The Learning Pathway to become a recognised Australian Swim Coach provides a clear, step-by-step process and is designed to be a simple, supported and nationally consistent program. The learning pathway, developed by highly regarded and experienced swim coaches, ensures every coach meets the standards of the Swimming Australia National Coaching Framework (SANCF).
Candidate to Swim Coach in 3 Steps:
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- Complete a Swimming Australia recognised online or blended pre-requisite course
- Complete the Australian Swim Coach Course (currently called the Development Coaching Course)
- Activate your Australian Swim Coach Licence
The information below provides additional information about each of these steps.
Complete a Swimming Australia recognised Pre-Requisite Course
Before enrolling in the Australian Swim Coach Course, you must complete a Swimming Australia recognised pre-requisite qualification. These courses provide essential foundations in safety, communication, stroke foundations, and participation.
You may complete your pre-requisite through:
- Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia (SCTA)
- AUSTSWIM
- AMPD or other endorsed aquatic programs
Both online and blended options are available.
Completing this step allows you to enrol in the Australian Swim Coach Course.
Complete the Australian Swim Coach Course
Currently called the Development Coaching Course, this course is the national entry point into coaching and must be completed prior to coaching and becoming a recognised Australian Swim Coach.
The course includes:
- Online self-paced learning
- A face-to-face practical workshop
- Completion of a e-workbook and submission of session plans
- Being signed off by an experienced coach who holds 3 or more years’ experience as a recognised Australian Swim Coach
Candidates will receive further instructions on how to complete each component upon enrolment and throughout the course.
Enrol at any time – provided you have completed a recognised pre-requisite course, learners can enrol at any time, and are encouraged to complete the e-learning prior to attending the face-to-face workshop.
Activate your Australian Swim Coach Licence
Once you complete the course, you will then be directed to activate your Australian Swim Coach Licence in Swim Central, Learning and Licencing.
Swimming Australia provides a discount to the licence fee for candidates in their first year of coaching. To become licenced and receive the discount, enrol into the Development Coach Licence Activation option in Swim Central. Once complete, you’ll then be able to continue using SPLASH Hub for additional support and resources, and provided you maintain your WWCC, CPR and Sport Integrity Australia requirements, you can view, and download your licence any time, and attach the licence to your resume when applying for coaching positions.
Annual Licence Renewal
Each year, you’ll be invited to renew your licence. After your first year of coaching, you may need to renew your licence for a short period of time, to bring your annual renewal into alignment with the annual renewal period – our Coach Development Team will assist you with this. Then each year, thereafter, the renewal period will run from the start of December through to mid-February.
To renew, you must:
- Maintain all compliance documents
- Complete a small number of licence renewal modules (1-2 hours per year)
- Stay active and current in your coaching
Annual renewal ensures all coaches remain aligned with national standards and continue to develop through learning and experience.
Where can this pathway lead?
As you gain experience, you can progress into further professional endorsed learning stages:
- Advanced Endorsed Coach
For swim coaches working with nationally qualified athletes seeking to learn more about sports science, stroke theory, technique and biomechanics, planning, talent ID and more. Learn more HERE - Performance Endorsed Coach
For coaches working with National, Open and performance athletes striving for performance coaching opportunities and eager to learn about high performance program management, race modelling, preparation, and the scientific principles of elite swimming. Learn more HERE
Endorsements are earned through experience, learning, and recognised achievements recorded through your Australian Swim Coach Licence.
Next Steps to Get Started
To begin your coaching journey:
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- Create your Swim Central account
- Complete your pre-requisite course
- Enrol in the Australian Swim Coach Course
- Activate and maintain your licence
To find out when the next face-to-face workshop is on near you, head to the Find a Course page.
