USA Swimming Launches Head Coach Certification Program
USA Swimming is excited to announce the addition of the Head Coach Certification Program to USA Swimming University. The Head Coach Certification program is primarily for new and aspiring head coaches, with lessons catered to coaches with plans or aspirations of assuming a head coach role. The course design is guided directly by coaches and features the voices of many experienced USA Swimming member coaches.
The certification aims to support a pathway for career coaches. USA Swimming has the best performance-based coaching in the world. Still, when prompted, many coaches cite a need for more experience with administrative work, stakeholder engagement, and day-to-day club operations. The Head Coach Certification Program covers a broad range of topics relevant to any head coach, and each course features scenarios, videos, and digital resources designed to offer real-time support.
The program features 29 short courses, designed to be taken ala carte and self-paced. Below is the list of courses, each ranging from 15-45 minutes each:
|
Communication Program |
|
Communication 1: Communication with Stakeholders of Your Program |
|
Communication 2: Communicating for Culture |
|
Communication 3: Educational Leadership 1 |
|
Communication 4: Educational Leadership 2 |
|
Communication 5: Communication with Families |
|
Community Relations |
|
Community Relations 1: Won’t You Be My Neighbor! |
|
Community Relations 2: Together, We Can Do So Much! |
|
Community Relations 3: Extra! Extra! Read all about it! |
|
Community Relations 4: USA Swimming Programs and Services |
|
Community Relations 5: Local Swim Committee (LSC) and USA Swimming Governance |
|
Leadership Management |
|
Leadership Management 1:Reflective Assessment for Leadership |
|
Leadership Management 2:Leadership for a Positive Culture |
|
Long Term Athlete Development |
|
LTAD 1: Your Head Coaching Philosophy |
|
LTAD 2: Overall Progression of Your Athletes |
|
LTAD 3: Long Term Athlete Development: Balancing Winning and Fun |
|
LTAD 4: Supporting a Long Term Athlete Development Plan |
|
Operational Management |
|
Operational Management 1: Budgeting, Accounting, and Finance |
|
Operational Management 2: Policy Manual and Team Handbook |
|
Operational Management 3: Personnel Management |
|
Operational Management 4: Opportunities for Your Club |
|
Operational Management 5: Strategic Planning |
|
Self Care |
|
Self Care 1: Self-Care Evaluation |
|
Self Care 2: Work-Life Balance |
|
Self Care 3: Leadership for Staff Self-Care |
|
Self Care 4: Applying the Principles of Self-Care |
|
Time Management |
|
Time Management 1: Prioritization Strategies |
|
Time Management 2: Liability & Accident Insurance |
|
Time Management 3: Programming Your Facility |
|
Time Management 4: Managing Your Facility |
Learners who complete 17 of the 29 courses will earn a Bronze Head Coach Certificate. Those who complete 24 courses will earn a Silver, and completing all 29 courses will qualify the learner for the Gold Head Coach Certificate.
The Head Coach Certification Program courses are offered to USA Swimming members for $10 each and to non-members for $25 each. Some courses are included for free and provide valuable insight into the programs and services available to Head Coaches through USA Swimming.
The program and certificate of completion are encouraged but optional for coaches. To qualify for the program, coaches must have completed the Quality Coaching Framework course.
For instructions on accessing the program and a preview of the program click here.