Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
World Aquatics highlights the importance of the athletes’ entourage, including coaches and technical officials, in supporting and guiding athletes within aquatic sports. These roles ensure that training and competitions are conducted in safe, professional settings that uphold values such as fair play, respect, and excellence.
The organization provides education programs for coaches and technical officials as part of its Development Programmes. For technical officials, courses are divided into development and certification tracks: development courses target officials with local and national experience, while certification courses are for those aiming to officiate at international events under World Aquatics.
Courses are tailored to each of the six aquatic sports to standardize training and certification worldwide. Officials attending these courses must possess strong officiating experience, social skills, and extensive sport knowledge, ensuring they maintain professional standards and competition integrity.
For coaches, education is delivered through clinics organized with Continental Organisations and through Coaches Certification Courses. Certification courses are currently offered for swimming coaches at Levels 1, 2, and 3, and for Artistic Swimming coaches at Level 1, with a Level 2 course in development.
The education programs provide continuous learning pathways, ensuring all participants receive consistent information about World Aquatics Rules. This supports uniform interpretation and application, enhancing the quality and reputation of aquatic sports worldwide.
Overall, World Aquatics’ structured education and certification initiatives aim to equip coaches and technical officials with the competencies needed to support athletes and officiate at high-level events.