Bradley Farm Wave

The Bradley Farm Wave swim team is managed by a group of volunteer parents and a coaching staff that is comprised of paid employees and student athlete volunteers. The Head Coach is a paid employee of Bradley Farm Wave, Inc. and is responsible for planning and running the swim team program on a day-to-day basis. The Head Coach is supported by student athlete volunteers that serve in different coaching staff roles. Assistant Coaches are student athlete volunteers who are responsible for supervising practice sessions, swim meets, and team events, and report to the Head Coach. Junior Coaches are student athlete volunteers who are responsible for instructing and supervising individual swimmers or groups of swimmers under the supervision of the Assistant Coaches and the Head Coach.

The Head Coach is a paid employee of Bradley Farm Wave, Inc. and is responsible for running a safe and educational swim team program. The Head Coach is responsible for managing team practices, swim meets, and team events, and reports to the swim team Program Director, who is responsible for providing the Head Coach with goals, objectives and the resources needed to run the swim team program. The Head Coach runs the program with the help of the Assistant Coaches and Junior Coaches, and the Head Coach is responsible for providing the coaching staff with leadership opportunities, as well as coaching and feedback to help them learn and grow. The Head Coach also serves as mentor, role model, and advocate for the swimmers on the team, so that they have opportunities to learn about our team’s core values of Community, Inclusion, Competition, and Excellence, while having fun, building relationships, and making memories. 

Requirements for Head Coach

• 18 years old and a High School graduate
• Active Lifeguard Certification
• Fairfax County Pool Operator Certification
• Prior competitive swimming experience, including coaching roles.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to connect with children, and passion for community sports. 

Responsibilities for Head Coach

• Always ensure swimmer safety.
• Understand and comply with the Herndon Swim League rules.
• Nurture the swimmers and encourage participation in a positive manner.
• Demonstrate and encourage courteous behavior and discipline.
• Develop and manage training programs for swimmers at all ages and skill levels.
• Supervise coaching staff during practices, swim meets, and team events.
• Work with swimmers, along with coaches and parents, to help swimmers assess their skills, set goals for improvement, and encourage swimmers to learn and grow.
• Manage the planning and seeding of swimmers for swim meets, and work with Team Representatives and Officials to manage the team during competitions.

The Assistant Coach role is a volunteer student leadership position on the swim team. Assistant Coaches are our most experienced swimmers who have demonstrated their commitment to our core values of community, inclusion, competition, and excellence. Assistant Coaches help to manage practices and swim meets under the supervision and direction of the Head Coach. As a recognized student leader on the team, assistant coaches demonstrate strong communication skills, the ability to connect with children, and an enthusiasm for the sport of swimming. Swimmers who serve as Assistant Coaches are eligible for Leadership Scholarships at the end of the season. 

Mandatory Requirements for Assistant Coaches

• Registered swimmer on the Bradley Farm Wave swim team
• Active Lifeguard Certification
• Rising Junior in high school 

Recommended Requirements for Assistant Coaches

• Water Safety Instructor or other instructional certification
• Pool Operator certification 

Responsibilities for Assistant Coaches

• Always ensure swimmer safety.
• Understand and comply with the Herndon Swim League rules.
• Nurture the swimmers and encourage participation in a positive manner.
• Demonstrate and encourage courteous behavior and discipline.
• Attend all swim team practices according to published schedules and assist the Head Coach with the implementation of practice plans.
• Instruct swimmers on aquatic skills, in accordance with practice plans.
• Observe development areas and help the Head Coach to develop practice plans.
• Assist the Head Coach with swim meet preparation and lead the team during meets.

The Junior Coach role is a volunteer student leadership position on the swim team. Junior Coaches are ready to cultivate their leadership skills and contribute to the team as a role model, mentor, and teacher to younger swimmers. Junior Coaches help the Assistant Coaches to instruct and supervise swimmers during practices and swim meets under the supervision of the Head Coach. Junior Coaches also have an important responsibility to help develop team spirit and help our younger swimmers have fun as they learn new aquatic skills! As an emerging student leader on the team, Junior coaches demonstrate a dedication to their community, a willingness to learn and grow, and a passion for the sport of swimming. Swimmers who serve as Junior Coaches are eligible for Leadership Scholarships at the end of the season.

Requirements for Junior Coaches

• Registered swimmer on the Bradley Farm Wave swim team
• Previous swim team experience
• Rising High School Student (Grades 9-12) 

Responsibilities for Junior Coaches

• Always ensure swimmer safety.
• Understand and comply with the Herndon Swim League rules.
• Nurture the swimmers and encourage participation in a positive manner.
• Demonstrate and encourage courteous behavior and discipline.
• Attend scheduled swim team practices and assist the Assistant Coaches by supervising warm-ups, lessons, and drills for assigned groups of swimmers.
• Instruct swimmers on aquatic skills, in accordance with practice plans, including spending time in the water supervising young swimmers who are learning to swim.
• Observe development areas and communicate feedback to Assistant Coaches.
• Help coaching staff to direct swimmers to designated areas during swim meets.
• Support young swimmers who want a coach in the pool with them during meets.
• Assist the Assistant Coaches with spirit events and special practices.
• Help with planning paper plate award for the end of the season party.