Nominations for USA Swimming’s Women Coaches in Governance fellowship program are now open through May 15, 2025. The program encourages Local Swimming Committee (LSC) General Chairs and/or LSC Coach Representatives to identify and nominate one candidate per LSC. Self-nominations will be accepted. However, priority will be given to LSC-nominated individuals. The LSC nomination form is available here and the self-nomination here.

The Women Coaches in Governance program was created in 2022 by women swim leaders Julie Bachman, Allison Beebe, Olga Espinosa, Mary Liston, Shelly Rawding, Cathy Sheafor, and USA Swimming Team Services Lead Senior Advisor Beth Winkowski. As the program kicks off its third nomination cycle, it aims to identify, educate, support, and mentor women coaches who want to be more involved in governance at the LSC and national levels.

Preferred nominee criteria include:

• USA Swimming women coach members in good standing, with a minimum of five years coaching experience.
• Less than one year of governance experience and interest in getting involved.
• LSC financial backing to support attendance at the 2025 USA Swimming Workshop.
  

Approximately 59 selected participants will take part in eight virtual Zoom meetings and one in-person session. The weekly virtual meetings will start on September 2, 2025, and the in-person session will be held at the USA Swimming Annual Summit in Denver, Colo. September 24-28, 2025.

Discussion topics will include:

• Why We Need You in Governance
• How to Take Ownership of Being the Only Female in the Room
• Career Growth and Development
• Learning from Female Officials
• Business 101
• Female Head Coaches
• LSC Governance and Structure
• USA Swimming Committees and Working Groups
• Career Reflections
• Course Wrap-Up and What is Next
  

Learn more by visiting the USA Swimming website here. If you have questions, please contact USA Swimming Team Services Lead Senior Advisor Beth Winkowski.