Coach Education Programme

Our swimming club would welcome an extra pair of hands to help on poolside. Coaching is usually a voluntary role that fits in with your existing commitments, and can take up as little as an hour per week.
To help out, you’ll need a relevant coaching qualification in swimming or water polo. As a minimum, you should hold the UKCC Level 1 Award in Coaching to act in a support role for the Chief Coach. If you have the UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Coaching you’ll be able to coach unsupervised. Find out more about UKCC qualifications.
If you are interested in any of the following courses please make your relevant swim coach/member of the committee aware.
Types of courses available:

Swim Leaders Course

This is a new award, developed in partnership with Sport Leaders UK to replace the Swim Wales Assistant Course. A 6-hour taught course, it is suitable for people (including parents or ex-competitive swimmers) who wish to help on poolside or take their first steps into coaching.

ASA Level 1 Coaching (Swimming & Water Polo)

The ASA Level 1 Award in both Coaching Swimming and Coaching Water Polo (QCF) is a vocational qualification. A vocational qualification offers a practical learning programme, challenges the learner and provides them with the skills and confidence needed to contribute to a specific role in the workplace.
This qualification will provide the learner with an introduction to the knowledge, skills and understanding of safe and ethical principles for effective coaching practices in swimming/water polo. It will equip the learner with the knowledge and skills needed to actively support a more senior qualified Swimming Coach in the delivery of a pre-prepared session.
This qualification is for those learners who:
• Would like or require an introduction to coaching in a swimming/water polo environment
• Are seeking further career progression within their area of work
• Are seeking to progress towards the ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Swimming/Water Polo (QCF)
Assessment
Learners can be assessed using a variety of assessment methods. These are inclusive of, but not limited to:
• Observation of practice
• Questioning (written and oral)
• Portfolio of evidence
• Expert witness evidence
• Reflective diary
• Professional discussion.
Learner entry
There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification and learners are not required to have any prior experience of coaching. Learners must be at least 15 years of age to register onto this qualification, however to be awarded the qualification, learners must have turned 16 years of age either before or on the final day of the course.

ASA Level 2 Coaching (Swimming & Water Polo)

The ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Swimming and the certificate in Coaching Water Polo (QCF) is a vocational qualification. A vocational qualification offers a practical learning programme, challenges the learner and provides them with the skills and confidence needed to contribute to a specific role in the workplace.
This qualification will provide the learner with the knowledge, skills and techniques of coaching and enable the learner to effectively plan, prepare, deliver, monitor and evaluate theory and practical swimming/water polo sessions. Achievement of this qualification will provide the learner with a qualification which is recognised as the minimum standard, enabling the learner to coach swimming/water polo sessions independently.
This qualification is for those learners who:
• Would like or require the next step to become a lead coach in the swimming/water polo environment
• Are seeking further career progression within their area of work
• Are seeking to progress towards the ASA Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Swimming (QCF)
Assessment
Learners can be assessed using a variety of assessment methods. These are inclusive of, but not limited to:
• Observation of practice
• Questioning (written and oral)
• Portfolio of evidence
Assessment
Learners can be assessed using a variety of assessment methods. These are inclusive of, but not limited to:
• Observation of practice
• Questioning (written and oral)
• Portfolio of evidence
• Expert witness evidence
• Reflective diary
• Professional discussion.
Learner entry requirements
Learners must be at least 17 years of age to register onto this qualification. Learners must also hold one of the following:
• ASA Level 1 Award in either (where applicable) Coaching Swimming or Water Polo (QCF) – January 2011 onwards
• ASA UKCC Level 1 Certificate for Coaching Swimming/Water Polo – 2006-2010
• ASA Level 1 Certificate for Teaching Swimming post 2002 plus ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Swimming/Water Polo (QCF), units 105-107 or ASA UKCC Level 1 Certificate for Coaching Swimming/Water Polo, unit 2
• ASA Assistant Teacher Certificate (Swimming) post Sept 1994

Team Manager Training

Team manager training is designed to ensure volunteers are equipped with the skills they need to do their job. These FAQs should answer some of your questions about the training.
So, what is team manager training?
It is a way of clubs showing their commitment to you as a volunteer. The ability to manage teams is a key part of many volunteer roles. Ensuring athletes arrive at and return from sporting activities unharmed is a big responsibility, and clubs like to make sure volunteers have all the necessary skills and knowledge to do it.
What will I learn on the course?
Well, it is split into two sections. The first is local competitions and the second is overnight stays and travel abroad.
The first section points out that as a team manager you are a leader, administrator, travel agent, substitute family, disciplinarian, friend and nutritionist among many other things. You will learn and practice risk assessments and role play the issues involved with managing teams.
Overnight stays and travel abroad takes similar themes to a different environment. You learn about vetting host families, what to do on arrival at a hotel or airport, and how to ensure dietary requirements are met, among other issues. You then role play scenarios you may encounter when travelling with athletes.
How long is it?
Don’t worry, it is only a 2.5 hour workshop. Learning to manage a team can take a lifetime. The course is designed to ensure you have the right toolkit from the start. As a team manager you will gain updates from the ASA when necessary to allow you to fulfil your role to the best of your ability.
Ask your club about team manager training and whether it is applicable to your role. You can also contact the volunteer centre at the ASA for more information.

Officials Qualifications & Training

Timekeeper

This is an introduction into the world of the swimming official. It covers the practical aspects of what is required of a timekeeper by means of a short theory session followed by a practical assessment.
The minimum recommended age for candidates to undertake this training is 14 years, and all need to be registered members of a Swim Wales affiliated club.

Judge Level 1

This is the first level of British qualification. It encompasses the role and duties of a Timekeeper, Chief Timekeeper and Inspector of Turns.
The minimum age to start training is 15 years. Candidates will be required to undertake some formal theory instruction and gain practical experience working on the poolside with a mentor. A course workbook is provided for completion after which there will be a practical assessment.
During the practical assessment candidates will be required to answer questions orally. Upon qualification candidates will be attributed with the qualification Judge Level 1 on the British Swimming Database and will be encouraged to become a Licensed Official.

Judge Level 2

This is the second level of qualification. It encompasses the role and duties in relation to all aspects of judging and the theoretical role and duties of Starter.
The minimum age to start training is 16 years and candidates must a have already qualified as Judge Level 1. The training follows a similar format to that of Judge level 1 with formal instruction, mentored pool side training with workbook followed by a practical assessment.
When qualified, candidates will be attributed with the qualification Judge Level 2 on the British Swimming Database.

Judge Level 2S- Starter

Candidates wishing to qualify as a Starter will be required hold the Judge Level 2 qualification and have completed a minimum of 20 hours post qualification experience as Judge Level 2.
Training will consist of a prescribed number of practical experiences as a Starter before undertaking a formal practical assessment.
Successful candidates will be attributed with the Starter qualification: Judge Level 2S

Referee

The minimum age for training is 19yrs providing the candidate is aged 20yrs as at 30th November in the year of the theory examination. In addition candidates must have proven poolside experience at Judge Level 1 and Judge Level 2 and must also have been qualified as Judge Level 2S for at least 1 year with a minimum of 10 hours post qualification experience in that role at the time of application.

Swim Development Workshops

In partnership with Swim Development a number of workshops will be available throughout the year. These are no more than 3.5 hours and tend to be delivered during the evening.
The best teachers and coaches understand that it is important to keep up to date with developments and changes within the sport and also enhance and extend your knowledge and skills.
Please keep an eye out for the workshops available and inform your relevant coach if you wish to attend one of these sessions
For further information on any of the Coach Education courses please contact:

Swim Wales on 01792 513580 or visit the website @ www.swimwales.org