With the annual USA Swimming membership year fast approaching, we would like to make you aware of some of the changing education requirements for coaches and/or officials beginning September 1, 2019.

As the organization continues to look at ways to help its member-leaders be best-in-class and set the example among amateur sport, we are introducing new educational components as part of USA Swimming membership.

USADA Coaching Advantage Tutorial
Starting September 1, all coach members will be required to complete an annual USADA Coaching Advantage Tutorial (CAT) course by January 1, 2020. This 20-minute video course (presented in four modules) was added following discussions with the Age Group Anti-Doping Task Force and will be available on the LEARN platform, covering WADA code, checking medications, the testing process and a coach’s role in the clean sport movement. The latter is an incredibly significant element of the training that is crucial at all age levels. Renewal date for this course will be one year from completion date. Please direct questions about the USADA Coaching Advantage Tutorial to learn@usaswimming.org.

Athlete Protection Training
In response to member feedback, beginning September 1, 2019, you may notice the next time you log in that the three courses of the Athlete Protection Training have been streamlined into one. The training course continues to be produced by the U.S. Center for SafeSport and must be completed annually with a renewal date one year from the completion date. All adult athlete and non-athlete members must complete this training. This includes coaches, officials, Junior Coaches and anyone authorized to have regular contact with or authority over a minor athlete.Please direct questions about the Athlete Protection Training to learn@usaswimming.org.    

Concussion Protocol Training
This requirement is new for all coaches and officials in 2020. Though several states have previously passed concussion education requirements, USA Swimming will now require all coaches and officials complete Concussion Protocol Training by January 1, 2020.

• Courses from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), as well as individual states’ required courses will satisfy the USA Swimming requirement. (For example, if a coach lives/coaches in a state with a concussion education requirement, he/she must only complete this requirement and will not need to complete an additional course). Many high school coaches will have already completed the NFHS training.
• For USA Swimming membership, coaches and officials must successfully complete concussion and head injury education at least once. Individual states may require annual or continuing education and coaches/officials must abide by the requirements of their home state or states in which they coach or officiate.
• This requirement is necessary to avoid personal liability for concussion/head strike incidents, ensuring our insurers will continue to provide liability insurance protection to USA Swimming, coaches, officials and clubs.
• Please direct questions about Concussion Protocol Training to George Ward at gward@usaswimming.org.

We thank you for your attention to this important training and we look forward to continuing to work with you.

Respectfully yours,

Joel Shinofield 
USA Swimming Managing Director, Sport Development