USA Swimming Coaching Certification

Coaches at a practice or competition sanctioned by USA Swimming must be a registered with the organization. Prospective coaches must meet three requirements for registration, according to the usaswimming.org website. The requirements are designed to confirm that candidates can carry out their duties in a safe and effective manner. The testing for these requirements is handled by USA Swimming, with assistance in some cases by other agencies such as the Red Cross.

  1. Safety Requirements

    • A prospective coach must have proper certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid and Safety Training for Swim Coaches. The CPR and first aid certifications are often issued by the Red Cross. The Safety Training for Swim Coaches is a combination of an online course and test conducted by USA Swimming and practical testing with a certified Red Cross water safety instructor.

    Background Check

    • Criminal background checks have been required for USA Swimming coaches since 2007. Grounds for denying a registration include any conviction, plea of guilty or plea of no contest involving a felony, a crime involving drugs or criminal sexual misconduct. Coaches must continue to be screened every two years.

    Foundations of Coaching Exam

    • New coaches are considered registered if they have completed the safety requirements and the background check, but they will not be enrolled for a second year until they have completed the Foundations of Coaching exam. The Foundations of Coaching test is based on the book and DVD of the same name. Passing the test demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of the rules regarding USA Swimming competitions and coaching principles. The test is conducted in an open-book manner with 180 questions and requires 160 correct answers for a passing grade. Coaches registered prior to 1998 are grandfathered in and not required to take the Foundation of Coaching test.

    Local Swim Club Membership

    • Once a coach completes the safety and background screening requirements, he registers with a USA Swimming local swim club. Each local swim club must have at least one registered USA Swimming coach on its roster.

    Additional Organizations

    • Coaches for USA Swimming are also entitled to membership in the American Swimming Coaches Association.