Your City Could Host the Make a Splash Tour Presented by Phillips 66

By USA Swimming Foundation, February 22, 2019 

As the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash Tour presented by Phillips 66 enters its 11th year, with more than 50 stops across the country, we want you to tell us why your community deserves to host a tour stop as part of a national media campaign focusing on the importance of learning to swim!

The winning host will earn a coveted USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Tour stop in their city, including an appearance by a minimum of two USA Swimming Foundation Ambassadors, and a USA Swimming Foundation grant* to support swim lesson scholarships for children in their local community!

Host proposals are now being accepted for one of four 2019 Make a Splash Tour presented by Phillips 66 locations for a late-May, 2019 event date.** The Foundation is seeking a comprehensive proposal package highlighting the community’s ability to promote the importance of learning to swim and water safety to a wide audience in a one-day format, to include, but not limited to: national and local media opportunities; community engagement and involvement; and the ability to make a difference in your community through swimming lessons. 

Learn More

Top Tips for Choosing Snacks

By Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RDN, Contributor, February 25, 2019 

Did you know that 50% of all eating occasions are snacks? And, 63% of all food choices are decided within an hour of eating them? Dr. Shelley Balanko of The Hartman Group (a food and beverage consulting firm) recently shed some light on snacking in 2019. “Snacks are replacing meals because they are flexible, fun, and easy to individualize,” she said.

For swimmers, snacks can help prevent hunger, sustain energy, recover from a hard workout, and sharpen mental focus. Snacks can also be eaten as a reward after a long workout and appeal to a sense of discovery of new cultures and flavors.

But, how do you choose a “good” snack? Here are some do’s and don’ts for swimmers when choosing snacks.
Visit Our Website

4 Myths Parents Need to Know About Supplements

By TrueSport, February 21, 2019

Dietary supplements are omnipresent in sports. When youth athletes see their professional idols or peers using supplements, they may feel supplementation is necessary to keep up with the competition. Since they are so readily available, it’s also easy for parents to think there’s no harm in letting athletes use them.

Unfortunately, the supplement industry is one of smoke and mirrors. Although they might seem appropriate for young athletes trying to stay healthy and competitive, there are many myths surrounding supplements that parents should be aware of before choosing to buy these products.

Learn More

Sports Psychology Tips for Swimmers

By Craig Townsend, January 2018

The table of contents for swimming sports psychology tips for swimmers and parents of swimmers from Craig Townsend.

Learn More

Clean Sport

United States Anti- Doping Agency (USADA)

The information below should be shared with your athletes and their parents. Please distribute it via email, a club newsletter, or link to the articles on your team webpage.

Supplements:

The supplement industry is enormous and while many #supplements might appear to be safe, that's not always the case. Click the link here to watch. #Supplement411

Primatene Mist is a new over-the-counter inhaler to treat shortness of breath. The active ingredient is epinephrine, a stimulant prohibited in-competition. Make sure to check the status of all medications on #GlobalDRO.

Resources:

Athletes: Most stimulants are prohibited in-competition and forcing the body into a flight or fight response through chemical stimulants can have serious health consequences.

Read more: 

Learn the Difference Between Energy Drinks and Sports Drinks

By True Sport, February 21, 2019

U.S. Anti-Doping Chief Science Officer Dr. Matt Fedoruk, and why young athletes should be cautious about consuming energy drinks.

Visit Their Website

Mentoring and Role Modeling

By True Sport, February 21, 2019

When coaches show up, young athletes notice. Trevor Tierney, President and Co-Founder of LXTC Lacrosse Training Center, reflects on the power coaches have to shape their players into great athletes and even better people.

Learn More

Fellows 2019: Call for Applications

By American Swim Coaches Association, February 21, 2019

The application is now available for the 2019 class of ASCA's Fellows program.

Each year the American Swimming Coaches Association selects a small group of coaches to serve a year of fellowship, working on a mentor-lead project: the Fellows. The program's aim is to identify and begin educating the future coach-leaders of our sport. As such, ASCA Fellows are typically young coaches with a passionate interest in improving American Swimming.

The fellowship year is a year of education and action. The education portion begins in early September with an intensive "clinic within the clinic" at the annual ASCA World Clinic. The action portion of the program consists of working on and completing a project. Each selected candidate, under the direction of the ASCA staff and Board of Directors, completes a project during the Fellows year (from the 2019 World Clinic to the 2020 World Clinic).

The 2019 invited class will work on a project related to club swimming in the U.S. Specifically, the project will focus on researching, identifying, defining and describing a successful business model(s) for swim clubs -- both small (under 150 members) and large (as large as they get).

The project will begin by defining a successful business model as one which builds a solid financial base for the club. This strong financial base will be one which assures stability for the club, and insures that a successful performance and competitive mode may be built on top of its base. In particular, the project will want to pay close attention to swim schools, and the role they may play in building strong business and financial models for successful clubs.

To be considered: Coaches interested in the Fellows 2019 class need to submit an application for the program. The application may be obtained by contacting ASCA staff member Matt Hooper or by phone at 1-800-356-2722. Questions on the program can also be directed to Matt.

Application deadline for the 2019 Fellows class is: Thursday, April 4, 2019.

American Swimming Coaches Association

5101 NW 21st Avenue, Suite 530 • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

tel: 1-800-356-2722 / (954) 563-4930 • fax: (954) 563-9813

Things Are Not Always As We Perceive Them To Be

By Harvey Mackay, Heraldextra.com, February 20, 2019

A lovely little girl was holding two apples in her hands. Her mom came in and softly asked her little daughter with a smile: My sweetie, could you share one of your apples with Mommy?”

The girl looked up at her mom for a few seconds, and then suddenly took a quick bite of one apple, and then a bite of the other. Her mom froze and tried hard not to reveal her disappointment. Had she raised such a selfish child?

Then the little girl handed one of her bitten apples to her mom, and said: “Mommy, here you are. This is the sweetest one.”

No matter who you are, how experienced you are and how knowledgeable you think you are, always delay judgment. Give others the privilege to explain themselves. What you see may not be the reality. Never conclude for others. Perception can be misleading.

Read More

Data Driven Goals

By coachingtoolbox.net, February 26, 2019

These step-by-step team exercises are designed to help you set better goals, get your team aligned behind them, and engage your athletes along the way.

Learn More