Level 1 coaches are essentially entry level coaches with a minimum of experience and a basic level of education which includes ASCA's Level 1 Foundations of Coaching course. Level 1 coaches are generally placed as assistant coaches under the guidance of a Level 3 or higher coach. Level 2 coaches generally have a year or more of experience and have completed the Level 1 course and the Level 2 Stroke School. Level 2 coaches are often placed as age group coaches, assistant senior coaches, and sometimes as head coaches in small programs. Level 3 coaches generally have been coaching for 3 or more years, have completed the Level 3 Physiology School, and have shown achievement.
Achievement is measured by the quality of the swimmers the coach has developed.
Level 3 coaches are generally placed as head age group coaches in large programs, or as head coaches in small to moderately sized programs. Level 4 coaches generally have been coaching for 5 or more years, have completed the Level 4 Administration School, and have reached the next level of achievement. Achievement now requires 20 Top 16 age group swimmers, or a Senior National Qualifier, or 5 High School All Americans. Level 4 coaches are generally placed as head coaches of moderate to large swim clubs. Level 5 coaches have completed all the requirements for levels 1 through 4 and have generally been coaching for ten or more years.