USA Swimming’s Community Swim Teams aim to grow USA Swimming membership by partnering with municipal and recreational departments throughout the United States. This program seeks to affect change by:
Swimming is one of the only Olympic sports that is a lifesaving skill. So not only is it imperative to expose as many kids to the sport as possible. Bringing more kids to the sport means more Olympic hopes, dreams, and resources for families. The Community Swim Team program is truly the culmination of saving lives, building champions, and impacting communities.
Chicago Parks and Recreation District has had almost 6,000 unique members registered with USA Swimming from 2017-2023. This partnership increased the number of training locations from 2 swimming pools to 49 during that time. In December of 2022, USA Swimming staff hosted professional development training for 75 CPD employees. Not only has this partnership opened new opportunities for athletes in the city of Chicago, but it has grown the pipeline of coaches and resources that are available to the community.
If you are a city and/or recreational administrator looking to start a Community Swim Team, please contact USA Swimming’s Program Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Leland Brown III at lbrown@usaswimming.org.