Coaches from the West Hartford Aquatic Team (WHAT) participated in the clinic in Florida, and one of the coaches was chosen as a presenter.

Submitted

WHAT Swimming Coaches Rob Riccobon and Matt Walker recently traveled to Orlando, Florida, to attend the 2026 American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) World Clinic, one of the premier educational and professional development events in the sport of swimming.

More than 500 swimming coaches from across the United States and around the world attended this year’s clinic to learn, exchange ideas, build relationships, and discuss the future of the sport. For WHAT Swimming, the trip represented much more than simply attending another coaching clinic. It was an opportunity to represent the program on a national stage, learn from other leaders in the swimming community, and share some of the experiences and philosophies that have helped shape WHAT Swimming.

This year’s World Clinic was particularly special because coach Rob Riccobon was selected to be one of the presenters, fulfilling a longtime personal and professional goal.

Coach Rob presented “The First Lap Matters: Retention Starts With Onboarding,” a presentation focused on how the experience of a swimmer and family begins long before the athlete ever steps onto the pool deck for their first practice.

The presentation challenged coaches to look beyond traditional orientation and consider the entire onboarding experience, from the first email, phone call, website visit, or evaluation through the swimmer’s first weeks and months with the program. The message was simple: the first experience matters.

For Riccobon, the opportunity to share that message at the ASCA World Clinic was the culmination of decades spent coaching, learning, making mistakes, building relationships, and continually looking for ways to make the swimming experience better for athletes and families.

“I was truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to present at this year’s ASCA World Clinic,” he said. “This was a personal goal of mine for many years. To be able to stand in front of coaches from around the country and the world and share some of the lessons we have learned through our experiences at WHAT Swimming was incredibly meaningful.”

The presentation was not simply about WHAT Swimming’s accomplishments. It was about sharing ideas that other coaches and programs could take home and adapt to their own organizations.

“None of us have all the answers. We are constantly learning and evolving. If something we have learned at WHAT Swimming can help another coach create a better experience for one swimmer or one family, then sharing that information is worth it. That is one of the great things about our profession, we can learn from each other.”

While presenting was an important part of the trip, the World Clinic also provided Riccobon and Walker with the opportunity to become students again.

Throughout the clinic, they attended presentations, participated in conversations with other coaches, and exchanged ideas about athlete development, team culture, leadership, retention, communication, training, and the future direction of competitive swimming.

For WHAT Swimming, professional development has always been about more than simply collecting new workouts or finding the next training idea. It is about examining every aspect of the organization and asking an important question:  How can we make the WHAT experience better?

Coach Walker said attending the World Clinic provided an opportunity to compare WHAT Swimming’s philosophies and direction with programs and coaches from throughout the swimming community.

“WHAT Swimming is recognized nationally, and attending the World Clinic gave us an opportunity to hear from coaches from across the country, exchange ideas, and affirm many of the goals and directions of our program,” he said. “At the same time, you always come home with new ideas and different ways of looking at things. That is how we continue to improve the WHAT experience.”

That willingness to continually evaluate, learn, and improve has become an important part of the culture at WHAT Swimming.  No matter how long someone has coached, there is always something new to learn.

The 2026-2027 season marks Coach Rob’s 33rd year as a USA Swimming coach, making the opportunity to present at the World Clinic particularly meaningful.

Over more than three decades in the sport, swimming has changed dramatically. Training philosophies have evolved. Technology has changed how coaches communicate, analyze performances, and operate their programs. The expectations of athletes and families have changed, and the role of the coach has expanded well beyond writing workouts and standing on the pool deck.

Through all of those changes, however, one principle has remained constant: the swimmer must remain at the center of the experience.

For Riccobon, longevity in coaching has never meant doing things the same way simply because they have always been done that way. Instead, it has meant continuing to learn, adapting when necessary, challenging traditional thinking, and finding new ways to connect with athletes and families.

“After more than three decades of coaching, I still walk into clinics with a notebook. I still want to hear another coach’s perspective. I still want to find one idea that makes me think differently. The day you believe you have learned everything there is to know about coaching is probably the day you should stop coaching.”

Riccobon’s selection as a World Clinic presenter is another example of the growing recognition of WHAT Swimming within the swimming community, but the accomplishment represents far more than one coach.  It represents the collective work of the entire organization.

WHAT Swimming’s success has been built through the dedication of its coaches, swimmers, parents, volunteers, alumni, and families who have helped shape the program over the years.

The program’s philosophy has never been based solely on times, medals, records, or championship results. Those accomplishments are important and deserve to be celebrated, but WHAT Swimming has always believed that a successful swimming program must provide something more.

That philosophy was recognized locally last year when the WHAT Swimming coaching staff was selected by its peers as the Connecticut Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year.

Being recognized by fellow coaches made the honor particularly meaningful because those individuals understand the commitment required to operate a competitive swimming program and develop athletes over the course of an entire season.  The recognition belongs to the entire coaching staff and reflects the collective effort required every day to provide WHAT swimmers with the best possible experience.

The trip to Orlando provided Riccobon and Walker with an opportunity to reflect on how far WHAT Swimming has come while also looking ahead to where the program can go next. Having a WHAT Swimming coach selected to present at one of the sport’s premier coaching events is something the entire organization can take pride in. But it is also motivation to continue moving forward. The goal has never been simply to build fast swimmers. The goal is to build a great swimming organization.  One that develops athletes, supports families, challenges coaches, creates lasting relationships, and continually strives to improve.

We are proud that the culture developed within WHAT Swimming can now be shared with coaches beyond our own pool deck. We are equally excited to bring home the ideas, conversations, and lessons learned from coaches throughout the swimming community. The WHAT Swimming coaches will continue to learn. WHAT will continue to grow and challenge ourselves.

For more information on the WHAT Swimming program, visit their website.

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