{"id":8742,"date":"2026-03-04T09:15:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T08:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoornsevaart.nl\/?p=8742"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:15:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T08:15:04","slug":"training-to-become-a-swimming-teacher-is-well-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoornsevaart.nl\/en\/opleiding-tot-zwemonderwijzer-in-volle-gang\/","title":{"rendered":"Training to be a swimming teacher is well underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

The training to become a swimming instructor at Alkmaar Sport is entering its next phase. Participants started directly with a combination of lessons and shadowing on poolside. Now that the theory part has been completed, the practical training is being further expanded, with personalised learning pathways and bespoke practical hours leading towards the practical exam in accordance with NRZ guidelines. With this training programme, Alkmaar Sport is making a sustainable investment in new swimming professionals.
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Learning with the bath as a classroom<\/strong>
The training programme is designed as a practical route to the profession of swimming instructor. Theory and practice run in parallel: participants learn the basics, apply them directly in the workplace and build up their skills further step by step. A variety of working methods and plenty of case studies are used, ensuring that knowledge is continuously linked to situations you encounter as a lifeguard and swimming teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trainer Sabrina Miedema sees the real strength of the approach in the partnership with Alkmaar Sport. \u201cThe great thing is that we are really establishing and coordinating this together with Alkmaar Sport. We want the training to align with the way Alkmaar Sport and Holland Sport operate. That is why we are focusing on a warm welcome, short communication lines and properly preparing placement supervisors, so that everyone speaks the same language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants in this private training pathway are very motivated. \u201cPeople choose this very purposefully, often as a career switch. They are genuinely curious, dare to name uncertainties and set the bar high. That calls for a step-by-step approach, because it is a profession that really involves a great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From childcare to swimming lessons and supervision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the participants is Katja, who combines her training with her work in childcare. \u201cIn the photo, you can see how I keep track of the children's progress in the swimming pool, in the pupil tracking system,\u201d Katja explains. A component that shows how structured the work in and around swimming lessons is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her interest in the profession had existed for some time. \u201cA female friend of mine did the training a few years ago. At the time, I already thought it looked really nice. When I heard that the training was starting again, I signed up straight away. I had an interview quickly and things immediately started rolling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Katja has completed the theory part and will be working on her placement hours and practical components over the coming months. \u201cIn March I have lifesaving, and in addition I'm doing a placement twice a week. That is easy to combine with my work in childcare.\u201d What motivates her is the combination of teaching and supervision. \u201cI really enjoy working with children. Especially teaching children, and afterwards I also want to study further for aqua fitness classes. Then I can combine being a lifeguard, teaching and sports. That makes it varied and never boring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She finds the training course intensive, but manageable. \u201cYou certainly have to study at home, but I find that quite doable. I certainly have no regrets. I\u2019ve always had the urge, so it\u2019s great that I can learn this in this way now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable training, with a focus on mentoring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With this training course, Alkmaar Sport and Sabrina Miedema are working on a sustainable approach to training and inducting new staff. Not only training participants, but also strengthening the prerequisites someone needs to learn the profession well. According to Miedema, that is precisely why the intensive collaboration is important: \u201cYou can see that participants from different fields of work bring their own experience. That makes the practical lessons and case studies extra rich, and you see them challenging themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coming months will be dedicated to further practical development: continuing to learn and develop on the placement, carrying out practical assignments, and working towards the exams. This will help the group grow towards being employable at the swimming pool, both as a lifeguard and as a swimming instructor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you like to enrol or find out more about the swimming teacher training at Alkmaar Sport? A new training group starts in September. Take a look at www.alkmaarsport.nl\/zwemonderwijzer<\/a> for further information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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