DONCASTER DARTES ASSISTANT HEAD COACH
Celebrating our 50th anniversary season
Doncaster DARTES Swimming Club, based in South Yorkshire, is looking for an energetic and inspiring coach to assist our Head Coach in the further development of our County (9–13yrs) and Regional (11 -15yrs) Performance Squads. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to be part of the next stage of our development, as we celebrate 50 years of championship swimming in Doncaster.
About Doncaster DARTES
We are the city's performance swimming training scheme and traditionally known as one of the top 4 squads in Yorkshire Swimming.
In association with Doncaster's swimming clubs, we provide the high-performance training and top-class professional swim coaching required to succeed at the very highest level.
Our goal is to provide Doncaster's ambitious swimmers with the environment, the skills, and the coaching support needed to reach the top in British Swimming.
The Role
We are looking for a loyal, committed, hardworking coach who enjoys working with young people to work closely with our Head Coach to realise the potential of our talented young athletes. Your own values should be reflective of the club's values of excellence and a high regard for work ethic.
The successful candidate will be a positive individual, curious about high performance and how to achieve it, not to mention passionate about swimming and hyper-focused on helping our swimmers to be the absolute best they can be. Consistency and reliability matter to us as much as coaching ability — our swimmers and their families depend on a settled, trusted presence on poolside.
A genuinely collaborative, trusting working relationship with the Head Coach is paramount to this role —it's the difference between a good Assistant Head Coach and a great one. You'll be working within the Head Coach's macro training plan and season structure, so open communication, shared understanding, and a real partnership are essential to getting the best out of our swimmers.
Our County and Regional squads fall under Swim England's physical literacy guidelines, as “Learning to Train” for County Squad and “Training to Train” for Regional Squad.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver your own day-to-day training sessions, working within the Head Coach's macro training plan and season structure.
- Collaborate closely with the Head Coach, feeding back on sessions and swimmer progress to keep the macro plan and day-to-day delivery in step.
- Provide constructive, positive feedback and support to swimmers to help them improve their skills and confidence — addressing individual behaviour and performance directly, rather than through whole-group sanctions.
- Attend galas and open meets in line with the club meet schedule and as agreed with the Head Coach.
- Undertake administrative duties as required, such as attendance tracking, and be open and willing to communicate verbally and electronically with parents and guardians.
- Opportunities to work with our National Squad.
- Help in the development of our assistant coaches.
- Liaise reliably with the coaching team to cover absences when necessary throughout the performance programme, and give good notice of any planned absence of your own. You may also be asked to cover Doncaster DARTES Club Squads. Represent the club as necessary to form and continue good relations with the county, region, and other local clubs.
Hours and Contract Type
- Working hours: part time.
- 12.5 hours per week (direct poolside coaching hours), including Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
- Contract type: flexible.
Salary / Hourly Rate
Rates of pay are in excess of national living wage and are dependent on experience / qualifications.
More on Personal Qualities
- Have a passion for swimming and hold a high-performance mindset.
- Willing to work early mornings and late evenings.
- Reliable and consistent in attendance — our swimmers and parents need to know who will be on poolside.
- The ability to work as part of a team and contribute to the club's overall vision.
- A strong, collaborative working relationship with the Head Coach — comfortable working within someone else's macro plan while bringing your own coaching judgement to the day-to-day session.
- The ability to lead and engage with others — swimmers, teaching and coaching staff, committee, volunteers, and parents — with a calm, fair, and consistent manner.
- Have the experience, confidence, and skills to manage the pool environment and those working within it.
- A proven track record of coaching to a high technical standard, and the ability to nurture swimmers by imparting your knowledge and experience to them.
- A competent administrator, well-organised, and comfortable with technology.
- Effective time management, planning and organisation.
Qualifications
- Coaching Swimming: Swimming Coach Certificate or Level 2 Award.
- Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to obtain one) and current Safeguarding & Child Protection certification, in line with Swim England / Wavepower requirements.
More on Who We Are
Established in the mid-70s, the club has a strong tradition of Championship swimming going right back to its formation. From County Championships, Regional Championships, and all the way up to National Championships, Doncaster's finest have brought home medals on a regular basis. This year marks our 50th anniversary.
Having only recently established our own 'club squad' in the last 5 years, we now have the structure in place to nurture swimmers through the full competitive pathway. Our short- and medium-term goals are for growth.
This season three of our National Squad swimmers secured selection for this summer's National Championships — the latest in a strong run of National qualifiers, County and Regional medals from across the performance pathway.
How Do I Apply?
Please submit your CV and cover letter to [email protected]. Please note the job may be withdrawn early if the right candidate applies.
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
