New Coach Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to take the New Coaches test? Do the new coach requirements apply to me?

The new coach requirements apply to any coach who registered with USA Swimming for the FIRST time after September 1, 1998. First year coaches must pass the new coach test prior to registering for their second year as a USA Swimming coach member. There is no set test deadline, however your membership expires on December 31st of each year. If you don’t pass the test prior to December 31st, you will not be able to coach until you pass the test and re-register.

What is the New Coaches test based on?

The test is based on the Progressions for Athlete and Coach Development the Foundations of Coaching Home Study Course and the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations.

Can I take the test on-line?

You can take the test online by going to the USA Swimming website and accessing the "Coaches" section of their site. The exam is comprised of multiple choice questions and can be completed online at no cost. Once you have successfully completed the test, your results will be automatically forwarded to the MVS Membership Chair.

I’m a new coach but I haven’t received the new coach information yet.

New coach packets are sent out the month after MVS sends the information to USA Swimming. You should receive your new coach packet within 2-1/2 months of coach registration. If it has been longer than 3 months since you registered for your first year as a USA Swimming Coach member and you have not received your new coach packet, you can request one by calling the MVS Office at 1-785-841-0999.

I received this packet but I’m not a new coach.

You do not have to take the test, however you will need to give the MVS Membership Chair a copy of your old USA Swimming Coach card and ask them to change your status in the Membership database. You will need to do this before you register for the upcoming year. If you do not have an old coach card, you may contact Mary Tyson at 719-578-4500, ext. 9 then ext. 3571. You will need to provide the exact year you were a USA Swimming coach member, the LSC you were in at the time, the name you were registered under at the time and your current LSC. They will attempt to locate you in their archives. This may take anywhere from 1-3 days. Once they locate you in the archives as a coach, they will contact the MVS Membership Chair and let them know to grandfather you in. If they cannot locate you in the archives you will be required to take the new coach test.

Do I have to purchase the Progressions for Athlete and Coach Development and the Foundations of Coaching Home Study Course books?

Purchasing the books is optional, however many coaches have found that passing the test without the textbooks is rather difficult. The test is open book and covers material from the new Progressions for Athlete and Coach Development, the Foundations of Coaching Home Study Course and the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations.

Which version of the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations do I need for the test?

You should use the current USA Swimming Rules and Regulations book for the test.

Will I have to take a test each year?

No, there are no plans to have additional educational requirements after the first year. This program is strictly designed to ensure that all new USA Swimming Coach members have a basic level of education before entering their second year of coaching.

I’m not a new coach but I’d like to take the test anyway. Am I allowed to do that?

Yes, any USA Swimming coach member may take the test.

Who receives the funds from book sales?

Like most of the programs run by USA Swimming, the new coach requirement program is designed to break-even or run at a slight loss. When you purchase the books from USA Swimming, the cost of the set of books covers the cost of printing the two books, the shipping/handling to send out new coach packets and the book orders, grading the tests and sending out the test results. Absolutely no royalties are paid to any of the authors. In fact, one of the conditions of employment at USA Swimming is that every employee (as well as all board of directors and committee members) must sign a conflict of interest form that states that they may not personally gain from any USA Swimming program or service.

How do I get the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations book?

As a coach member, the USA Swimming Member Services Department will send you a copy of the Rules and Regulations free of charge. Generally you will receive your copy within 3 months of registration.

What happens if I don’t take or fail the test?

If you fail the test you will need to retake it. You must pass the test before you can register for your second year as a USA Swimming Coach member. You will be allowed to register as a non-athlete member for your second year until you pass the test, but that still means you will not be able to be on deck until you become a coach member. If you are on deck and are not a coach member, you are not covered by insurance and are putting your club at risk.

Does USA Swimming require lifeguards during practice?

USA Swimming does not require lifeguards to be on duty for swim practices or meets. USA Swimming Rules and Regulations require all coach members to be certified in three different areas in order for them to be on deck coaching: Safety Training for Swim Coaches, CPR, and First Aid. If the facility being used has a requirement for lifeguards to be on duty in order for their insurance to be in effect, then this is a facility regulation. Many states also have laws that require lifeguards to be on deck in certain situations.

I need to renew my Safety Training for Swim Coaches (STSC) certification. My local Red Cross chapter has informed me that a course called Sport Safety Training has replaced STSC. If I take Sport Safety Training instead of STSC, have I met the membership requirements?

No! Sport Safety Training does fulfill the First Aid and CPR requirements, but it has not replaced Safety Training for Swim Coaches.

I need to renew my Safety Training for Swim Coaches (STSC) certification. How do I find a class?

Safety Training for Swim Coaches (STSC) is only offered by the American Red Cross (ARC). You should contact your local chapter for schedule information. There is no substitute/equivalent for this requirement. If your local ARC chapter isn't offering the course right now, there are several options available:

Contact a large USA Swimming team in your area; chances are good that one of the coaches is a certified STSC instructor and can give you the course.
If your coaching background includes swimming, you can probably pass the STSC test without taking the course. The ARC calls this a "Challenge". If your ARC Chapter isn't offering the course right now, ask them if you can come in and “Challenge” the course (involves the written test and skills demonstration only). Because the skills demonstration requires removing an injured athlete from the pool, bring a friend to "play" this role during the demonstration portion of the test.
Contact the MVS Membership and/or Safety Chair to see if he/she has a list of STSC instructors that you can contact directly about teaching you the course.

My CPR certification has expired and I just haven't had time to get it renewed yet. Do I still have USA Swimming insurance while I'm on deck coaching?

From an insurance standpoint, you are no longer insured as a coach as soon as any of your certifications expire. You are immediately considered a non-athlete member who is no longer a coach. Since one of the greatest exposures a coach has from a liability standpoint is "improper instruction" (child dives too deep and is severely injured; sues coach and club), if the coach does not have current certifications, he/she no longer has coverage for this type of claim. Further, the club's insurance could be in jeopardy if they knew the coach's certification(s) had lapsed.

Does only the coach of record need to be 18 years of age or older?

USA Swimming rules state that the coach of record for the team must be at least 18 years of age. There are no age requirements for the other coaches on the team. However, the LSC can impose rules above and beyond USA Swimming’s. Please check with the MVS Membership Chair to find out the rules for our LSC.

How do I register? Where do I send my USA Swimming Coach registration form?

You will need to register through the MVS Membership Chair.

What does LSC stand for?

Local Swimming Committee.

How do I find out which LSC I am in?

You can contact the Member Services Department at USA Swimming. They will be able to let you know which LSC you are in and who the contact people are for that LSC. You may also wish to purchase the USA Swimming Directory for future reference.

How do I know if I am a USA Swimming Coach member?

After your local registration person has processed your application you will receive a registration card (usually in the mail) that has the year that you are a coach member in the background with your name and address in the foreground. At the bottom of the card are the words “is a coach member of USA Swimming. Membership expires 12-31-200_.” If it does not say “coach member” at the bottom of the card and says “non-athlete member” then you need to contact the MVS Registration Chair immediately because you are not registered as a coach member!

What is the USA Swimming recommended coach-to-swimmer ratio?

USA Swimming does not have a coach-to-athlete ratio. It is up to the club's coach and parent board to determine the safest ratio. This should be based on several criteria:

skill level and age of the athletes in the water
skill level of the coach (years experience, professional background, etc.)
type of facility (size of pool, number of lanes)

A coach who is working with high school athletes can probably control a larger group of swimmers than a coach working with athletes who are just learning to compete. Therefore, one-size-does-not-fit-all in this case.