Application deadline: May 20, 2026
​
The ASCA Fellows Program was launched more than 20 years ago by Coach Tim Welsh, retired Notre Dame Head Coach and former ASCA Board President. This program has historically been operationally supported by the ASCA staff and CEO and run by ASCA Coaches and Board volunteers. This program requires a lengthy application and evaluation/selection by Committee and requires a yearlong commitment by Fellows and their mentors. There have been 19 ‘classes’ of ASCA Fellows, with an estimated number of 200 coaches who have gone through this program. Annually, selected Fellows embark on a year-long topic—chosen by the ASCA Fellows committee–which is intended to enhance that coach and to improve the overall sport. Projects over the years have tackled issues big and small and have had widespread impact over time. Examples of great recent projects in the last decade which have made an impact: Study on the diminishing club voice, coaching boys, use of social media for the ASCA, Gen Z studies on how swimmers (and young coaches) learn, and many more. Fellow’s topics tend towards general sport improvement for all, versus specific training topics.
WHAT IS A FELLOW?
From Wikipedia: “A fellow is a broad concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher educational institutions, a fellow can be a member of a highly-ranked group of teachers or a member of the governing body in some universities (such as the Fellows of Harvard College); it can also be a specially selected postgraduate student who has been appointed to a post (called a fellowship) for a fixed period (usually one year or more) in order to undertake some advanced study or research.” “Fellowships may involve a short placement for capacity building, e.g., to get more experience in government, such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s fellowships and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellowship programs. Some institutions offer fellowships as a professional training program as well as a financial grant, such as the Balsillie School of International Affairs, where tuition and other fees are paid by the fellowship. Fellows are often the highest grade of membership of many professional associations or learned societies, for example, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators or Royal College of Surgeons.”
PERSPECTIVE:
The broad intention of the ASCA Fellowship is to identify and encourage future coach leaders. The Fellowship has less to do with performance or “X’s and O’s” and more to do with seeing and improving the big picture of swimming from the international, to national, to regional levels, which will then allow a coach to begin participation on the local/national level with a much broader understanding of the importance of governance, accountability, fair and clear leadership – and armed with a historical perspective as well. We teach coaches about the larger world of swimming …and then teach them how to lead at home at the pool and especially away from the pool. The fellowship year is a year of education and action. The education portion begins right after selection, before the annual ASCA World Clinic, with required reading and discussion (virtual). The Fellows arrive in-person for an intensive “clinic within the clinic” at the annual ASCA World Clinic. The action portion of the program consists of completing a long-term group project. FellowsCandidates have opportunities during World Clinic week for project planning, learning, growth, networking, etc. They attend a Board Meeting. They gain access to Board members and the Fellows Alumni community. Hopefully they have created a body of work worthy of sharing with the coaching community and also have earned the right for that work to be published by the ASCA. Finally, at the following clinic (the next year), upon successful completion of that project they are considered matriculated, full Fellows and are recognized at the Awards Banquet.
Application deadline: May 20, 2026
ASCA Fellows 2025 Class Project
Topic: "Our Greatest Asset: Holding on to Great Coaches - A Coach Sustainability Study."