Hi Mark here,

I hope all is well.

A while ago, I asked swimming teachers a simple question: What is the hardest part of teaching swimming?

I suggested a few possibilities:

• lesson planning
• behaviour management
• nervous beginners
• stroke technique
• confidence on poolside

The overwhelming answer?

Parents.

Not because swimming teachers dislike parents.

Not because parents are the enemy.

But because managing parents on poolside can sometimes feel harder than teaching the actual swimming lesson.

The parent who shouts:

While you’re trying to teach a still float.

The parent who repeats everything you say.

The parent who wants their child moved up because they “did it on holiday.”

The parent who arrives late, interrupts the lesson, questions your behaviour management, or stands so close they almost become part of the equipment.

Sound familiar?

That’s why I’ve written over 120 scripted responses and bundled them all into one new ebook:

Calm Poolside

Scripts and Strategies for Managing Parents in Swimming Lessons

It’s a practical survival guide for swimming teachers who want calmer lessons, clearer boundaries, and fewer awkward poolside conversations.

And the main feature is simple:

It includes over 120 scripted responses.

Not vague advice.

Not “just be confident.”

Actual words you can use.

For example:

When a parent shouts instructions:

When a parent asks why their child hasn’t moved up:

When a parent challenges behaviour management:

That last sentence alone can change the tone of a conversation.

Inside the ebook, I cover:

• how to stop parents interrupting without sounding rude
• what to say when parents push for progress
• how to explain behaviour as a safety issue
• how to set expectations before the first lesson
• what to do when parents trigger your anxiety
• how to create policies that protect teachers
• how to build better parent relationships without letting parents take over

It’s written for real poolside situations.

The kind where you’ve got six children in the water, the next class waiting, someone’s goggles have snapped, and a parent starts with:

If you’ve ever smiled politely while silently asking the universe for patience, this book is for you.

Calm Poolside is available now as a PDF download delivered to your email.​

Keep teaching calmly,

Mark

P.S. If you own or manage a swim school, this is also a useful training resource for new teachers who need help finding the right words with parents.

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