Dave Steele’s certification as a Level 5 swim coach was
discovered somewhat anti-climactically, but the head coach of the
Manta Rays swim team isn’t complaining. After all, Level 5
status
— the highest and most difficult level to reach through the
American Swimming Coaches Association — is composed of only three
percent of swim coaches in the nation, leaving Steele in a
relatively small yet exclusive class.
HOLLISTER
Dave Steele’s certification as a Level 5 swim coach was discovered somewhat anti-climactically, but the head coach of the Manta Rays swim team isn’t complaining.
After all, Level 5 status — the highest and most difficult level to reach through the American Swimming Coaches Association — is composed of only three percent of swim coaches in the nation, leaving Steele in a relatively small yet exclusive class.
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“For American swim coaches, Level 5 is as high as you can go,” Steele said. “There is no Level 6.”
And for Steele, there was really no Level 4 either.
The surprise had been building up for the local swim teacher, who had been a Level 3 coach through ASCA for the last 12 years. The certification is based on education, experience and achievement, and Steele decided to phone the organization one day recently to see just how close he was getting to moving up the coaching ladder.
Having received a Level 5 emeritus certificate in 2009 after serving as a swim coach for the last 25 years, Steele finally received the real thing earlier this year — an official Level 5 certificate — and he didn’t even know it.
“As far as I knew, I was at Level 3. But I had been doing this for a long time,” Steele said. “They said you’re Level 5 and you didn’t even know it.
“Level 4, I passed it by.”
ASCA offers the certification in order to properly identify the credentials and achievements of swim coaches in the nation. It shows possible employers a clear record of a swim coach, while also setting the swim coach apart from others.
“If anyone has contributed to me getting the recognition and certification, it’s been Steve Rovella,” said Steele, who’s worked at the local athletic club for the last seven years. “He’s like the ultimate pursuer of excellence. He actually inspires me.”
Steele has been coaching off and on for a quarter century, previously coaching in Missouri and Illinois for 15 years before moving to California. While also taking and passing courses along the way to help meet the education requirement of his certification, Steele has also been able to coach some top swimming talent, including Hollister’s Chloe Isleta, who owns several nationally ranked times.
“I’ve had kids over the years that have swum really well, and they give you credit for that,” Steele said. “You have to have ranked swimmers. You can take educational courses nonstop, but you have to have some productivity, too.”
Level 5 status is often the level of college swim coaches, Steele added. But he doesn’t plan on leaving for the next level any time soon.
“I like coaching the younger kids,” Steele said. “They’re a lot of fun.”
