The American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) released a statement on Wednesday supporting a pair of proposals that will be on the table at USA Swimming’s Annual Business Meeting this weekend.
The ASCA supports the revised proposal for the restructuring of the USA Swimming House of Delegates (HOD), along with a new proposal for a Coaches Advisory Council.
The proposal to restructure the HOD, which would guarantee that coaching representation returns to 41 percent, equal to that of the athletes, was amended after the ASCA opposed the restructuring proposal take place at the Special HOD Meeting on June 30 and urged USA Swimming to give coaches equal representation to the athletes.
In order to comply with United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) bylaws, athlete representation on USA Swimming’s House of Delegates, Board of Directors and National Committees is required to increase to 33.3 percent. As a result, the initial proposal published in late April greatly reduced coach representation while increasing that of the athletes—now, the two are set to be equal.
“This latest proposal is a far cry from the original proposal published in late April which greatly reduced coach representation,” the ASCA statement reads.
“Not only does this latest version bring the House of Delegates into compliance with the USOPC Bylaws and Federal Law, it also recognizes the important voice of coaches whose livelihood depends on the sport.”
The working group that negotiated the proposal included Gulf Swimming’s Tim Bauer and Allison Beebe, Florida Swimming’s Ira Klein, Colorado Swimming’s Shawn Smith and Georgia Swimming’s Beth Winkowski.
Click here to read the full proposals that will be voted on at USA Swimming’s Special House of Delegates Meeting on September 25.
To read up on the items up for amendment at the regular House of Delegates Meeting, click here. For more information regarding who is up for election on USA Swimming’s Board of Directors, click here.
Has the American Swimming Coaches Association addressed to ASCA and USA Swimming members all of all the member money that walked out the door at the end of John Leonard’s tenure as Executive Director? Has criminal and civil action been taken? ASCA really cannot be taken seriously in the swimming community until this happens.
I for one would like to see actual proof of these allegations. I believe there was mismanagement of monies…but to say there was embezzlement? Where’s the proof?
There is no proof. There’s nothing there. If there was embezzlement, then we would have known this a long time. Guerra just too far down the internet rabbit hole.
That’s wrong. I’ve been told by two board members that I completely trust that there is in fact wrongdoing. You’re right, it is a rabbit hole. After all, one person controlled, with zero scrutiny, the finances of this “so called” coaches association for 35 years plus. I know it’s embarrassing, but ASCA should do the right thing and hire a forensic accountant and be transparent with the membership, past and present, and the USA swimming community.
Gossip is the devils radio. You need to move on and make better decisions. These comments and your approach are harmful to the swimming community.
Either you’re clueless or know what really happened and you’re burying your head in the sand. Nevertheless, I understand why ASCA doesn’t want to pursue this and take action. It’s embarrassing and painful. In my opinion, if ASCA was transparent about the situation, people would be forgiving and ASCA would eventually recover and be a stronger and more respected organization within the swimming community. The fraud was not only against the ASCA membership, but also USA Swimming coaches (that weren’t ASCA members) that were force to pay for “The Foundation’s of Coaching” test required to be allowed to coach. Be transparent…take appropriate action…. And you’ll recover and be respected…
You’re upset because of a standardized test that covers the foundations of our sport and you’re calling it fraud? Hate to break it to you, but this is how we build a better organization by making sure we all start in the same page. A coach has to prove they have a simple understanding of our sport while being provided with options or a route for them to move forward.
You got to find better ways to get involved and support the ASCA organization or find another field.