Mapping a Young Coach’s Education
     by John Leonard, 5/20/2011

   First,  take ASCA Level 1 – The Foundations of Coaching (or USA Swimming’s Foundations of Coaching test). It is about the philosophy of our sport and its coaching. It is, indeed, its title, the foundations of coaching. Included are starter materials on teaching strokes, training athletes, working with parents, etc. It’s Coaching 101. It makes you competent to step on-deck and assist swimmers and other coaches.  It’s minimal, it’s the start. Take the test online and its reported to USA Swimming, for your coaching membership there, and to ASCA, to start your Certification process. You need to also complete a Certification Application to activate the ASCA certification process.

   Second,  take ASCA Level 2 – The Stroke School.  This course is designed to make you aware of world-class strokes today, and more importantly teach you to construct strokes in practice. That’s the primary thing that parents bring their children to you to learn: how to swim better. This is the beginning of your education about strokes. ASCA provides Advanced Courses in each stroke, both live and in manuals.

   Third comes ASCA Level 3 – The Physiology School. This is all about the planning and execution of training for athletes of all ages, from 8 and unders to the elite. Along the way, you are "reminded" of some basic science.  Once you can teach strokes and understand the philosophy of our sport, it’s time to have a coherent training plan for your athletes of every age. Long-term development of athletes is key to good coaching.

   Fourth, the Leadership School. This teaches you how you become a leader and what to do with it once you have that remarkable ability. You lead your group, you may lead your team, you may lead your parents, you may contribute leadership to your LSC or high school association.  It’s swimming specific and a great way to focus on your daily tasks.

   Fifth, we recommend you take the Administration School (Level 5), which teaches you ways to conduct and run your program. Don’t reinvent the wheel: swim teams have been in operation for many years. Lots of good ways to do things have already been found and documented.  Rather than trial and error, learn from past good ideas to operate your program. Whether you are an assistant coach or a head coach, this is important information.  Special sections on high school and college teams.

Once you’ve done the basic 5 certification courses, ASCA has 23 “Enrichment Courses” that cover many facets of coaching in an advanced and specific manner. Take them in any order you wish, as your interests dictate…much like when you were in college. We add an average of 1.5 courses a year.

Somewhere in there, along the way, get a mentor. Nothing is a better coaching education. All it takes is the simple question “Can I ask you some questions?” to a coach you admire and respect.  That takes some courage, but take heart: I’ve never heard of anyone rejecting anyone in our profession.  Suck it up, ask someone for help. And when they help you, ask the next question…”Can I stay in contact with you so I can learn some more?”

Do you have to take the courses in that order?  No. Do we encourage it?  Yes.  They are specifically ordered to provide an orderly progression of basic information for the framework of your coaching career.

One final note:  How you take the course matters.

• Live clinics (typically one day for required courses, and a half-day for some enrichment courses) are far better learning experiences. You benefit from asking questions, listening to questions and answers from others, and the general interaction of live education.  Yes, it costs money to travel and it takes time. Not everyone can do it. If you can, try to do it. It’s much better. You get the “two for one” of presenter and manual.
• On-line Seminars, an ASCA/USA Swimming collaboration with more than 30 a year  (see USA Swimming website for schedule). One hour in length, mid-day. Saved for later, non-live presentation.  Avail yourself of these…worth ten ASCA Certification units per seminar. Experienced coaches sharing their information.  Free.
• Home Study is convenient and easy.  Manuals are "loose leaf" to encourage you to add materials over time, as you find more articles you want to save on the same topic.

Young coaches often don’t get "respect" from parents, and they ask me how to sell "their" ideas.  You can’t. You’re too young for a parent ten years older than you to listen to you. But you can sell "expert power".  Expert power is what an experienced coach who is not you says. You can pull out an article from David Salo on breaststroke, or Jon Urbanchek on middle distance training, or Ira Klein on age group progressions, and they have "instant credibility" with your parents (if you educate your parents on who those coaches are). You use "expert power" rather than "in my opinion". Parents aren’t interested in the opinions of young coaches very much, are they? With expert power in your corner, you’re ready to meet those challenges. And every coach in history before you, who succeeded, used expert power before you. We all do. Help yourself.

Coming soon….ASCA Level 2 School will be available “on line” with lots of video. 

All the Best,
John Leonard

Why Be Certified?
Certification means that you are serious about your profession. It means that you care about your continuing coaching education and your professional preparation. It marks you as a coach who is in the mainstream of the coaching profession, and willing to be examined in the same light as the great coaches of this country, be they in collegiate, high school, YMCA or club positions. Employers know that the Certified Coach is committed to professional effort, has professional preparation and professional ethics.

In addition, compensation information and access to professionally evaluated positions are available to Certified Coaches. Certification gives you a title you deserve... “Coach John Doe, ASCA Level 3, Age Group.”

Certification also states your credentials precisely and concisely. If you are well educated, but do not yet have the time in service or the opportunity to work with better athletes, it says so. As you gain experience, and then gain the opportunity and are successful in actually producing fast swimming with your athletes, it reflects that. This precision is very important and valuable to those who employ swimming coaches... and hence, it protects you from unfair comparisons with others who write “creative resumes” to apply for jobs. ASCA Certification provides factual information on you to your potential employer.

There are three things analyzed in the Certification process. They are: Education, Experience and Achievement. Your Certification shows that you have met the required standard at each Level. The Five Levels become increasingly more difficult. Level 5 is composed of the top 2-5% of coaches in the USA. Level 4 is the top 5-8% and Level 3 is the upper 15% of coaches. Level 2 requires more “units” of education and experience than Level 1.

Click here for more information on the certification program.  If you have Adobe Acrobat reader and can view PDF files, you can download an application by clicking. - Certification Application

To be certified as a Coach of Disabled Swimmers...
Disability Level 1-5 Certification: Each of the five levels require the current ASCA education courses Levels 1-5, The IPC Swim Rules book (free download below) and the additional material "Disability Swimming Certification." The ASCA Level 1-5 Courses are purchased separately through the online store AND The necessary additional Disability Swimming Certification work and tests are available from the ASCA for $15. If you are interested in this material please call ASCA at 800-356-2722 or you can order on line at https://www.swimmingcoach.org/ecom/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=1209
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Disability Level 1-5 certification requirements

IPC Swimming rulebook

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