Coaches--if you have not registered for USMS yet, this will be your last issue of STREAMLINES for Coaches!

Any member who checks the "coach" box when registering for USMS will receive this newsletter.

Swimming for Life!
Your Friends at U.S. Masters Swimming

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Club and Coach Services Director: Bill Brenner

Northwest, AZ, NM, South Central, Dixie: 

Small club? Just starting out? Don't have an advertising budget? We have created free templates that you can use to promote your program, your swim meets and your open water events.

For competitive swimmers, one of the biggest areas of opportunity for improvement is in streamlines, transitions and breakouts. An effective way to coach this technique is to break it down into three parts, teach each component, and then work on putting the whole thing together. Make adjustments to everything based on the athlete who is in the water. Read more... 

 The USMS Coaches Committee and Club and Coach Services have developed new curricula for Level 1 and Level 2 USMS Masters Coach Certification. The new courses are taught in classroom settings throughout the country. Participants receive a "Certificate of Participation" once they finish the class. If participants wish to become certified, they must join ASCA and deliver to ASCA the completed tests from the coursework and the application for USMS/ASCA Masters Coach Certification. ASCA will grade the tests, process the applications and deliver the certificates.

Coaches who obtained Masters coach certification through ASCA prior to December 31, 2010 will continue to have their certification recognized. However, these certified coaches are invited to participate in the improved Level 1 and Level 2 USMS Masters Coach Certification courses. Course credits (10 each) can be applied to the continuing education requirements of ASCA.

March 17 Charlotte, N.C. - Online Registration 

March 31 Alexandria, Va. - Online Registration 

April 21-22 Cleveland, Ohio - Online Registration  

May 5 Phoenix, Ariz. - Online Registration   

May 12 Great Barrington, Mass. - Online Registration   

May 13 Boston, Mass. - Online Registration  

Sept. 7-8 ASCA World Clinic, Las Vegas, Nev.

Sept. 12 USAS Convention, Greensboro, N.C. 

Are you passionate about swimming and coaching? Do you love sharing your knowledge with other coaches? USMS is looking for experienced coaches to teach in the USMS Coach Certification Program. If you have a background in education or are a natural leader, we need your expertise as we build our Coach Certification program. USMS will pay for travel, expenses and a stipend. Please fill out an application and email to Club and Coach Services Director Bill Brenner.

Applicants will be selected by a panel of coaches from the Coaches Committee and Club and Coach Services.

Get your swimmers signed up. Online entry for the 2012 USMS Spring Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. is now available. Swimmers are encouraged to use the online entry system to help prevent entry errors. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. March 23.  Entries received by March 9 will receive a $10 discount on the entry fee.  

Coaches, if you would like to volunteer as an On-Deck Coach at these nationals please visit our On-Deck coaching page. Qualified officials are also needed to officiate. An application is available online. Application deadline for assigned Officials is April, 1; All others April 15.  

The Coach Asks: Can enforcement of the whistle signals in the start rules be more flexible? Whistle signals can be very confusing, especially for older swimmers who have difficulty stepping off the blocks or getting out of the water when doing in-water starts instead of block starts.

Answer: The whistle signals are required by 101.1.1 and 103.8.5A. Coaches are our first line of defense in helping swimmers with this confusion by teaching their swimmers what should be done when the signals are used.

The referee signals swimmers with a short series of whistles to remove all clothing except swimwear, followed by a long whistle to indicate that they should take their starting position, either on the blocks, the side of the pool, or in the water, and be ready for the "take your mark" command.

At meets the announcer can explain whistle signals often during the meet. When officials notice that people are mounting the blocks prematurely, their protocol is usually to have swimmers step down from the blocks or get out of the water (using common sense with older swimmers when safety is a concern).

By asking swimmers who get on the blocks before the long whistle to step down, swimmers quickly get the message and learn not to step up on the blocks or into the water until they hear the long whistle. 

For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair 

Red Tide NYC Masters is seeking an experienced and energetic head coach who can motivate and lead swimmers to perform at optimal levels. We are looking for a coach with a passion for swimming, deep knowledge of stroke mechanics and the latest training techniques, strong communication skills and an ability to work with others. Read more...