Website design By BotEap.comSo let’s say you just finished 6 hours of swimming instruction at school. Your throat is a little dry because you ran out of water in the last class. You have a little sore throat but you really feel good.

Website design By BotEap.comA master swim instructor should be aware that your vocal cords are just like any other muscle in your body and need a bit of TLC when they are tired. This would be when a swim master would suck on a throat lozenge (not medicated) just some honey and eucalyptus and increase his fluids with regular sips of water or lemon juice.

Website design By BotEap.comInstead of cooking that “chili con carne” and drinking that glass of wine tonight, they settle for some lemon juice, macaroni and cheese. A swimming teacher would refrain from yelling at the children and would chase the children to read them the bedtime story, before they themselves went to bed early. Only to wake up in the morning feeling well rested and refreshed with his voice back to normal.

Website design By BotEap.comIt doesn’t take much; just a couple of changes to push yourself you’re taking care of yourself. An expert swim teacher understands the stresses and strains of our business and respects them accordingly.

Website design By BotEap.comLet me add some of my practical swim instructor voice tips that could or should now become best practices for all professional swim instructors.

Website design By BotEap.comTen tips to avoid voice abuse in swimming instructors

Website design By BotEap.com1. Limit the amount of “out of class or poolside” conversations.

Website design By BotEap.com2. Slow down your speech, pause more often while speaking. In fact, become the listener more.

Website design By BotEap.com3. In noisy environments, do not use your voice or tonality at all, switch to large body movements and expressions that communicate.

Website design By BotEap.com4. Take sips of room temperature water before, during, and after class.

Website design By BotEap.com5. Do more relaxation and exercise to relax tense muscles, definitely get a massage if necessary.

Website design By BotEap.com6. Whenever possible, use a microphone or a loud speaker, it is not possible to use “the group” to give feedback and instructions when your students are around,

Website design By BotEap.com7. Never speak when you are under emotional stress or harshness.

Website design By BotEap.com8. Avoid sugary drinks, alcohol and smoking at the end of the day. Lemon juice, honey, and a bit of ginger are a great alternative and lift my spirits.

Website design By BotEap.com9. Use your facial expressions to communicate as much as possible.

Website design By BotEap.com10. Always stay in a happy and positive mood and if you need rest, take it. Do not come to work if you are sick or indisposed.

Website design By BotEap.comAs the owner of a swimming school, he used to be adamant, when the voice of one of the swimming teachers started to ring, he used to give them the mandatory 4 days off. This didn’t make me very popular, but I really wanted to save my swim team from having to go through voice abuse and ultimately throat surgery and the experiences I endured.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you know someone who can use this knowledge, please, with my blessing, pass it on. Who knows, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have more “master swim teachers, with their voices intact” in the coming years.