World Aquatics is pleased to announce the launch of Discover Coaching: Swimming, a new e-learning course developed to support coaches at the start of their careers.

Hosted on World Aquatics' learning platform, CORAL, the 10-hour course takes a holistic approach to coach education, helping participants build foundational skills across the key areas of swimming coaching. It is designed for those who are beginning their coaching careers or are in the early stages of their development, and who already have a basic understanding of coaching swimming.

Ten modules developed with recognised experts

The course is built around ten modules, each featuring learning resources, applied learning activities and expert led video content. Every module has been developed in collaboration with recognised experts from across different fields, and together they cover the full range of knowledge a developing coach needs:

  • History and Structure of Competitive Swimming
  • Integrity, Ethics and Safe Sport
  • Roles, Responsibilities and Coaching Behaviours
  • Wellbeing
  • Athlete Development
  • Nutrition
  • Land Training
  • Skill Development
  • Strokes and Skills
  • Planning and Equipment

Participants who complete all modules, including the interactive exercises and the knowledge checks at the end of each module, by the course end date will be eligible for a Certificate of Attendance issued by World Aquatics.

The e-learning modules have been developed in collaboration with recognised experts across various fields, whose expertise have helped to shape the module content and inspire participants throughout their learning journey. These experts are:

  • James Richards
  • James Gibson
  • Justin Lessard
  • Melanie Tantrum
  • Krista Austin
  • Kimberley Brackin
  • Andrew Sheaff
  • Josh White
  • Tim Jarrett

James Gibson MBE, Olympic Coach, one of the coaches on the course, stated; 

“Behind every swimmer who makes it to the very top is a coach who got the fundamentals right early on. That’s really what this course is about, giving new coaches a clear foundation in the knowledge, values, and practical skills that good coaching is built on. The exciting aspect is how accessible it is. A coach starting out anywhere in the world can now access the same level of expertise, and that’s how we raise standards across all of aquatics. If we get those foundations right at the beginning, the impact lasts for an entire career, not just for the coach, but for every athlete they go on to support.”
By James Gibson MBE

One of the key messages shared by James Gibson on the course is that coaching is about much more than teaching sport-specific skills. The reality of coaching is that they play multiple roles in supporting an athlete’s development and experience.

A coach is a teacher who helps athletes learn and improve, a mentor who guides their personal growth, and someone who can create a positive and effective training environment. Coaches also provide encouragement and help athletes to build confidence, particularly during challenging moments.

An extract video of James Gibson’s lecture on the Discover Coaching course can be found below.

 

Course details

  • Format:  10-hour, self-paced e-learning on the CORAL platform
  • Language:  English
  • Access:  Three months for enrolled participants
  • Course start:  30 June 2026
  • Course end:  30 September 2026
  • Cost:  Free of charge for up to 10 participants nominated by each Member Federation

How Member Federations can nominate participants

Each Member Federation may nominate up to 10 individuals, with a minimum representation of 40% of each gender among the nominees. All nominees must be at least 18 years of age and have a clean background, free from any disciplinary actions, criminal records or doping offences.

Nominations are submitted through GMS using federation login details and must be completed by 19 June 2026. Each profile must include the participant's personal data, photo, passport copy and a valid, active personal email address. World Aquatics uses this email to create CORAL accounts and enrol participants, so federations should confirm that every address is accurate - participants without a valid personal email registered in GMS cannot be enrolled.

Please note that no changes or replacements of nominated individuals will be permitted once nominations have been submitted.

Following nomination, World Aquatics will confirm the approved participants, enrol them in CORAL and provide full course instructions by email no later than 30 June 2026.

Assistance with registration

For any support with the registration process, Member Federations can contact heli-maija.koukkari@worldaquatics.com and maana.patel@worldaquatics.com.