FACILITIES DEPARTMENT: WHAT WE DO
USA Swimming's Facilities Development Department aims to assist member clubs and affiliated organizations. This includes developing and planning new aquatic facilities as well as renovating and upgrading existing facilities. We also assist in developing and designing complimentary aquatic programs. USA Swimming has taken a pro-active approach to develop the necessary “in-house” resources to facilitate aquatic development. We reach out to interested parties and combine services and resources to support community aquatics for generations. Our goal is to provide our members and the general public with access to safe, pleasant and functional aquatic environments. We believe that USA Swimming has the resources and experience to help you serve your clientele.
General Service Overview – USA Swimming will:
- Foster the development of new facilities
- Promote and facilitate greater access to existing facilities
- Develop and promote program methodologies for maximum utilization of pool facilities
- Develop funding resources for facility development and rescue aid for distressed facilities
- Expand aquatic industry resources, relationships and affinity partnerships
- Position USA Swimming at the forefront of research and development of facility design, operations, products, construction and related services for the aquatic industry
REGIONAL BUILD A POOL CONFERENCES
PLAN IT - BUILD IT - PROGRAM IT
The 2013 Regional Build-a-Pool Conference series will offer comprehensive education in building, renovating and programming new and existing facilities. USA Swimming member clubs and private and public organizations are encouraged to take advantage of this educational resource. These one day (or 1 & ½ day) workshop style events are conducted by USA Swimming Facilities Development staff.
COACH OWNER SEMINAR - SCROLL DOWN TO REGISTER
Date: April 26-28, 2013
Location: US Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO
Did you know? Approximately 15% of USA Swimming member clubs are coach-owned.
- Does the idea intrigue you?
- Would you like to be a coach-owner?
Learn from Experience: Three successful coach owners will present three very different models. Learn how they did it, what worked and what didn’t. Find the common threads and customize to your situation.
Topics include: Motivation, Planning, Process, Pitfalls, Working Models, and Club Operation
Presenters:
- Mike Koleber: Nitro Swimming, Austin TX.
Nitro was founded by Mike and his wife Tracey in 2006. In that short time Nitro has built and operates two indoor 50 meter pools each with a four lane warm water teaching pool. Nitro now has over 1600 registered athletes and 32 coaches….1/4 of the swimmers in the South Texas LSC swim for Nitro! Nitro has an extensive swim school and a Masters’ program and is the five time defending TAGS (Texas Age Group Swimming) Champion. Nitro is a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club.
- Chuck Batchelor: Bluefish Swim Club, Attleboro, MA.
Chuck and his wife Christie became the owners of Bluefish Swim Club in 2005. The club was originally founded in 1994 and currently has 190 members and 13 coaches. Bluefish’s main facility is Attleboro HS an older, eight lane 25 yard pool. Bluefish also uses five additional facilities to run its competitive swim team, Masters’ program and 500 student swim school. Bluefish Swim Club was a Gold Medal Club for the 2012 Quad, is a Level 4 Club Recognition Program team, and the home of Olympian Elizabeth Beisel.
- Bill Schalz: Academy Bullets, Aurora, Il.
Academy Bullets Swim Club was founded in 1994 by Bill and his wife Robin after Bill had been a successful YMCA coach for eight years. The Bullets have four sites using a total of seven pools in the suburban Chicago area. Bill and Robin also own the Swim with Bill Swim School. Academy Bullets is a Silver Medal Club and is the largest team in Illinois with 600 swimmers and 27 coaches. Bill is also a High School coach and is the Academy Bullets Elite Team coach. He has served as General Chair of Illinois Swimming and on the USA Swimming Board of Directors. Bill has developed Olympians and successful swimmers at all levels and has been named Illinois Coach of the Year seventeen times.
Seminar Logistics and Registration:
- Schedule: Conference begins on Friday evening April 26 and concludes Sunday evening April 28.
- Accommodations: Housing and meals provided at the US Olympic Training Center. Included in your registration. You will have sleeping rooms for the nights of the 26th, 27th, and the 28th.
- Travel: Book and pay for your own travel. Ground transportation provided to/from the Colorado Springs airport.
- Cost: $75 per person non-refundable registration fee.
- Registration: Click below.
• Deadline: March 15, 2013. Registration after that date @ $100, space permitting.
• Questions: Mick Nelson mnelson@usaswimming.org
Saving Pools Saves Lives
Request an Electronic Aquatic Resource Manual by emailing Sue Nelson snelson@usaswimming.org.
What does Saving Pools Saves Lives mean? When pools close their doors we stop providing drowning prevention messages and the actual swim lesson that could save a life. We also stop providing the water programs that address the fitness levels of families in our communities.
Are you dealing with the possibility of your pool hours being cut back or even your pools closing? If yes then you definitely need to read on to learn more about how USA Swimming is being pro-active to keep pools open and be self-sustaining.
USA Swimming’s Facilities’ Development Department is addressing the dilemma of pool closures through hosting workshops and offering the Aquatic Resource Manual that was developed in 2011 to Aquatic Centers in the US.
The workshops are designed for individuals who have an influence on community decision makers that deal with the aquatic budget.
To learn more on “programming for sustainability” Click on Build a Pool to register for a USA Swimming Build a Pool Conference and to learn more information about the 2013 events that addresses topics for pools success.
National Drowning Prevention Alliance and the Pool Safely Campaign/ CPSC joins USA Swimming in creating the awareness of how important it is to have our aquatic centers/pools functional and sustainable. Without pools no one would learn &