International Coaching Selection

International Coaching Selection

Approved by USAW Coaching Committee 

In the interest of education, the Coaching Committee has asked me to give an overview of our current process of selection. Coaches are voted on for international assignments by elected members of the Coaching Committee. The following is the process used. The thrust of the program is to give some objectivity and allow some subjective review. The goal is optimal service to the athletes.

Assignment of coaches to various international events is viewed as a job or assignment to be completed with optimal service to the athlete as they represent our country.

• 1. USAW Coaching Classification Promotion and Education Program: Please review the information on this page.
• 2. The current system of ranking takes place when the Coaching Committee receives the names of all qualified coaches who apply for international coaching positions. Each committee member then ranks each applicant for each trip based upon optimal service to the athlete. These final rankings are then submitted to USAW's Board of Directors for approval.
• 3. Standards are to be performance based, not necessarily based on the number of athletes that coach has on the team.
• 4. Process to be developed for the other coaches on the trip to evaluate their peers (see below). In addition, the team of athletes will submit one evaluation form to be included in the overall evaluation using the same criteria.

This is not about rewarding coaches for placing athletes on a team, but rather, to choose coaches who are most proficient in a competitive setting, deal well with the stress of international travel and are willing to work hard for the athletes and the head coach.

To assure more objectivity in the selection process, the following is suggested (the Coaching Committee will refine this procedure after the initial form at is established):

• To be a member in good standing with USAW or an employee;
• To have signed a Code of Conduct of Ethics (USAW/USOC)
• To have the experience level as noted by the USAW Coaching Classification Promotion and Education Program.

Applicants volunteer time at the annual National Junior Squad Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. During this work at the camp, they are evaluated by the Head Coach. The evaluation is specific to the assignment and to include the following items (and others designated by the Coaching Committee in the final evaluation format): work habits, personality and team work, level of skill, rapport with coaches and athletes, personal habits and appearance, ability to handle stress situations, ability to follow instructions and professional attitude. These are ranked on a 1 to 4 scale (1=poor; 4=excellent), totaled and an average determined. A standard of 3.3 is set as being the level acceptable to move on to the next level.

Applicants who move on are eligible for minor international trips such as the Pan American Championships, etc. They are again evaluated at this point by 1-2 people on the trip (to include the head coach, team leader, etc.). This evaluation would have questions more specific to the trip involved.

This process continues all the way up the line. If the coach does not reach the level of competence, he/she must stay at that level until a successful competence level has been attained.

We can rank coaches and keep a history of each coach as he/she reaches different levels of assignments. This information can then be distributed to the Coaching Committee for more objective decisions.