Every Masters coach needs great communication skills to effectively give swimmers quality workouts and useful stroke feedback. But the best coaches also leverage their communication skills to create even more opportunities to help people improve their swimming--by building and sustaining team membership.

The annual USMS Speedo 1-Hour Swim National Championship ePostal is in full swing, but you've still got time to help your swimmers participate. The event runs from January 1 to January 31, and the objective is to swim as far as possible in 1 hour, in any pool 25 yards or longer. Record your splits and submit your results, just for fun, or so you can compare yourself to other swimmers around the country.

 

Coaches, why not set aside a couple of practice sessions to get your whole club involved? It's great for building camaraderie and provides a killer workout for participants. Lots more information is available online.

The Check-Off Challenge is designed to motivate swimmers by encouraging them to swim 18 pool events and an open water swim during the calendar year and is a fun challenge for swimmers of all ability levels. Coaches can use the Check-Off Challenge to motivate their clubs to attend meets or inspire individual swimmers to try new events. Open to all registered USMS members, the entry fee to participate is $30, which includes a custom-designed Check-Off Challenge towel, swim cap, and certificate of completion. Check out the Check-Off Challenge event page for more information.

Your club contact receives an email each time someone registers for your club, but sometimes you may want to view your entire club roster. Here's how to do it:

Once you see the entire list, click the appropriate club or workout group link at the top and it will show just your members.

Are you going to the 2016 Nationwide USMS Spring National Championship in Greensboro this year? If so, you'd better get your hotel sorted out now for the April 28 through May 1 meet, as spots are filling up quickly. Select from a wide variety of host hotels within 5 to 10 minutes of the Greensboro Aquatic Complex. Many of the hotels on the list are offering discounted rates for USMS coaches and competitors, and the range of hotels means there's something available in every budget. Throughout the meet, select host hotels will have a continuous shuttle service to and from the Swim Center. Check out our hotel list for options, rates, and booking information. And be sure to book your hotel early to ensure the best pricing and availability.

Q: What incentives can I offer my swimmers to register or renew their membership with USMS?

A: Consider taking a two-step approach. Make sure your swimmers know the benefits of USMS membership. New benefits are added and enhanced frequently, and as the leader of your program, you should be able to convey those benefits. Knowing your swimmers and the reasons why they swim enables you to pinpoint specific benefits that may enhance their USMS membership experiences. USMS provides sanctioned events for our fitness swimmers, open water enthusiasts, and competitive swimmers. Know the events, when they're scheduled, and add as many as possible to your program's seasonal plan. Continue Reading...

Want to become a better coach? Then get certified and up-to-speed on the latest coaching techniques. Our Education Department offers certification classes for coaches who want to become Level 1, 2, or 3 certified in various cities all over the country.

 

See the full list of class dates and locations on our Coach Certification Schedule page. 

Our innovative, one-day Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor Certification Course begins with several hours of classroom training in how to approach the various types of adult nonswimmers you might 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.

 

More information about the course is available online along with a schedule of upcoming classes around the country. Please check the schedule frequently, as we're constantly adding new dates and locations.