US Masters Swimming
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NOVEMBER 2014
STREAMLINES for Coaches

Registration for 2015 is now open. Make sure your swimmers know how to find your program so they can rejoin!

Swimming for Life,
Your Friends at U.S. Masters Swimming
2015 Member Registration Now Open!
Spread the word: Swimmers who register before Jan. 1 get great deals from USMS sponsors
membership, join, renew, button

Pass it on. Members who renew their USMS memberships for 2015 prior to January 1 will receive valuable discount codes from our sponsors. It's easy to renew online and upon completion of the registration process, each member will be emailed valuable coupons for great gear and products from our sponsors.

  • Aqua Sphere - 20% off of entire order
  • blueseventy - 30% off any orders in the swim collection *
  • Colorado Time Systems - $125 off the Backstroke Start Device
  • FINIS - 25% off of entire order
  • Malibu C - 20% off of entire order** 
  • P2Life - 25% off of entire order
  • Speedo - 30% off of entire order***
  • TRISWIM - 40% off of all TRISWIM, FOGGIES, TRISLIDE and DERMASPORT products
  • SwimOutlet.com - 15% off USMS merchandise & Sporti branded products ****

* Discount only applies to blueseventy swim collection

** Excludes SwimCare Wellness Shampoo and Conditioner in 8 oz. Tube

***Offer valid through 1/15/2015 11:59pm PST at SpeedoUSA.com or by calling 1-888-477-3336.  Customers will receive 30% off your order on Speedo merchandise, except as noted below, by adding the provided code at checkout. Offer excludes select Performance Suits, all LZR Racer suits, FS3 Goggles, Vanquisher Goggles, Speed Socket Goggles, Aqua V Silicone Swim Caps, Hydralign and Hydralign Jr. Center Snorkels, Bullet Head Snorkel, Teamster Backpacks and online gift certificates. This offer not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with any other offer. No Cash Value. Void where prohibited by law.

****Discount only applies to USMS and Sporti products. Free shipping on $49 and above.

 

Strength and Aging
Have your swimmers asked about strength training? Chris Ritter's article may help
Muscle Swim, swimming, bicep

Most people, especially inactive ones, get weaker every year of their lives, sometimes starting as early as their 20s. But with an effective strength-training program, one can, at the very least, maintain some strength year-to-year. This holds true for older adults who can continue to maintain a remarkably high level of strength. It's not mysterious-it's possible through simple progression and consistent work.

 

Continue reading >>>

Spicing Up Holiday Practices 
Coach Bob Jennings offers creative ideas to keep your swimmers in the pool this winter
Santa hat with goggles

From the end of October to mid-March, coaches can really break the monotony of workouts by offering a few special holiday practices. Adding a little spice to practices this time of year helps encourage swimmers to step away from their busy schedules, slip into a warm pool, and escape from the cold dreary weather. Since many people travel for the holidays, these special practices don't have to be on the holiday, only close.

 

Continue reading >>>

Protect Yourself with New Insurance Options
Directors & Officers (D&O)/Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Program
big-bills-money.jpg
Entertainment and Sports Insurance eXperts (ESIX) has established an important insurance program which provides Directors & Officers (D&O) and Employment Practices Liability (EPL) coverage for the not-for-profit clubs and associations of U.S. Masters Swimming. This program is optional and available for purchase by all USMS clubs and associations in good standing. 

Why does my club need this coverage?
Directors and Officers of non-profit organizations have a personal liability exposure by virtue of their management of the organization and its financial assets. Employment related matters, breach of duty, and errors and omissions when making business decisions are hazards faced by nonprofit organizations nationwide.

What's the cost?
The annual cost is $575 for a $1,000,000 limit and $875 for a $2,000,000 limit. The program rates include a $25 fee for program administration and payment processing.

When should I sign up?
All policies will have a common expiration date of Nov. 1, 2015. For club enrollments after Nov. 1, 2014, the online system will calculate a pro-rata premium from the date of enrollment through expiration on Nov. 1, 2015, so that clubs only pay for the time actually insured through the program, subject to a minimum premium of $100.

More information about the program is available online.
What Rule is THAT?!
Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, answers your questions

Q: I thought you were going to add 25-yard events and 100-yard relays to the list of events we can offer at meets. What happened?

 

A: You can offer 25-yard individual events and 100-yard relay events at USMS-sanctioned meets. A provision in 202.1.1F(3), page 58 of the 2014 USMS Rule Book, allows for the conduct of nonconforming events at USMS-sanctioned meets. There was a proposed rule change to add 25-yard individual events and 100-yard relay events to the list of events in article 102.5, thereby making them eligible for USMS records and Top 10. Requiring the maintenance of USMS records and USMS Top 10 for 25-yard individual events and 100-yard relay events is what actually failed, NOT the ability to offer those events at meets. Meet hosts were already allowed to offer 25-yard individual events and 100-yard relay events as nonconforming events, and that option continues.

 

Note that for some nonconforming events, initial splits for strokes and distances listed in article 102.5 may be submitted as official times if they meet all the USMS timing requirements (202.1.1F[3], last sentence). Examples are an 800-yard breaststroke relay or a 400-yard individual breaststroke event. The initial split time for a 200-yard breaststroke completed legally by the leadoff swimmer (or swimmer in the individual 400-yard breaststroke) may be submitted as an official time for the 200-yard breaststroke if it meets all USMS timing requirements. Also note that a leadoff swimmer who decides to swim breaststroke in the 800 freestyle relay cannot get an initial split time for the breaststroke; in that case it would count only as a freestyle time (103.18.2, last sentence).

 

The limit of five individual events per day (102.6) includes nonconforming events.

 

So, yes, based on 202.1.1F(3),you can offer 25-yard individual events and 100-yard relay events at USMS-sanctioned meets even though they are not on the list of events in 102.5. USMS records and Top 10 will not be maintained for those events. Remember that USMS rules govern national records and national Top 10. An LMSC, a zone, or a club could maintain their own records and Top 10 (or 15 or 20, etc.) for nonconforming events.

 

For any questions about competition rules in Part 1, contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair. For any questions about competition rules in Parts 2 and 4-6, contact Meg Smath, USMS Legislation Chair. For any questions about long distance/open water competition rules in Part 3, contact Donn Livoni, USMS Long Distance Chair.


All rule references are from the 2014 USMS Rule Book. For any questions about competition rules in Part 1, contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair.

Questions from Coaches
Bill Brenner, Eduction Director, answers your questions

USMS Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor Certification Program 

 

Q: What's the difference between the USMS Adult-Learn-to-Swim Instructor Certification program and the "April is Adult Learn-to-Swim Month" initiative? 

A: As part of the USMS vision to be the premier resource for adult aquatics, beginning in 2015, USMS will offer a one-day certification course to teach instructors how to teach an adult to swim, become water-safer, and meet the five water competencies established by the American Red Cross. The certification class will be taught by leaders in adult swim instruction and is open to any registered USMS member meeting the prerequisites. The class schedule and more information about the course are now available. Additional dates and locations will be added to the schedule throughout the year.

Once a member successfully completes the USMS ALTS certification class and becomes a USMS certified ALTS instructor, he or she may begin teaching swimming lessons and teach other adults how to teach an adult to swim. Only those members who take the USMS ALTS certification course can become certified. 

In 2014, USMS began promoting the month of April as "Adult Learn-to-Swim Month." Each LMSC was asked to encourage their clubs and workout groups to invite adults to the pool and give swim lessons to nonswimming adults. USMS engaged a public relations firm to bring our message to the media. Multiple publications, including the New York Times and USA Today, printed our message. Radio and television stations also broadcasted interviews and special interest stories related to adults learning to swim. Governors from across the country proclaimed April as Adult Learn-to-Swim Month.

Going forward, our hope is that every aquatic facility will have a USMS-certified ALTS instructor on staff giving swim lessons to the millions of adults who do not know how to swim and are not water-safe. In addition, we will strive for every USMS club and workout group to have at least one individual who is a USMS-certified ALTS instructor teaching fellow USMS members how to give the gift of swimming as a meaningful volunteer experience in April and every other month. 

 

Questions about growing your club, managing club business, or becoming a better coach? Education Director Bill Brenner has answers.

Want to read past questions? Then check out Bill Brenner's Questions from Coaches blog, and see if he's already found solutions to your coaching quandaries. 
Coach Certification Schedule
Upcoming Coach Certification Classes

Level 1 and 2

Nov. 22, 2014 - Lenexa, Kan. (Kansas City area) - Register online

Jan. 24, 2015 - Phoenix, Ariz. - Register online 

Feb. 21, 2015 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - Register online

Mar. 7, 2015 - San Jose, Calif.

Mar. 28, 2015 - Dallas, Texas

Apr. 11, 2015 - Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Apr. 18, 2015 - Hartford, Conn.

May 2, 2015 - Las Vegas, Nev.

May 16, 2015 - Pittsburgh, Pa.

May 30, 2015 - San Antonio, Texas

July 25, 2015 - Portland, Ore.

Aug. 22, 2015 - Raleigh, N.C.

Aug. 29, 2015 - Philadelphia, Pa.

Sept. 26, 2015 - Oklahoma City, Okla.

Sept. 30, 2015 - Kansas City, Kan. (at USAS convention)

Nov. 14, 2015 - Jackson, Miss.

 

Level 3 (Level 2 a prerequisite)    

Dec. 6, 2014 - Novato, Calif. - Register online

Feb. 22, 2015 - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - Register online

Sept. 19, 2015 - Chicago, Ill.

Sept. 30, 2015 - Kansas City, Kan. (at USAS convention)

Oct. 17, 2015 - Los Angeles, Calif.

Oct. 31, 2015 - Seattle, Wash.

Nov. 7, 2015 - Charlotte, N.C.

Nov. 21, 2015 - Philadelphia, Pa.

Dec. 5, 2015 - Austin, Texas

 

Level 4 (Level 3 a prerequisite)

December 15, 2014 - January 15, 2015

 

Stroke Development Clinics   

Sept. 27, 2015 - Oklahoma City, Okla. 

 

ALTS Instructor Certification Class Schedule
Upcoming ALTS Instructor Certification Classes

Jan. 3, 2015 Indianapolis, Ind. - Register online

Jan. 17, 2015 Great Barrington, Mass. -  Register online

Feb. 7, 2015 Orlando, Fla.

Mar. 15, 2015 Phoenix, Ariz.

Mar. 17, 2015 Denver, Colo.

Mar. 21, 2015 Los Angeles, Calif.

Mar. 22, 2015 Mountain View, Calif.

Mar. 27, 2015 Atlanta, Ga.

Mar. 28, 2015 Dallas, Texas

Sept. 30, 2015 Kansas City, Kan. (at USAS convention)

 

Quick Links and Resources for Coaches
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About U.S. Masters Swimming
U.S. Masters Swimming, founded in 1970, is a membership-operated national governing body that promotes health, wellness, fitness, and competition for adults through swimming. It does so by partnering with more than 1,500 adult swim programs across the country; promoting information via the bimonthly member magazine, SWIMMER, monthly e-newsletters, STREAMLINES, and website, usms.org; and by sanctioning and promoting pool, open water, and virtual events and competitions. Nearly 60,000 adults are registered members of U.S. Masters Swimming.
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