The International Swim Instructors Association (ISIA) exists to bring much-needed change to the culture of the aquatic profession. It is our sincere desire to see drowning go the way of polio, and to see pool safety barriers become as second nature as car seats. We want to see Drowning Prevention become a movement—ingrained in our culture—until no parent finds his or her child at the bottom of a pool ever again. 

GOALS:

To provide certified swim instructors worldwide with diverse opportunities for professional development. We seek to improve professional standards for aquatic instruction through education, accreditation, professional development, leadership, and a code of conduct.

VALUES:

1. We believe professional swim instructors play an essential role in helping others reach their aquatic potential.
2. We believe professional swim instructors have an obligation to instruct their students based on “best principles.”
3. We believe the valuable role of swim instructors in our aquatic present and past should be recognized.
   
   

OBJECTIVES:

1. To contribute to the professional development of swim instructors and programs for swim instruction worldwide.
2. To expose ISIA members to “best principles” for teaching their clients, the swimmers.
3. Deliver “best principles” education through a yearly national conference, international workshops, in-pool seminars, website, and other media.
4. Promote our members’ professional advancement and recognition as professionals.
5. To serve as an international resource and referral service for the aquatic community.
6. Develop an international database of instructors’ resumes and certifications. This could be developed into an employment search service.
7. Create strategic partnerships on all levels with organizations that promote aquatics and professionalism in aquatics instruction.
   
   

THE NEED FOR ISIA:

Tragically, drowning is the second-leading cause of death in children between the ages of one to five years old nationwide. However, drowning is preventable. In addition, for every drowning there are four near-drownings with medical costs averaging $75,000 a year per child.

The State of Florida requires that instructors who teach swim lessons in a public pool be certified by a state-approved agency. Florida has approved the American Red Cross, the YMCA, SwimAmerica, Infant Swimming Research, Starfish Academy and Baby Otter Swim School. However, no other state requires swim instructors to be certified.

Research has shown that the Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification does not provide the swim instructor with all the tools or resources necessary to properly teach children to swim. This lack of training is particularly evident with children with special needs. Not one of the state-approved certifying agencies offers any training or education for instructors working with children with special needs.

Apparently, the leading agencies made the strategic decision to “mainstream” children with special needs into “regular” swim lessons and eliminated adapted aquatics programs from their swim instructor curriculum. This is a poor decision that could have life-threatening consequences for special-needs children nationwide. For example, children with special needs are mainstreamed into public school systems whenever possible but they still have specially-trained teachers. The same must be so for swim instruction.

There is a huge need to bring back adapted aquatics and still mainstream the children when possible. It is very easy to do both with the right training and education. However, previously there were no educational resources to help instructors develop the education and skills necessary to be a better teacher for all the children. ISIA was formed to fill this need.

In 2005, ISIA founder Kim Burgess developed an adapted aquatics course for swim instructors in conjunction with another organization. She was also involved in drafting state legislation that requires adapted aquatics certification for swim instructors who specialize in teaching special-needs children to swim. The legislation passed both houses unanimously in April of 2006 and went into effect January 1, 2008. Ms. Burgess recently updated the original Adapted Aquatics Certification course and ISIA-201 is now available online at www.swiminstructors.org .

The more qualified the teacher is the safer the child is going to be in their care. The goal is that every child, of every ability, have the best possible experience while he or she is in the water. The better educated and informed the instructor is the more enjoyable the experience will be for both the child and the instructor.

The instructor has to feel good about what he or she is doing and why. Learning to swim is a lifesaving skill and a life-long activity. Swim instructors should be proud of their profession. The attitudes and the culture regarding swim instruction needs to improve, and the culture change has to start with the instructor.

The International Swim Instructors Association will help effect this change by bringing to its members the opportunity for continuing education and a community of professionals to share ideas and experiences. ISIA members will become leaders in the aquatics profession benefiting the instructors as well as the children in their care.