Mentoring Network
The CSCAA Mentoring Network connects experienced and emerging coaches to foster professional growth, support, and community within collegiate swimming and diving.
The Program
Anyone who successfully pursues a career in coaching does so with the support of others. That makes mentoring one of the most important factors in helping a professional stay healthy and whole while continuing to grow throughout their career.
The CSCAA Mentoring Network provides coaches with these resources by providing individually selected mentors along with a guided framework to foster interaction and learning. Coaches of all levels and experiences have benefitted from this growing network. Veteran coaches report feeling reinvigorated through interactions with their younger peers, while rookie coaches benefit from the years of experience offered by their mentors. And while each year’s cohort lasts just ten months, the relationships and connections often last a lifetime.
Since its inception, the Mentoring Network has become one of the CSCAA’s most sought-out initiatives attracting hundreds of applicants each year.
The Process
Coaches are placed in one of three peer groups – Gold (20+ years coaching), Silver (8-19 years), and Bronze (<8 Years) – for selection.
Selected coaches are matched with other coaches in their adjacent peer groups ideally resulting in a group comprised of Gold, Silver and Bronze level coaches. Coaches have the option to request specific affinity groups (under-represented interests, gender-specific, diving-only, etc).
Groups are provided with a structured set of guidelines designed to engender trust and bring out a worthwhile exchange among every participant. Related: Three Reasons You Need a Mentor
To ensure the success of groups, each mentor group is assembled individually. The Mentoring Committee works to match you with other coaches sharing similar needs, interests (and time zones).
To ensure a quality experience, participation is limited and not every coach will be selected.
