Courtesy: American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA)
Fort Lauderdale, FL — The opportunity to become an American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Fellow in the prestigious Timothy Welsh ASCA Fellows Program is here. The ASCA Fellows Program aims to identify and foster future swimming coach leaders through a curriculum led by experienced industry mentors who highlight current issues and provide pathways to impact the sport locally and nationally. ASCA Fellows are coaches with a passionate interest in improving American Swimming beyond their own pool decks. This year will be the 21st ASCA Fellows Class.
Annually, ASCA selects a group of coaches to spend a year of research, education, and career exposure dedicated to an impact project that is created and supported directly by the ASCA Board of Directors. The year-long journey starts at the World Clinic and concludes with the presentation of research findings to the Board of Directors, possible publishing of results to ASCA members, and recognition at the World Clinic the following year. The program is Chaired by Coach Kathleen Klein Prindle, 2010 ASCA Fellow, Level 5 Coach, current USA Swimming Board member and former ASCA Board member.
“Becoming an ASCA Fellow under the wise and enthusiastic tutelage of Coach Welsh altered the course of my own career for the better and renewed my commitment to serving our sport on a larger scale,” said Prindle. “It’s an honor to be a part of the Tim Welsh Fellows Program and to pass on this special kind of coach education to more generations of coaches!”
The 2023 Fellows Project Topic will be: “Is youth sport participation in America changing?” The 2023 Fellows will explore the current state of youth swimming retention and define in detail what is happening as it relates to the larger ‘outside world’ (of all youth sport athlete retention). The 2023 Fellows will analyze and develop key lessons learned over the last decade, to identify larger trends in youth swimming. These findings will be used as an initial step towards future growth solutions.
Coaches interested in applying for a 2023 Fellowship must:
- show aptitude for leadership (at any level)
- be actively coaching or working in the swimming field
- have Five years minimum coaching experience
- have completed education (cannot be a student/in school)
- be working/living in the USA during the upcoming Fellowship year
- be a member in good standing of ASCA.
- attend the 2023 ASCA World Clinic in-person
Candidates will be selected by committee and announced in mid-July 2023. The online application is available at www.swimmingcoach.org . Inquiries may be addressed to the ASCA staff liaison Bernie Dickman at [email protected].
Application deadline for the 2023 Fellows class is Tuesday June 20, 2023.