The Block Party pilot program is a national initiative designed to increase/expand competition opportunities for athletes and help clubs, LSCs, and USA Swimming in strengthening membership growth and retention. Block Party meets are easy to run, easy to sanction, short, family-friendly, one day meets.
Block Party Pilot
Frequently Asked Questions
Athletes stay in the sport when they compete. We have a declining number of sanctioned meets and a high percentage of athletes that are not competing in USA Swimming meets. The best way to grow is to retain current members.
We need a way to onboard families to competition- and those competitive events need to be comparable to other sport’s “first competitions”. The value proposition is: short, nearby, low- barrier, affordable, and FUN.
There are significant headwinds facing our sport- increased competition in the youth sports marketplace and declining demographic trends must be addressed. Block Party is a club resource to allow coaches to build programming to strengthen their competitive swim businesses.
The times are loaded into SWIMS, but they are not eligible for OME selection. From a USA Swimming 5-Star Meet (Speedo Sectionals and above) standpoint, these times will not be eligible, nor will they be eligible for NAG records. If an LSC wishes to use the times for LSC championship meet qualification and uses OME for their championship meets, they may use the existing override function.
The goal is to create new meets/a new market- not cannibalize existing meets. With increasing pool rent, and fewer sanctioned meets, we have fewer athletes competing and lower retention rates. An increase in swimmers and providing a path from Learn- to-Compete, to Love-to-Compete, will mean more eligible swimmers to participate in traditional meets. More athletes in USA Swimming benefits clubs, the LSC, and USA Swimming.
This is a pilot, we will learn, gather data, share with our community, and in that spirit, update this FAQ as more questions are asked.
Resources
Testimonials
The deeper we got into it, the more creative we got on how to deploy things. As kids competed in a low key environment more, their 'swimming knowledge' got better. Their identity as a 'swimmer' got better.
Mike Ashmore, General Manager & Head Coach
Santa Maria Swim Club (SCS)
They love the relaxed and fun aspect of it. It gives our kids and families more understanding of meets and gets them interested in racing. My older kids also like participating because we usually have shorter events they don't usually get to do.
Kelly Collier, Head Coach
Northeast Houston Aquatics (GU)
It's just easier to host a meet where the times count. More meet opportunities, shorter sessions, more engaged swimmers, happier parents.
Mike Koleber, Owner
NITRO (ST)
Parents like that they are faster, run by familiar faces, and offered at our home pool.
Sam Snyder, Head Coach
LIFE Rochester Hills (MI)
Having extra meets and sessions meant that we could get more officials trained over a shorter period of time.
Aaron Dean, Head Coach
Occoquan Swimming (PV)
We have had more interest from parents to want to help, more community feel since we are able to include swimmers from a variety of levels.
Britta Wyatt, Head Coach
Team Eugene (OR)
It provides an opportunity for us to choose events tailored to our team's needs. We ran several meets with distance events since these events are difficult to find at meets.
Denise Humphrey, Head Coach
Bobcat Swim Club (OH)
Marketing Toolkit
National Virtual Challenges
What Is a National Virtual Challenge?
It’s an opportunity for swimmers of all ages and abilities to test their skills against swimmers from all across the country—and see their names on the National Block Party Leaderboard!
- Each challenge is unique and must be swum during a sanctioned Block Party Meet.
- You can:
- Run the challenge as a standalone time trial, or
- Include the challenge inside a larger, more traditional one day meet with multiple events.
Who Can Participate?
All USA Swimming clubs are welcome to join the pilot and take part in these challenges. The ability for you to sanction a Block Party Meet is already available in your Club Portal. Directions on how to sanction, etc. can be found under the "Resources" section.
How to Participate
Sanction Your Meet
- Log into your USA Swimming Club Portal in SWIMS.
- Sanction a Block Party Meet- the date must be within the time parameter of the National Challenge you wish to participate in.
Keep It Simple & Fun
- Mission: Simple, fun, and accessible – a chance for swimmers to shine, especially those still falling in love with the sport.
- Run at least one challenge and watch it boost your team’s culture, growth, and retention.
Timing & Officiating
- Use 3 watches per lane (minimum) for timing.
- Officiating can be handled by:
- USA Swimming Certified Officials (MR, AO, ST), or
- USA Swimming Coaches (per Block Party officiating guidelines).
Make It Memorable
- Add music, decorations, and a festive theme.
- Use the Block Party Coloring Page for a team coloring contest.
- Consider making it a team fundraiser!
Check the National Block Party Leaderboard
The Summer Sprint Spectacular is USA Swimming's Summer 2025 Block Party Virtual Challenge. There are two choices - one for short course and one for long course. Do one or both!
Athletes qualify to be included on the Summer Sprint Spectacular National Leaderboard in two ways:
- Long Course: by swimming all of the LC 50's in one meet (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly). To qualify - swims must happen in the months of June and/or July and the 50's must be swam in one meet...your format is up to you (you can offer any other additional events). Scores will be an aggregate 200 IM.
- Short Course: by swimming the SC 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke in one meet. To qualify - swims must happen in the months of June and/or July and must be swam in one meet. Scores will be an add up of the two strokes.
Athletes will be ranked by combining their times in each event, with the lowest time winning. The leaderboard will feature a ranking for each age: 6 and under, 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, and 15 and over.
Summer Pool Party + Swim Meet = Awesome!
Athletes qualify to be included on the Monster Mash National Leaderboard by swimming the 50 SCY breaststroke and 50 SCY butterfly in one session (for an aggregate 100) in one meet (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly) in one meet/time trial during the month of October.
Athletes will be ranked by combining their times in each event, with the lowest time winning. The leaderboard will feature a ranking for each age: 6 and under, 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, and 15 and over.
Athletes qualify to be included on the Turkey Classic National Leaderboard by swimming all of the 50's in one meet (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly). To qualify - swims must happen in the month of November, 50's must be swam in one meet... your format is up to you (you can offer any other additional events).
Athletes will be ranked by combining their times in each event, with the lowest time winning. The leaderboard will feature a ranking for each age: 6 and under, 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, and 15 and over.
Holiday Party + Swim Meet = Awesome!
Organize an intrasquad meet and give your swimmers a chance to get their first official USA Swimming time in the 1650 freestyle (mile), 500 freestyle, and/or 400 IM.
For the younger and/or less experienced swimmers - choose specific events.
The New Year's Splash Bash National Leaderboard will feature a ranking for each age: 6 and under, 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, and 15 and over. The eligible events for the leaderboard are the 1650 freestyle (mile), 500 freestyle, and 400 IM.
Holiday Party + Swim Meet = Awesome!
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