Swimming coach for a child or adult: how to choose
Why you need a coach even if you “can swim a little”
You can teach yourself to stay afloat, but freestyle technique, breathing and coordination often settle in with mistakes when no one is watching. Adults who are afraid of water gain the most from a coach, who helps them lose the fear step by step.
For a child it matters more that the coach knows how to connect with them: children aged 5–7 learn through play, older ones through technical drills.
One-to-one, in a pair or in a group
- One-to-one — the fastest for adult beginners, for those who are afraid of water, or for setting up technique.
- In a pair — two children or two adults share a session, which is cheaper.
- In a group — usually the most affordable, but each person gets less attention.
How to find a coach through BlaBlaPrice
You write one request: age, level, goal, pool or area, schedule. It is checked and you are told what is missing. Coaches reply in the chat: experience, price per session, which pools they work at, free hours. They can see where their offer ranks, so they may improve their terms. Reviews are shown next to each one. Your phone number stays hidden until you choose a coach. Read more on the “How it works” page.
What to put in your request
- Learner's age — a 6-year-old child or an adult.
- Level — cannot swim, afraid of water, basic, sporty.
- Goal — stay afloat, freestyle, butterfly, competitions, triathlon.
- Format — one-to-one, in a pair or in a group.
- Pool or area — for example, a pool in Manila.
- How often — for example, 2 times a week.
- Coach's experience — work with children, a national-level athlete.
- Budget per session.
Example: “Davao City. My child is 6, cannot swim and is a little afraid of water. I am looking for a coach for one-to-one sessions at a pool nearby, 2 times a week. Budget up to ₱510 per session.”
Pool details that matter
The price usually has two parts: the coach's work and entry to the pool or hire of a lane. Be sure to ask whether entry is included in the session price, otherwise the total will turn out higher.
- Check whether the coach works at a particular pool or can adapt to yours.
- Ask about requirements: pools often ask for a medical certificate, so check with the pool itself.
- For children, ask about the group size in the water and what the coach does if a child is scared.
- Find out roughly how many sessions your goal needs, though an honest coach will say it depends on your pace.
Common mistakes
Choosing a coach only by price and not asking who they have worked with. Starting straight away with hard strokes without working on breathing. Taking long breaks: in the water, skills are forgotten faster than you think.
Look for other areas in sports and dance and martial arts and boxing, and also in the “Education and sports services” section.
