Age Group Coach Accelerator Program 2025-2026

RATIONALE:

To provide educational and training opportunities for coaches to achieve training at the Swimming 201 Age Group Coach level.

Swim Ontario will provide Training for Age Group Coach, free of charge, for 24 coaches, including Teaching and Learning, Design a Basic Sports Program, Basic Mental Skills and Swimming 201.

There will be two class cohorts:

• Fall - September 10-December 10 (evenings)
• Winter - January 14-April 29 (daytime)

Section 1 - Application and Selection Process

Number of Coaches Accepted: To a MAX of 24 Coaches (2 per Region per Cohort)

• Each Region will be allocated two (2) spaces per Cohort as part of Priority 1 selection
• Available spaces not allocated in Priority 1 will be allocated on a first submitted basis regardless of Region based on date and time of submitted application.

Coach Eligibility

• Must be fully registered with a Swim Ontario club for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons
• Must 18 Years of Age or Older
• Fundamentals Coach Certified
• Must complete the Swimming 201 Pre-Course Online Workbook prior the start of the program.
• Must be actively coaching Competition Intro or Competitive Development registered swimmers
• Must not have already taken any of the courses that are included in this program.

Application and Selection Process:

• Submission of Application: HERE
• Application deadline is May 31, 2025 at 11:59pm.
• All applications will be date and time stamped and listed in order for selection purposes
• All Applications must include the following;
  • Summary of Experience
  • Philosophy of Coaching and career goals
  • Signed letter of Endorsement from either the Club Head Coach or Club President

Please note that incomplete or illegible applications will not be considered.

Selection Process

• Priority 1:
  • Each Region will be allocated two (2) spaces per cohort
  • Applicants will be ranked based on their submission
  • Selection will be determined by the Selection Committee based on:
    • Experience
    • Philosophy and career goals
    • Performance athletes they coach
      
• Priority 2:
  • Filling available spaces not allocated in Priority 1
  • Spaces will be allocated based on a first submitted basis regardless of Region
  • Coaches are subject to all eligibility requirements outlined above.

Decisions of the selection committee are final and are not subject to the Swim Ontario appeal process.

Coach Accelerator Selection Committee:

1. Swim Ontario Provincial and Regional Programs Coordinator
2. Swim Ontario Coaching, Competitions and Communications Coordinator
3. Regional Coach Representatives as required

Section 2 - The Program

Attendance Requirements

• Coaches are required to attendance all scheduled courses for their cohort

Program Deliverables:

This program will be run in two cohorts - Fall and Winter

If selected, program participants are required to attend all the following scheduled courses within their cohort.

Cohort 1 - Fall - Wednesday Evenings

• Teaching and Learning - September 10 & September 17 - 6:00-8:45PM
• Design a Sport Program - September 24 & October 1 - 6:00-8:45PM
• Basic Mental Skills - October 8 & October 15 - 6:00-8:30PM
• Swimming 201 - November 12, 19, 26, December 3, 10 - 5:00-9:00PM

Cohort 2 - Winter - Wednesday Daytime

• Teaching and Learning - January 14 & January 21 – 10:00-12:45PM
• Design a Sport Program - January 28 & February 4 – 10:00-12:45PM
• Basic Mental Skills - February 11 & February 18 – 10:00-12:45PM
• Swimming 201 - April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - 10:00-2:00PM

Individual Coach Requirements: Coaches will be required to complete the following on an individual basis to complete their Age Group Coach Certification

• Age Group Coach Portfolio
• Age Group Evaluation at a Competition
  • $300 for the above combined

Amendments and Unforeseen Circumstances:

• In the event of unforeseen or unusual circumstances, Swim Ontario Performance Staff under the direction of the CEO has the full discretion to resolve the matter as it sees fit, taking into account factors and circumstances that it deems relevant.

Changes to this Document:

• The Swim Ontario performance staff reserves the right to make changes to this document at its discretion.
• Any changes to this document shall be communicated directly to all eligible participants through their Coach of Record and published on the Swim Ontario website

Swim Ontario would like to thank the Coaches Association of Ontario for their support of this project.