Coaches Education

Why Quiet Confidence Matters Most Before Championship Season  As championship season approaches, the atmosphere around the pool begins to change.  Practices become more intentional. Conversations shift from technique and volume to taper, qualifying times, and championship goals. Swimmers start check...

Stroke and Turn Officiating – We Have Liftoff By Ron Van Pool Stroke and turn officials are indeed the “eyes of the referee.” The foundation of swimming officiating is to ensure that all the athletes are treated fairly and that any benefit of the doubt goes to the swimmer. Throughout the race, the s...

A Look at the ASCA World Clinic Speakers and Session Topics The 2026 ASCA World Clinic is scheduled for September 9-12 in Orlando, and registration at the reduced rate is available through July 30. The annual clinic will feature presentations from some of the top coaches in the world, with the topic...

ASCA Announces Age-Group Coach of the Year Finalists in Four Divisions The American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) and Fitter & Faster Swim Camps have announced the Top-Five Age Group Coach of the Year Finalists for small, medium, large and extra-large teams. The finalists will be introduced an...

Plan vs. Strategy: The Ways to Approach the 200 Butterfly Ah, the butterfly. It is routinely acknowledged as a "power" stroke, and the 200 distance is where the rubber meets the road. Butterfly may be the event where there is the least amount of crossover by distance. What I mean by this, is that yo...

Falling in Love with Swimming Again - From the Outside  There comes a point for many swimmers when the love story with the sport changes.  For some, it happens after retirement. For others, it begins during college, after years of chasing times, standards, and expectations. The black line that once ...

Is Distance Swimming Dying? Top Coaches Discuss Future of the Events Katie Ledecky’s gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games in London is a moment that will last a lifetime. A rising star at the time, Ledecky stunned the world, cutting through the water with a ferocious ease....

Nutrition: Fix Misfueling Before It Limits Performance By Dawn Weatherwax Whether you’re a competitive swimmer, a water polo player, a diver, an open-water or masters athlete — or the parent or coach of one — you are fueling somehow. And here’s what almost no one tells aquatic athletes: the way most...

USA Swimming, ASCA Announce Partnership to Strengthen Coaching Profession In a landmark move for the American swimming community, USA Swimming and the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) today announced an agreement that brings together two of the sport's most influential organizations in s...

FINIS has launched SlipFin Pro A new strapless swim fin designed to allow greater ankle flexibility, reduce bulk and create a more natural kicking experience Livermore, CA — June 9, 2026 — FINIS today announced the launch of SlipFin Pro, a new swim fin that rethinks how fins fit and move with the sw...

Ray Looze Gives In-Depth Interview on Lane One: Making Waves Podcast (View Here) The International Swimming Coaches Association (ISCA), in its latest Lane One: Making Waves podcast with Summer Finke, delivers an interview with Indiana University coach Ray Looze. The veteran coach oversees the high-p...

School is Out: Surviving Summer Doubles and Maximizing Your Swim Training For many swimmers, the final school bell has rung, backpacks have been tossed aside, and summer has officially arrived. While friends are sleeping in, heading to the beach, or enjoying carefree afternoons, competitive swimmers...

How Maryland’s Rip Current Sports Caught the Attention of iHeart Media Maryland-based Rip Current Sports and its founder, Jose-Luis Gallagher, were recently featured on iHeart Media’s Maryland Business Spotlight. Gallagher’s interview was also highlighted by Reach for the Wall, a nonprofit swimming ...

Jan Prins' Book, Freestyle Biomechanics, a Must-Read for Coaches (Available Now! - See Link) Jan Prins, Ph.D., respected swim scientist and coach, has spent decades advocating for the integration of sport science and kinesiology into practical swim coaching. A former assistant coach with Doc Counsil...

Join the Early Access List: Breakthrough Innovation set for mid-June Launch FINIS has spent more than 30 years rethinking how swimmers train, feel the water and use equipment to improve. From the Monofin and Original Swimmer’s Snorkel to Tempo Trainer, Zoomers, Smart Goggles and Manta Paddles, Foun....

Which Equipment Is Best For Sprinters? Top Coaches Share Their Thoughts No swimmer can achieve greatness on their own. Over the past few weeks, we’ve outlined how a strong ecosystem is needed to help even the most talented swimmers succeed. In the year 2026, though, another tool has become increasin...

Elite Sprint Coaches Discuss Development of Athletes (Part II) The world is in the midst of a sprint swimming renaissance. From the jaw-dropping world record of Cam McEvoy in the 50 freestyle to the continued impressive races of Indiana's Van Mathias, we're constantly seeing great racing from strong...

The Schubert Swim Clinic in Hawaii is different A week in Oahu with one of swimming’s most accomplished coaches offers more than training. Swimmers get a rare chance to sharpen technique, improve race strategy, and see the sport through a different lens. There are plenty of swim camps that fill a we...

Carmel Coach Chris Plumb Discusses Program Success on ISCA Podcast In the latest episode of the International Swim Coaches Association's Lane One: Make Waves Podcast, Carmel Swim Club (Ind.) coach Chris Plumb discusses what it takes to build a quality program, and maintain success. During his time a...

How Innovative Coaches Glenn Mills, Mike Koleber, and Nitro Swimming Staff Think About Practice Flow, Safety, Coaching, and the Swimmer Experience “Great performances usually begin with great environments.” — Glenn Mills, Founder, GoSwim What began as a conversation about lane etiquette turned in...