If you’ve ever wanted to talk with Ohio State University Men’s Swimming Coach Bill Wadley about the ins and outs of operating a swim club, or to get his take on a certain training technique, now you can.
Wadley is among a number of decorated coaches who are giving advice for a price through a program called the Swimming Coach Expert Calling Network.
The American Swimming Coaches Association partnered with Brainsy, a Washington, D.C.-based tech firm to launch the knowledge-sharing platform, which connects advice-seekers to some of the sport’s greatest achievers.
A tete-a-tete with elite swimming’s brightest minds doesn’t necessarily come cheap. ASCA members set their own rates, with some commanding upwards of $100 an hour. A 60-minute consultation with David Salo, head swimming coach at the University of Southern California, will set you back $135. But, hey, he’s a three-time Olympic coach for Team USA.
Experts charge on a sliding scale for 15- and 30-minute conversations. Some even offer the first 6 minutes free. The customer isn’t charged until the conversation ends.
Eventually, the platform will categorize coaches by areas of expertise, such as club development, diet, core strength, parental involvement, sport psychology, swimwear, technique and training aides.
Brainsy CEO Brian Christie believes the network will provide a good place to seek unbiased information about swim equipment, management software and other products. “Rather than listen to the marketing advice from other companies, you can get advice directly from another user,” he said.
ASCA anticipates that most inquiries will come from other coaches.
“One of the amazing things about our sport is the willingness of top coaches to share their knowledge,” said Guy Edson, ASCA technical director. “Some of our younger coaches are hesitant to call, but this is may be an open doorway.”
Brainsy established similar programs with other trade associations, but this is its first related to sports.
