SWIMMING AUSTRALIA (SAL) NATIONAL COACHING ACCREDITATION SCHEME Platinum Licence Coach Syllabus 1 November 2005 1
THE COACH ACCREDITATION SCHEME IN SWIMMING INTRODUCTION Australians are extremely proud of their prowess in sport. Swimming has been one of the key sports contributing to Australia s reputation as a leading sporting nation and the sport is putting structures in place to ensure its ongoing success at an international level. Australia s leading swimming administrators and coaches realise that to maintain a leading position, attention must be given to quality education and training programs for swimming teachers and coaches. In recent years the Australian Government has facilitated change in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. Swimming has embraced the positive aspects of the changed VET process, combined with the virtues of the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS). The NCAS offers a nationally recognised qualification to people coaching beginners through to elite athletes. It is a progressive coach education program with, usually, three levels. Coaches of children, adults, veterans, disabled or elite athletes at club, school, regional, or national level can become more effective coaches through participation in the NCAS. Over 90 sports participate in the scheme. For over twenty-five (25) years education and training programs in swimming coaching have been affiliated with the NCAS. The NCAS in swimming has been administered and delivered by Swimming Australia (SAL) and each state or territory association. SAL has liaised with the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) on all education and training matters. The organisations have offered professional development programs including accredited courses, conferences, seminars, and workshops throughout Australia on a regular and needs basis. Both SAL and ASCTA agreed the current NCAS for the professional development of swimming coaches required review to enable a greater focus on competency-based training. It was seen that this would cater more adequately for the needs of a rapidly expanding, diverse and vocationally oriented sport. Swimming has a 3 level coaching accreditation scheme, as well as the addition of a platinum coach qualification for services to elite swimming development. The levels are outlined in the diagram over the page. The Bronze, Silver and Gold Coach Licence courses have been accepted by the Australian Sports Commission and, as such, are current NCAS accredited courses. The Platinum Licence is a qualification and as such is not required to be registered with the NCAS.
Platinum Licence Gold Licence Silver Licence Bronze Licence Fig. 1 Outline of revised SAL National Coaching Accreditation Scheme Summary of accreditation for swimming coaches Bronze Licence A Bronze Licence coach has the competence to promote participation in competitive swimming and to plan, conduct, evaluate and modify training programs to enable swimmers to compete at inter- club/district and encouragement level meets. Silver Licence A Silver Licence coach has the competence to plan, conduct and evaluate swimming coaching programs to enable swimmers to compete successfully at country, state and Age National Championships. Gold Licence A Gold Licence coach has the competence to prepare swimmers to compete successfully at Australian Open championships and international championships as part of an Australian Swim Team. Platinum Licence A Platinum Licence coach has the demonstrated ability to prepare swimmers to successfully compete for medals at World Championship and Olympic Games competitions as members of the Australian Swim Team.
1. Qualification Criteria The SAL Platinum Licence Coach Qualification is designed to recognise elite coaches working with Australian swimmers that have achieved medal-winning performances at FINA Long Course World Championship or Olympic Games competitions. As such, recipients are required to: 1. Hold current SAL Gold Licence Accreditation. 2. Be a member of the official Australian Swimming Team coaching staff for the FINA Long Course World Championships or Olympic Games. 3. Be the primary coach of an athlete achieving a minimum of one (1) individual or relay final medal in Olympic events at the FINA Long Course World Championships or the Olympic Games and/or be the Head Coach of the National Team for the FINA Long Course World Championships or the Olympic Games. 4. Candidates must have membership through a professional organisation that has a code of conduct for coaches and is affiliated to Australian Swimming. ASCTA is an example of such an organisation. 2.1 Definitions Primary Coach Having at least 85% of swimmer's training program directly planned and supervised by the Coach during the 90 day period preceding the respective Championships. Relay final medal The 4 members of the relay team competing in the final, having won a medal at the respective championships. (i.e. Not including athletes that may have swam in the heat session only) 2.2 SAL/ASCTA Coach s Code of Conduct SAL fully endorses the SAL/ASCTA Coach s Code of Conduct. It is a requirement for all coaches to sign the agreement before SAL accreditation/re-accreditation or qualification at any level is approved.
2.3 Complaints Handling Procedures Applicants with grievances about the qualification procedures or seeking appeals on the process must submit them in writing to the Platinum Licence co-ordinator within 30 days of the completion of the course, or on receiving notification of their application outcome. All grievances and appeals will be considered and SAL will inform the applicant of the process they used to consider their grievance and the outcome of their deliberations within 30 days of receiving the grievance/appeal. Grievances and appeals can be made in accordance with the SAL Appeals Policy. This is in accordance with the SAL Membership Protection Policy. This policy can be obtained by liaising with SAL or by visiting the SAL website (www.swimming.org.au). 2.4 Enrolment Pre-requisites Age of Entry There is no age requirement for entry into the SAL Platinum Licence Coaching Qualification. 2.5 Application for qualification The applicant will be required to supply sufficient evidence of achievement of the criteria. This will be treated on an individual basis by the panel consisting of National Head Coach, National Youth Coach and CEO of Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) and submitted to the SAL Board for ratification through the SAL Sport Development Manager. 2.6 - Updating SAL Platinum Licence coaches are required to maintain currency of knowledge and skills. To ensure this process is undertaken by all applicants and well monitored, SAL has developed a 4-year coach updating guidelines document.