COACH SELECTION CRITERIA TRANSPARENT AND ON MERIT

February 9: It was reported in the Sydney The Daily Telegraph on the 6th February 2010 that swimming was suffering as a result of "questionable coaching selection policies". 

The report went on to say: "The swimmers may have to finish first, second or third to make a representative team but the coaches do not," and in the future: "Coaches will be appointed based on the success of their swimmers and not on the vagaries of one person".

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Coach Selection Policy is determined by the Swimming Australia Ltd (SAL) Board, after input from ASCTA and SAL's High Performance Unit. 

The ASCTA Board proposes the Team Coaches, based on the SAL policy, to the SAL Board for ratification.  Coach selection is not the domain of any one individual.

Team Coaches are selected purely based on the results of their swimmers at the Trials. 

Coaches of the highest ranked swimmers get selected.  Nothing can be more transparent and merit-based.

Such principles and processes for Coach Selection have been in place since 1992.  They are widely touted as one of the significant reasons for the development in high performance swimming in Australia since that time.

ASCTA strongly stand by the continuation of this Coach Selection Policy.

Ross Gage, ascta CEO

For and on behalf of ASCTA: