FEBRUARY 2015

STREAMLINES

Check out all the great information below to help you get more out of your swimming. Enjoy!

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

Exhaling-The Hidden Secret to Swimming Farther and Faster

Coach Terry Heggy on the importance of breathing out

Even before the development of scientific studies and advanced laboratories for metabolic analysis, swimmers became aware of the following basic facts:

Breathing in while your face is underwater is NOT the best respiratory strategy, and
Air is absolutely necessary if you're planning to swim more than about 50 yards.

These two obvious truths made it necessary to create swimming strokes that allow the mouth and nose to exit the water to access the air. Nearly everyone understands that part, and no one has trouble inhaling while their heads are turned.

Stamping Out Foot Ailments

Susan Dawson-Cook shares secrets for soft, healthy feet

The barefoot swimmer's lifestyle can be hazardous to your feet. First, there's the chafing and drying that comes from walking on rough pool decks and soaking in chlorine-rich water for hours on end. Then there are the bacteria and fungi that grow wildly in moist environments such as pool decks, showers, and locker rooms that can hitch a ride on unsuspecting feet.

Want to Teach Adults How to Swim?

USMS now offers ALTS instructor certification

April is right around the corner, and with the amazing success we had last year with the April is Adult Learn-to-Swim Month campaign, we're really looking forward to what comes about this time! Last year, lots of clubs and LMSCs got involved and hosted free swimming lessons for adults who need them in their communities around the country. And we're looking to increase the number of lessons being offered this year!

In addition to the free lessons being offered by committed volunteers during the month of April, we've also recently launched the Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor Certification Course. This innovative, one-day course begins with several hours of classroom training in how to approach the various types of adult nonswimmers you may come across while offering lessons. After talking theory in the classroom, all attendees have an opportunity to practice what they've just learned in the pool. At the conclusion of the class, you'll be a certified USMS ALTS instructor, ready to help people who come to you for swimming lessons.

We currently have classes scheduled for the following dates and locations:

Feb. 7, 2015 - Orlando, Fla., SOLD OUT
Mar. 15, 2015 - Phoenix, Ariz. - Register online
Mar. 17, 2015 - Denver, Colo. - Register online
Mar. 21, 2015 - Los Angeles, Calif. - Register online
Mar. 22, 2015 - San Jose, Calif. - Register online
Mar. 27, 2015 - Atlanta, Ga. - Register online
Mar. 28, 2015 - Dallas, Texas - Register online
May 16, 2015 - Seattle, Wash.
Sept. 30, 2015 - Kansas City area (at USAS convention)
Date TBD - Chicago, Ill.
Date TBD - Washington, D.C. area

More information about the course is available online. Please check the schedule frequently, as we're constantly adding new dates and locations.

USMS on the Daily Buzz!

Tiger Holmes, Rowdy Gaines tout benefits of swimming

Tiger Holmes and Rowdy Gaines on the Daily Buzz

Rowdy Gaines and Tiger Holmes appeared on the Daily Buzz after Tiger and his nonagenerian teammates made history at the 2014 Rowdy Gaines Classic. Breaking records and winning medals is cool at any age, but the health benefit of swimming is the underlying important message here. #never2old #swimmingforlife

For more on Tiger's inspiring swimming story, check out the January-February issue of SWIMMER magazine, which also contains a feature-length profile of Olympic gold medalist and swimming commentator Rowdy Gaines.

Did You Get Caught On Camera?

Nationals images from past several years available

If you've attended any National Championships in the past couple years, there may be some excellent images of you and your teammates available for purchase, directly from the photographers, Peter Bick (Summer 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2014) and Mike Lewis (Summer 2013, Spring 2014). Check out their websites for more information.

New Sports Medicine Blog!

Grassroots volunteer effort to help inform members

The members of the USMS Sports Medicine and Science Committee have created a new blog on the USMS Forums where they'll be posting information of interest to Masters swimmers. In addition to sharing articles, studies, and research findings related to swimming and sports medicine, the committee will also be posting answers to some of the frequently asked questions they receive.Subscribe to the blog to receive email notifications when new items are posted. And happy reading!

2015 Ransom J. Arthur Award

Nominations due March 15

The Capt. Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award is USMS's most prestigious award. Named for the founder of Masters Swimming, the award is presented annually to a USMS volunteer who embodies Dr. Arthur's spirit and vision and who contributes at the highest level to advance the objective of Masters swimming.

For nomination materials and information about past recipients, visit the USMS Awards page. Nominations are due March 15, 2015.

2017 Long Distance Bids Open

Event directors: apply now!

Open Water, swimming, swimmers, race, 1v1, Tropical Splash

Want to host an ePostal or open water national championship in 2017? The bidding process is open to events that have run successfully for three years in a row before bidding. Hosting a national championship provides lots of national exposure, which can help your event grow substantially. Bidding information is available on the Long Distance Championship page at usms.org. Bids are due July 1, 2015. Selection will be based on the overall suitability of the bid received, and in the case of open water, the committee will also be considering the area in which the event is to be held, safety, and the annual event schedule as a whole. The committee is also looking for a Central venue for a two- or three-day multi-national championship open water festival. For more information and detailed instructions, check out the Championship Bid Information page. Applications for both postal and open water events can be completed online. Apply today!

This Aquatic Life

High energy class bodes well for would-be swimmers

Participants in the Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor Certification Course held at Simon's Rock College in Great Barrington, Mass., on January 17 displayed a lot of passion for helping others learn to swim. Students participated in a several-hours-long classroom learning session followed by in-water practice of new skills with new friends. At the end of the class, everyone got an ALTS swim cap and were led in a cheer by instructors Bill Meier and Mel Goldstein. Way to go, everyone! We hope you're able to share your learn-to-swim knowledge far and wide and help open up the water to many more adults in the coming months and years. Thanks for participating in this course!

Seen on our Facebook Page

Recently, we posted a link to a local news video highlighting Lisa Mische Lawson's (MOVY Masters) efforts to help children with autism spectrum disorders learn to swim. Lawson directs Sensory Supported Swimming, a program developed by the University of Kansas Department of Occupational Therapy Education in partnership with Autism Speaks. Of the story, Windy Rider Tuttle wrote, "As the parent of a child on the Autism spectrum, I wish I'd have had this resource when my son was young. He's 19 now, and I always worry that he's not water safe. Motivation to learn to swim is tough--but I'll keep on trying." Several other commenters said they want to learn how to teach this special population, so in time, perhaps there will be many more options available for autistic children to learn to swim. See what else they said and join the conversation!

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.

About STREAMLINES

U.S. Masters Swimming encourages all USMS members to subscribe to STREAMLINES, a monthly publication. However, if you'd rather not receive this update, please do not click the "SafeUnsubscribe" link, as that will remove you from all other USMS National Office mailings. Rather, click on the "Update Profile/Email Address" link to manage your subscriptions to U.S. Masters Swimming electronic communications.

Erratum

In the December 2014 issue of STREAMLINES, we published an article teaser blurb entitled "5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Swimming." Authorship of the article was incorrectly attributed to CJ Rushman. In fact, the author of the article on our website entitled "Five Things You Can Do to Get Better at Swimming Now" is Dave Samuelsohn. We regret the error.

More than 5.5 million miles logged by USMS members

New USMS Gear!

USMS partners have you covered

Our USMS partners have created some fun new USMS merchandise. Check out All American Swim Supply and Swimoutlet.com's brand new USMS items and don't forget to stock up on caps, goggles, and all your other swimming equipment as well. Be the first on your team to get these new items!

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