USA Swimming today announced the launch of phase three of its Block Party pilot program, a club-focused initiative designed to increase athlete participation, improve retention, and grow the sport of swimming through short, fun, and family-friendly competition opportunities.

Block Party meets are designed to help clubs host and sanction low-cost, fast-paced single-day events, with sessions lasting under two hours whenever possible. They are designed to engage athletes and families by reducing barriers to competition. Clubs interested in participating in phase three of the pilot can sign up and access program resources on the USA Swimming website.

“Please keep this program. USA meets take so long for the youngest swimmers to get started and are so much more intimidating,” said Nick Anziano, head coach of Vortex Swim Club in Colorado Swimming. “We want to grow the sport, and this is a great way to compete with other sports in terms of time commitment.”

Proven Results in Phases One and Two

Launched in the spring of 2024, the Block Party pilot began with 40 clubs testing the technology and event structure. Since the October 2024 launch of phase two, the pilot has expanded to 242 clubs, resulting in more than 800 completed meets and over 31,000 athlete participants. Of those participants, 6,700 individuals were first-time competitors. Additionally, more than 40% of the first-time competitors later advanced to participate in LSC-sanctioned meets, a strong indicator that the Block Party program has a positive impact on athlete progression within the sport.

Clubs that participated in phase two reported very high satisfaction with the program and the options it provided to their clubs. Additionally, clubs reported a Net Promoter Score of 94, placing the program well above widely respected brands like Apple, Costco, and Netflix, which typically score in the 60s and 70s. Block Party also delivered an additional 150-250 swim meet opportunities per quarter, showing how it complements traditional meets. 

“This initiative has been a game changer,” said Galen Ziegler, head coach of Aqua Culture Swim Team in Maryland Swimming. “As a small team with limited resources, we previously faced major hurdles hosting meets. Thanks to Block Party, ten to twelve of our youngest swimmers (20% of our team) are now registered and will swim in their first USA Swimming meet this January.”

Phase Three

Phase three will launch in September 2025, opening the program to 25% of USA Swimming clubs, or approximately 700 programs nationwide. This expanded phase will continue to measure key metrics, including athlete retention, impact on traditional meets, participant satisfaction, and officials recruitment. Over the next two months, USA Swimming will onboard new teams to participate in the phase three pilot. You can learn more here.

“USA Swimming’s willingness to embrace new formats has been awesome,” said Sean Barry, head coach of Tiger Sharks Swim Team in South Texas Swimming. “Through Block Party and the Flex membership, they’ve taken the best parts of summer league, high school, and the AAU and put them under the USA Swimming umbrella. Now, year-round swimming is finally accessible and embraced in our rural community.”

Why Participate?

USA Swimming membership data shows:

• Athletes who participate in at least one meet are significantly more likely to remain in the sport.
• Swimmers who left the sport averaged just 1.3 meets per season, compared to an average of six meets for those who renewed their membership.
• Shorter meets and an increased number of one-day competitions lead to higher retention rates.

“Even swimmers who usually only go to large, traditional meets are embracing the Block Party format,” said Tarrik Daou, head coach of Daland Swim Team in Southern California. “They’re more open to trying new events and performing better because the environment is more relaxed and fun. We’re even turning a profit and reinvesting into our team.”

Coaches See the Lasting Impact

The impact of Block Party is being felt nationwide. Coaches say the format not only improves access but creates a better emotional experience for swimmers and their families.

“It doesn’t feel as embarrassing to get DQ’d,” said Renee Schomburg, head coach of Lifetime Swim Nebraska in Midwestern Swimming. “They don’t panic. They feel empowered, and when they go to a normal meet, they’re more confident and ready.”

“This is the direction we should be heading to build the base in USA Swimming,” said Mike Cody, head coach of Trident Swim Club in Southern California Swimming. “We even added educational elements like pre-race announcements to teach strategy.”

“It’s just a swim meet,” said Mike Koleber, head coach of Nitro Swimming in South Texas Swimming. “We set up the pool, run it legally, and have a blast. Block Party is a step in the right direction.”

Other Important Information

• Eligibility: All USA Swimming clubs in good standing may apply to participate. Phase three will open the pilot to 700 clubs on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested clubs can sign up and access program resources on the USA Swimming website here.

• Meet Format: Meant to be one-day, short-session meets that are fun, accessible, and welcoming to families.
• Cost: A $175 sanction fee supports technology, support services, and growth grants.
• Sanctioning: Meets are directly sanctioned by USA Swimming through the club’s SWIMS portal.
• Participation: All USA Swimming members are eligible, including Flex and Seasonal members. Block Party meets do not impact the standard two-meet limit for Flex members.
• Officials: While USA Swimming officials are preferred, USA Swimming coaches and non-athlete members in good standing who officiate NFHS, NCAA, YMCA, or similar organizations may officiate.

Most importantly, Block Party meets do not replace traditional meets; instead, they create additional opportunities for competition. These meets are designed to introduce athletes and their families to the sport of swimming in a format that mirrors the first experiences in other youth sports.

“I honestly wish we could film it from start to finish,” said Keith Ryan, head coach of CMAC in Southern California Swimming. “From planning the format, to the meet hype, to how much fun everyone has, it’s that transformative.”

Sign Up and Learn More

Interested clubs can sign up and access program resources on the USA Swimming website here.