Why is there a WSCA?
by Dr. Jon Rudd, President and George Block, Vice-President
The WSCA exists for two (2) primary reasons. The first is to serve as advocates for the top coaches in the world with international governing bodies. The second is to assist coaches in developing swimming areas.
Advocacy is often easy to define but difficult to see. Advocacy is "being the voice." Chambers of Commerce are the voices of business communities all over the world. Professional organizations serve as the voice for doctors, lawyers, engineers, and the trades. Unions can also serve as the voice for their members.
The WSCA does not advocate inside any specific country. We leave that to each nation's coaching association. If a nation does not have a coaches' association, the WSCA will help those coaches form one and get organized. Our primary role is to advocate with World Aquatics (FINA), but our continental bodies (WSCA Europe, WSCA Africa, WSCA Asia) will serve as advocates with those continental bodies.
Assistance comes in many forms. The most obvious is our clinics and newsletters, but the WSCA also provides consulting for facility and program development in developing swimming areas. Most national coaches' associations have certification programs, and many NFs are creating them.
The WSCA is not getting into the certification business. However, if your NF does not have a certification program, the WSCA will pair you with a coaches' association that will provide certification. The WSCA will provide custom continuing education to our membership as a whole and to groups of coaches with particular needs or interests.
In many developing swimming nations, the economies are weak, so the basic WSCA membership is free. The WSCA wants EVERY swimming coach to be able to access our newsletters and basic online programming. But both advocacy and member services cost money, so the WSCA has a Pro membership for coaches who regularly want in-depth information and conversation with other coaches from around the world. And like every NGO, we seek out the most innovative and ethical companies as our swimming business sponsors.
Next month, we will discuss the WSCA's historical role in advocacy and the topics we think World Aquatics (FINA) most needs to address. We look forward to hearing what you think because that will drive our board's efforts to improve our sport and the profession of coaching.
