Continental Organisations play a crucial role in the day-to-day development of aquatic sports worldwide by collaborating closely with National Federations. Their efforts range from lifesaving, learn-to-swim programmes to instilling valuable skills and positive values in the next generation of aquatic stars.
This successful collaboration between World Aquatics and its Continental Organisation ensures that support and high-level service reaches each of the 209 National Federations.
World Aquatics supports Continental Organisations globally in a wide range of development initiatives. Across the Americas, World Aquatics works with PanAm Aquatics to provide officials, coaches and athletes of all levels with opportunities to participate, compete, and benefit from aquatic sports.
Technical Officials
PanAm Aquatics is one of the regions to benefit from World Aquatics’ ongoing support programmes for Technical Officials.
Already this year, World Aquatics has organised Certification Courses for Technical Officials, including Diving in Mexico and Canada, Artistic Swimming in Panama and El Salvador, and High Diving in Fort Lauderdale, Water Polo in Brazil and Chile, Open Water in Puerto Rico and Chile, Swimming in Costa Rica.
In 2023, 13 technical officials courses are planned to take place across the six aquatic sports.
All courses provide learning pathways for Technical Officials, ensuring participants have access to consistent information, guidelines, and interpretation of the World Aquatics Rules, preparing them for international competitions.
Coaches Certification
The World Aquatics Coaches Certification programme continues to develop, educate, and improve the level of aquatics coaches in the Pan American region.
By equipping coaches with the latest tools and innovations, athletes in the Americas continue to reap the benefits of world-class guidance.
World Aquatics will organise six courses for swimming and two courses for artistic swimming in 2023, providing opportunities for coaches to progress and be recognised for their achievements.
Most recently, coaching certification courses were held in Honduras (Level 1), and a Level 2 certification programme in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in cooperation with the Olympic Solidarity.
Clinics for Coaches
With the recent appointment of one of the most recognised names in international swimming coaching, James Gibson MBE OLY, World Aquatics continues to show its commitment to improving coaching standards and culture globally, ensuring that all coaches have the best possible tools and techniques available.
World Aquatics will organise and fund 18 ‘Clinics for Coaches’ in the Panam region in 2023, providing training and education for coaches at all levels.
In addition to the in-person coaches clinics, the continental association hosted two virtual artistic swimming clinics – one in English and one in Spanish – that focused on the sport’s new scoring system and the related Coaches Card.
Other coaching clinic highlights so far in 2023 have included an open water swimming programme that drew more than 120 coaches in attendance. Another open water swimming clinic drew coaches and athletes from 12 National Federations to Puerto Rice, while a diving clinic in Mexico had coaches and athletes from nine National Federations attend.
Continental Support Programme
With a focus on providing support for National Federations, World Aquatics continues to support PanAm Aquatics development activities through an annual grant of $100,000, with the addition of a $20,000 Continental Event subsidy.
In 2023, World Aquatics funding will allow PanAm Aquatics to host virtual clinics for beginner to intermediate coaches for all six aquatic disciplines. Moreover, athletes will have the opportunity to take part in five virtual ‘Underwater Chats’, giving athletes a safe forum to discuss critical subjects in relation to development topics in the aquatics community.
Thanks to a revamped approach to organising events, PanAm Aquatics will host 10 events in 2023, preparing more athletes to compete at the highest level than ever before.
PanAm Aquatics has already held four competitions – diving in Mexico, open water swimming events in the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico, and men’s and women’s water polo tournaments in Brazil. More competitions are to come in 2023, including artistic swimming in the United States and Peru hosting diving, high diving competitions as well as men’s and women’s water polo tournaments.
World Aquatics will subsidise four of those competitions, including the Panam Junior Diving Championships, South American Junior Championships, CCCAN Championships and CARIFTA Championships.
In addition to the in-person coaches clinics, the continental association hosted two virtual artistic swimming clinics – one in English and one in Spanish – that focused on the sport’s new scoring system and the related Coaches Card.
Other coaching clinic highlights so far in 2023 have included an open water swimming programme that drew more than 120 coaches in attendance. Another open water swimming clinic drew coaches and athletes from 12 National Federations to Puerto Rice, while a diving clinic in Mexico had coaches and athletes from nine National Federations attend.
Direct Athlete Support | World Aquatics Scholarship Recipients in the Americas
Now in its 10th year, 28 up-and-coming athletes from the Pan American region who have shown potential for international success but lack sufficient conditions to train locally currently receive expert coaching and financial assistance through the World Aquatics Scholarship Programme.
The main goal of the World Aquatics Scholarships Programme is to identify and create an optimal training environment for athletes aspiring to represent their countries at the next World Aquatics Championships and the Olympic Games. Scholarship holders live and train out of one of the five World Aquatics Training Centres for one to two years, or get financial support to train locally, helping them reach their athletic potential in the pool or open water.