Swim Coaches Get Redesigned Certification Pathway
Coaches pursuing ASCA certification now advance through five levels built on continuing education courses.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Swimming
The American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) has launched a new digital experience, including a Member Dashboard, updated website, mobile app, learning management system and online community, alongside a redesigned certification system. The changes are aimed at ASCA's coaching members.
Why it matters
The redesigned certification system reflects coaches' own input on professional goals and continuing education, and it removes the athlete-performance requirement that previously applied. For coaches working toward certification, the pathway now centers on five redefined levels with all new courses.
This is an organizational announcement rather than a research study, describing five redefined certification levels and a course catalog expected to add three to four courses annually. The source does not report enrollment figures or outcome measures for the new system.
The players
American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA)
A national organization that supports swimming coaches through education, certification and professional resources.
Peter Verhoef
Bolles Head Coach who leads the ASCA Education Committee, which helped shape the new certification pathways.
Bill Dorenkott
ASCA Board President and employee of Ohio State University.
The details
The launch was shaped by direct member input, with the ASCA Education Committee, led by Bolles Head Coach Peter Verhoef, helping set the new certification pathways. The new Athlete Performance Star Recognition Program awards three-, four- or five-star recognition, and the overall effort required more than a year of planning, collaboration and execution by ASCA staff.
Timeline
- The digital launch and new certification system were introduced on November 2, 2026.
Health Landscape
The redesign shifts ASCA's certification away from requiring athlete performance results and toward a course-based pathway with a defined catalog. This reflects a broader move in coach education toward continuing, structured learning rather than outcome-based credentialing.
If you coach swimmers, the new pathways may affect which courses you take to advance, so it is worth reviewing the revised levels on the ASCA website. Coaches interested in continuing education can use the new member dashboard and learning platform to track progress.
The takeaway
The redesigned ASCA certification focuses on continuing education rather than athlete results, which may matter for coaches planning their advancement. Reviewing the five levels and their course requirements on the ASCA site is a practical first step.
What happens next
The ASCA Course Catalog is planned to add three to four new courses each year, with no specific dates given in the source.
Further reading
For more on the sport itself, explore our Swimming coverage.
More information
Visit the ASCA new website and membership information for details on the redesigned certification levels.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
