At Swim Generation, we encourage parents to watch their children during swimming lessons, and many of our pool locations throughout London, Surrey and Somerset have poolside viewing areas. Parents can see a lot from the poolside, but many things aren't as obvious from outside the pool.
All our coaching staff have at least 2 years' experience teaching private, semi-private and group swimming lessons. This experience and in-water (Stage 1-6) coaching enables instructors to notice small differences and details that can be missed from the poolside. This article covers the areas and patterns coaches notice during lessons that parents may not notice.
Changes In Their Confidence
A swimmer may look confident to a parent sitting poolside, appearing to complete techniques and exercises with ease. A coach with hundreds of hours of teaching experience can often recognise changes in key areas that point to a shift in confidence. Areas that we look out for at Swim Generation include:
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Taking a little longer to start a new exercise or skill. This shows up as initial hesitation or repeatedly asking the same or similar questions.
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Making repeated excuses to avoid learning a new skill. For example, a swimmer may ask to practise a familiar skill when a new one is introduced.
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A swimmer's body language can also tell a coach a lot about how they are feeling. A lack of confidence can sometimes show up as frustration or withdrawal.
Changes in confidence can sometimes be an early indication that a swimmer is finding a particular skill or stage more challenging. We explore this further in our article on the most common reasons children don't progress between swimming stages.
Don't view any of these signs in isolation. A swimmer may hesitate because they are tired or distracted. One of the coach's roles is to build confidence through encouragement and recognition.
When They Are Ready For The Next Level
At Swim Generation, our structured swimming programme provides a clear pathway for progression. Our ten-stage swimming programme, from NPT Level 1 through to our advanced NPT Level 10 (squad). Knowing when a swimmer is ready to progress to the next level is more than simply completing a technique or skill. Coaches also need to consider many other factors. Our coaches often explain to swimmers and parents during after-lesson feedback that, while a swimmer may have demonstrated they can perform a stroke, they need to show improved consistency before moving up a level. Other times, a swimmer may have mastered a skill but still lack the physical aptitude to progress. Some of the core areas Swim Generation coaches analyse include:
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The quality of the technique a swimmer is performing.
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The progress a swimmer has made over a specific period.
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A swimmer's ability to listen to and respond correctly to a coach's direction.
Knowing when a swimmer is ready to progress requires ongoing assessment rather than simply checking whether they can complete a particular skill. Read more about how our coaches assess swimmers and determine when they are ready to progress.
‘At Swim Generation, our swimmers only progress to the next stage when our coaches believe they are ready. Progressing too soon can undermine a swimmer’s confidence and enjoyment, so we consider their overall development rather than simply whether they can perform a particular skill.’ Tara Rahilly, Operations Director at Swim Generation.
The Importance Of Friendship
Something else parents may not notice from the poolside is how much peer relationships can influence a swimmer's participation. Swimming lessons are about developing and improving swimming skills and techniques, and they also give swimmers the chance to forge strong friendships with their peers. One pattern our coaches regularly notice is the bonds swimmers create through their encouragement, support and engagement with each other. Coaches often create an environment during lessons that encourages group dynamics to promote swimmer interaction and engagement. Because coaches teach in the water with swimmers, they can see and hear how swimmers interact. This might include any of the following:
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Swimmers are more open to trying new skills when they feel more comfortable.
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Friendships often encourage more active participation, which sometimes evolves into healthy competition.
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Encouragement, support and advice during learning a new skill.
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Lesson dynamics change when close friendships form. For example, a swimmer who held back will attempt a skill because a friend did it first.
Over the years, our coaching team has observed how much children benefit from learning alongside others. We've shared more of these observations in what we've learned from teaching more than 2,000 children to swim every week.
When They Are Struggling Without Saying So
‘Younger children do not always have the words to explain how they are feeling. As coaches, we can often notice subtle changes in their behaviour, body language or participation, which can help us recognise when a swimmer may need a little extra encouragement or support.’ Christopher Whitworth, Founder and Managing Director of Swim Generation.
Some swimming techniques are more challenging for children to master than others. For example, why some children struggle with backstroke explores the coordination, body positioning and confidence needed to perform this stroke correctly.
At Swim Generation, we encourage open communication among parents, swimmers and coaches. After each session, we set aside two minutes for feedback. Experience has taught us that swimmers do not always want to tell their coaches they are struggling. This may be because they worry it will affect their progress to the next level, feel embarrassed, or are too shy. Coaches' experience helps them recognise when a swimmer is struggling. Below are some of the signs they may notice.
| What A Coach Might Notice | Example: How It Looks During The Lesson |
| Swimmer hesitation | A confident swimmer who doesn't usually hesitate to try new skills starts hesitating. |
| Skill avoidance | Often with younger children, they try to avoid specific skills or stroke practice by asking to practice something else. |
| Increased frustration | They show noticeable signs of frustration when a drill doesn’t go as expected. |
| Changes in body language | Body language can show many signs, but the most common are less enthusiasm and visible disinterest. |
| Disengagement | A swimmer becomes less engaged and communicates less with the coach. |
| Participation drop | A swimmer's attendance rate starts to slip, and they miss lessons. |
These signs don't necessarily mean a swimmer is struggling, but they are signs coaches should watch for.
Swimming Technique
From the poolside, it might look like your child has completed the stroke perfectly however, an experienced coach sees many additional factors that need to be considered.
‘When a swimmer performs a stroke, there are many factors both above and below the water that need to be considered. As a coach, some of the key areas I would look at are timing, breathing, kick technique and consistency, as well as whether a swimmer is finding ways to compensate for a technical flaw.’ Jess, Swimming Coordinator with 8 years coaching.
Here are five core areas coaches look for.
| Attribute | What A Coach Looks For |
| Timing | How the arms, legs, breathing, head position and body rotation work together throughout the stroke. |
| Consistency | Coaches will judge whether a swimmer has consistently executed a technique over repeated practices. |
| Breathing | While breathing, is the body correctly positioned, and what is the swimmer doing with their head? Is it lifting, turning or both? |
| Kicking | From the poolside, a swimmer's kick might look fine, but the foot might be in the wrong position (e.g., a flexed ankle). |
| Body Positioning | A streamlined, balanced position that accounts for the head, hips, and legs. Poor positioning increases resistance. |
Progress Not In Numbers
Parents often notice when their child has improved their swimming times, and coaches recognise that achievement too. However, from a coach’s perspective, many other factors contribute to meaningful progress in swimming. What additional factors do coaches at Swim Generation classify as progress?
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Consistently executing strokes and techniques under varied conditions.
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Ability to respond correctly to feedback and improve.
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Willingness to try and attempt new skills with increased confidence.
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Remembering feedback from a previous lesson and applying it successfully.
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Holding the same technique when they are slightly tired.
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Ability to stay focused for longer periods, requiring less prompting and greater independence.
Summary
We encourage parents to watch their children from the poolside and take an active role in their swimming journey. Our experienced in-water coaches work in small classes and know our swimmers well, so even small changes are noticeable. To learn more about swimming lessons with Swim Generation, explore our swimming programmes and find a lesson that is right for your child.