A Lochgelly swimming teacher has decided to withdraw his coaching sessions after what he described as risky new lifeguarding policies.
James Daw, of Round the Island Swimming Coaching, has spoken out against Fife Council’s Community Use Team's decision to pass the responsibility for lifeguarding onto pool users and coaches.
James said: "They have suggested that I could continue to coach and do the lifeguarding myself.
"This approach creates huge risks, both for participants and for coaches like myself, who would be left exposed if an incident occurred."
James said he was grateful to Fife Council for offering to provide him with the NRASTC qualification, a supervision and rescue credential, for free, however, he says that after a risk assessment, he concluded that it would not be safe for him to coach and lifeguard.
He continued: "A coach cannot give swimmers their full attention and be a lifeguard at the same time.
"This isn’t about cost or unwillingness to train, it’s about safety.
"Lifeguarding is a specialist role that requires constant vigilance, asking coaches to cover both roles puts swimmers and coaches at risk, which is why I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from sessions at Lochgelly."
Fife Council responded to the criticism and Community Use Team Manager Scott Fenton said: “With the reopening of the £7.8 million upgraded Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre, many activities and staff have now moved back there. This includes the Learn to Swim programme.
"The community use pool at Lochgelly High School is open for privately run activities. We're piloting an approach at Lochgelly High School that means it's the responsibility of the club or private hire to provide their own lifeguard cover.
"To help with this change, we are encouraging club members to obtain the National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC). This award equips individuals to supervise and respond to emergencies during club sessions."
The council said they would start rolling out the free NRASTC course, and that other clubs and private swim coaches had expressed interest. They also said that private coaches are welcome to provide their own pool safety.
Mr Fenton added: “Alongside the new guidance and free training, we are happy to provide support with risk assessments and any other safety measures required. This approach is already being used in other parts of Scotland."
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