroke
• 200 meters either front crawl or breaststroke
(The final 200 (meters) may be a mixture of front crawl and breaststroke)
- Swim 20 meters using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive to at depth of 7-10 feet (2½-3 meters), retrieve a 10-pound (4.5 kilogram) object, return to the surface, and swim 20 yards (meters) back to the starting point with the object. When returning to the starting point, the participant's face must remain above the water and the participant must hold the 10-pound object with both hands.

PRE-REQUISITES:
Be at least 16 years of age by the last scheduled session of the Instructor Course.
Possess a Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) certificate (Day 1 of this course).

The purpose of the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course is to train instructor candidates to teach courses and presentations in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by developing their understanding of how to use the course materials, how to conduct training sessions and how to evaluate participants’ progress.

On successful completion of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills to–

• Meet the obligations of being a Red Cross instructor.
• Plan and prepare a safe and successful learning environment.
• Effectively observe and assess participants’ skills performance.
• Intervene effectively to promote participant learning and success.
• Create strategies to meet the learning needs of individual participants.
• Communicate effectively with participants and their parents, as appropriate.

You are expected to participate in the entire 30-hour course. On successful completion of this course, you will be certified to teach the following courses and presentations:

• Parent and Child Aquatics Levels 1 and 2
• Preschool Aquatics Levels 1–3
• Learn-to-Swim Levels 1–6

Water safety courses and presentations, including–

• Basic Water Rescue
• Personal Water Safety
• Safety Training for Swim Coaches
• Water Safety Today
• General Water Safety
• Home Pool Safety
• Rip Current Safety
• Sun Safety
• Parent Orientation to Swim Lessons
• Longfellow’s WHALE Tales

To meet the American Red Cross requirements for successful completion of the Water Safety Instructor course you must–

• Complete all reading assignments.
• Attend all classes.
• Participate in all activities.
• Successfully complete all practice-teaching assignments.
• Pass the final written exam with a minimum score of 80 percent (40 correct answers out of 50 questions).

You must also demonstrate throughout the course that you are mature and responsible. Instructor trainers assess your maturity and responsibility by observing certain behaviors that include, but are not limited to—

• Arriving at class and returning from breaks on time.
• Being prepared for class activities, such as dressed in swimwear, when required.
• Completing homework assignments, including preparing written lesson plans.
• Demonstrating that effort was put forth toward homework assignments. For example, the subject matter is appropriate, complete and presented in a professional manner.
• Behaving appropriately during activities. For example, whether playing the role of a child or teaching during practice-teaching
• assignments, the behavior remains safe and reasonable to the situation.
• Providing appropriate feedback, as requested, especially to peers after practice-teaching assignments.
• Receiving feedback from the instructor trainer as well as peers in a professional manner.
• Making an effort to improve your own skills.
• Treating others with respect.

About half way through this course, you will receive a progress report that advises you of my observations related to your progress toward the course requirements. You will have an opportunity to discuss my observations.

As part of this course, you will learn about techniques of performing and teaching swimming and diving skills.

• Be at least 16 years of age by the last scheduled session of the Instructor Course.
• Possess a Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) certificate (Day 1 of this course-Friday evening).
• Demonstrate the ability to perform the following swimming skills:

  1. Swim the following strokes consistent with Stroke Performance Charts, Level 4 (attached)

  Breast Stroke - 25 meters
  Front Crawl – 25 meters
  Back Crawl - 25 meters
  Sidestroke - 25 meters
  Elementary Backstroke - 25 meters
  Butterfly – 15 meters

  2. Maintain position on back 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling)

  3. Tread water for 1 minute