Associate Membership
Swim Ireland qualified Teachers or Coaches can avail of individual insurance by becoming a Swim Ireland Associate member.
Associate Membership (Teacher/Coach insurance) is paid annually, due in the month of initial registration. Swim Ireland administer the insurance scheme on behalf of the Institute of Swimming (IoS). New members may join at any time of the year.
Associate members are given free non competitor membership of a Swim Ireland Club – please apply separately through the Club you wish to join.
Licensing
Swim Ireland’s licensing scheme covers all aquatic disciplines within the Swim Ireland remit (Swimming, Masters, Synchronised Swimming, Diving, Waterpolo and Open Water Swimming) and available in all 32 counties.
The purpose and benefits of licensing are not only to help raise, maintain and regulate standards of practice and help professionalise certain aspects and areas within the aquatics, but also to help Swim Ireland reward and recognise those working within swimming, both as volunteers and paid professionals, for their achievement of qualifications.
Licensing is MANDATORY for all Swim Ireland affiliated club registered Coaches and Teachers – please note that Coaches and Teachers not registered as such with their clubs are NOT covered by the Club’s insurance to coach or teach.
Please see relevant links below:
More Information
Swim Ireland offers membership and insurance cover to its certified teachers and coaches. The insurance coverage is provided under the auspices of Swim Ireland through the Institute Of Swimming (IOS) in the UK Swim Ireland operates, administers and manages the scheme in Ireland. This insurance is renewed on an annual basis.
Candidates who hold a certificate are covered only within the role of their certificate for insurance purposes and they must act within that role to ensure insurance coverage.
Where a teacher operates outside the remit of their role the insurance is null and void. Teachers and Coaches are only insured to teach and coach within the parameters of the Teaching and Coaching syllabus that they have certificated qualifications in.
There is no insurance coverage with the I.O.S. for any person teaching who has no Swim Ireland accredited qualification (or who has not undertaken the equivalency procedure).
In order to hold Swim Ireland Associate Membership you must:
- Be 16-80 years of age
- Hold current Garda Vetting/Access NI (depending on jurisdiction) through Swim Ireland (within the last 3 years)
- Hold a current Sport Ireland/Sport Northern Ireland Safeguarding certificate (within the last 4 years)
- Hold a relevant teaching/coaching certificate
To apply for insurance you must do so through the Swim Ireland Membership Database, the cost of which is €80.00 or £60.00 per year.
Licensing is mandatory for all Swim Ireland affiliated club registered Coaches and Teachers. Your Swim Ireland Teacher/Coach license will remain valid for 1 year and every year Swim Ireland Teachers and Coaches will be required to renew their license, by following the mandatory criteria.
Licensing information for newly qualified Teachers and Coaches
In recognition of the training that Teachers and Coaches have undertaken to gain their qualification, and to make it easier for them to obtain a Swim Ireland License, all new Teachers and Coaches (qualifications gained from 1st January 2013) will be allowed a 6-month period of grace (from the achievement date of the qualification as indicated on the certificate) in which to apply for their License, without having to attend the normally required Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Seminars.
This means that a newly-qualified Swim Ireland Teacher or Coach is required to have the following:
- Swim Ireland Associate or Club Membership
- Read and accept the Teacher/Coach Code of Conduct on the Swim Ireland Membership Database
- A passport sized ID photograph uploaded to the membership profile on the Swim Ireland Database
- Vetting through Swim Ireland or Swim Ulster for Access NI (depending on the jurisdiction of where you are operating)
- Sport Ireland/Sport NI Child Protection Training
Any Teachers or Coaches applying for their licence more than 6 months following their course will need to apply via the normal route, and will be required to attend Swim Ireland CPD seminars, or complete Swim Ireland accredited online CPD courses amounting to the 6 points required for their licence.
How to Apply
- Swim Ireland Associate Membership application through Swim Ireland Membership Database
- Swim Ireland Teaching/Coaching Qualification
- Vetting through Swim Ireland or Swim Ulster for Access NI
- Child protection training certificate obtained within the last 4 years (Sport Ireland/Irish Sports Council or Sport NI)
- Relevant fee
- Photo uploaded to profile on Swim Ireland Membership Database
For more support check out our tutorial video
- Swim Ireland license application through Swim Ireland Membership Database
- Swim Ireland Club/Associate Membership
- Swim Ireland Teaching/Coaching Qualification
- Vetting through Swim Ireland or Swim Ulster for Access NI obtained within the last 3 years
- Safeguarding certificate obtained within the last 4 years (Sport Ireland/Irish Sports Council or Sport NI)
- Relevant fee
- Evidence of having 6 CPD points (these should be visible on your profile on Swim Ireland Membership Database) – please be aware that all CPD points “expire” following the successful awarding/renewal of a licence and CANNOT be carried over to use for a future licence renewal
- Photo uploaded to profile on Swim Ireland Membership Database
For more support check out our tutorial video