Pathways to accreditation

There are a number of ways to become an accredited Masters Swimming Coach. If you are a beginner coach, the best pathway is to complete the Masters Swimming Australia Intro Coach Course followed by the Club Coach Course. These two courses combine to get you on the path to being accreditted.

Masters Swimming Australia has embarked on a significant partnership with Swimming Australia (SAL) to provide an additional pathway for potential adult swimming coaches to achieve the Masters Swimming Australia Club Coach accreditation. Masters Swimming Australia has developed a Coaching Adult Swimmers course to be undertaken upon completion of the SAL Bronze course as a means toward achieving the Club Coach accreditation.

Coaches who have completed the previous Level 1M course, will automatically become Club Coaches when they re-accredit with the NCAS every four years. The Level 1M accreditation has been phased out and replaced with this new accreditation process. 

Masters Swimming Australia Club Coach courses

The Masters Swimming Australia Club Coach accreditation is the industry recognised minimum qualification for coaches of adult swimmers. Masters Swimming Australia provides several pathways for coaches of varying backgrounds to achieve this qualification:

Pathway 1 - This pathway involves undertaking the Intro Coach and Club Coach courses. CLICK HERE to read more about these courses.

Pathway 2 - Partial SAL Bronze holder - This pathway is recommended for those individuals that wish to become a Masters Swim Club Coach, but have no interest in coaching junior swimmers. They attend the SAL Bronze Training Program and complete the workbook assessment, but they do not have to undertake the practical coaching hours nor complete any of the Australia Swim Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) requirements. The main difference between Pathway 1 and 2 is that coaches undertaking Pathway 2 usually need to do more practical coaching hours prior to being assessed as competent for the Coaching Adult Swimmers Training Program Practical Assessment Task.

Pathway 3 - Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) - This pathway is suitable for those individuals who have significant prior learning and experience relevant to coaching adult swimmers and are able to demonstrate a current competency in all, or some units of the Masters Swimming Australia Club Coach Course. Full RCC as a means toward accreditation will be granted when all the stated learning outcomes of the Club Coach units have been met, provided the applicant can also show evidence of the course pre-requisites (where appropriate). Coaches who have undertaken the SAL Bronze Training Program and have additional training and experience relevant to coaching adult swimmers can apply for RCC using the Club Coach RCC application form. Coaches who have not undertaken this course, but have additional training and experience relevant to coaching adult swimmers can still apply using the Club Coach RCC Application Form. In the event of partial completion of the learning outcomes, the assessor will outline which learning outcomes still need to be achieved, and what evidence is still required. Applicants only partially completing the learning outcomes may need to complete some units of the training program they are applying for recognition in to achieve the Club Coach accreditation. For more information, see the RCC Information Kit.

Pathway 4 - Bronze (or higher) licence holder -  Undertaking the Coaching Masters Swimmers Course is the recommended pathway to become a Masters Swimming Australia Club Coach for those coaches interested in coaching children and adults. This has the added bonus of gaining two qualifications in the process. It is also the best option for coaches that currently hold a SAL Bronze Licence (or higher) who would like to coach adults.