Water Fitness Instructor

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICE AREA POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Water Fitness Instructor

Position Characteristics: Non-seasonal, part-time, no benefits. Weekdays, evenings, Saturdays, holidays.

Department: Aquatics

Position Reports To: Head Water Fitness Instructor and Aquatic Program Coordinator

Position Purpose:

Responsible for planning and teaching a water fitness program that is safe and effective. Educate participants about muscle anatomy, appropriate heart rates, safety procedures, and overall fitness. Maintain positive relations with class members and patrons and provide instruction in accordance with the Center’s standards and policies. Monitor the safety and health of class participants. Instruction includes water aerobics, water walking, and deep water aerobics.

Nature and Scope:

This position requires excellent human relations and teaching skills in order to create a productive and enjoyable experience for class participants. Strong athletic ability and a good understanding of human anatomy and aquatic exercise strategies is vital to the successful execution of this position.

Essential Functions and Basic Duties:

1. Assume responsibility for effectively instruction water aerobics classes.
2. Teach scheduled classes as assigned with one or more student in attendance by beginning and ending sessions on time. Classes include a 10 minute warm-up, 35 minutes of aerobics, 10 minutes of toning/stretching, and a 5 minute cool down.
3. Demonstrate good body positioning to achieve a safe and effective workout by explaining muscle groups and the purpose of specific exercises. Plan sessions so that opposing muscle groups are worked and the same muscle groups are not exercised on consecutive days. Provide a stretching segment that works major muscles groups to avoid cramps and soreness. Ensure that an overall strengthening of the body is achieved.
4. Record motivational music which enhances exercise programs during class instruction.
5. Set up all equipment before class begins and return equipment to storage.
6. Educate patrons on heart rate zones by formatting workouts to increase heart rate to the target rate zone and instructing participants on methods of monitoring heart rate. Provide 1-2 periods during sessions for participants to take pulse and ensure that the heart rate is at a safe level. Reduce tempo of cool down segment to ensure that participants’ heart rates drop slowly.
7. Educate patrons on modifications in exercise programs according to special medical/physical requirements.
8. Compile related handouts to provide participants with relevant information.
9. Check and record attendance.
10. Ensure that classes are conducted in accordance with established safety standards by monitoring class participants for paleness, rapid breathing, and other signs of over work.

1. Assume responsibility for establishing and maintaining positive relations with patrons.
2. Respond to questions and concerns promptly by assisting and supporting patrons in a positive and productive manner.
3. Maintain a cheerful and “upbeat” attitude during class sessions.

1. Assume responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective working relations with area personnel and with management.
2. Attend all staff meetings and training sessions as directed by the Head Water Fitness Instructor or Aquatic Program Coordinator.
3. Report any significant problems by keeping management informed and assisting staff as needed.

1. Assume responsibility for other duties as assigned.
2. Complete duties as assigned by the Head Water Fitness Instructor or Aquatic Program Coordinator.
3. Stay current in CPR and First Aid Certification and other designated standards.
4. Substitute for other instructors as needed.

Performance Measurements:

1. Class sessions are effectively and efficiently conducted.
2. Instructor is well informed in anatomy, aerobics, and safety standards.
3. Positive and productive relations exist with class participants.
4. Management is well informed of activities and of any significant problems.
5. Established safety standards and Center policies are adhered to.

Qualifications:

Training/Education/Certification:

• Current American Red Cross Basic CPR certification as of hire date.
• Current American Red Cross First Aid certification as of hire date.
• Approved Background Criminal Investigation if over 18 years of age.
• AEA or AAI Certification may be obtained within one year of employment.

Required Knowledge:

• Knowledge of human anatomy and kinesiology.
• Familiarity with aerobics teaching strategies and the incorporation of music, tempo, and rhythm.

Experience Required:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Previous experience teaching water fitness preferred.

Skills/Abilities:

• Good physical appearance.
• Ability to demonstrate proper aerobics techniques and observe correct errors.
• Solid communications and positive human relations abilities.
• Cooperative and able to work well with other staff members.
• Professional and able to motivate others.
• Good creative dance and music skills.

Physical Activities and Requirements of this Position:

Talking: Especially when one must frequently convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.

Seeing: Average, ordinary, vision acuity necessary to prepare or inspect documents or products, or operate machinery.

Physical Strength: Medium work, exerts up to 50 lbs. occasionally and/or up to 20 lbs. frequently, and 10 lbs. constantly.

Other: Aerobic, swimming.

Working Conditions:

• Works both inside and outside. Subject to weather.
• The worker is subject to fumes, odors, dusts, gasses, poor ventilation that affect the skin or respiratory system.
• Other: Wet—submerged in chlorinated water for one-two hour periods.
• Swim suits should be conservative and professional.

Mental Activities and Requirements of this Position:

General Education-Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one or two step instructions and to deal with ordinary, standardized situations.

General Education-Mathematics Ability: Ability to perform basic math skills including adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing two digit numbers; to perform the four basic arithmetic operations with coins as part of a dollar.

General Education-Language Ability: Ability to recognize the meaning of 2,500 (2 and 3 syllable) words; to read (by sight or Braille); to compare similarities and differences between words and between series of numbers. Ability to print and communicate in simple sentences.

Intent and Function of Job Descriptions:

Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are also essential to an effective appraisal system and related promotion, transfer, layoff, and terminations decisions. Well-constructed job descriptions are an integral part of any effective compensation system.

All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to each position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determines to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization.

Job descriptions are not intended to and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason no prohibited by law.