Letter From the President

“We have the opportunity to craft a process for teachers to learn about broader child development principles and make our lessons safer.”

As the world thankfully starts to return to some sense of normalcy, the board and the office have been working hard to further our mission. The learn to swim industry is facing some new challenges in addition to the pressures brought by COVID. There is a movement in several states to require that swim schools and swim instructors carry some sort of permit or license. We believe that if a few states adopt then others will follow. Our vice president, Tracy Koleber, has testified in front of the Texas legislature about this. We feel this is not going to go away and we really need to get in front of this effort. It is coming and we can choose to get in front of it or be run over by it.

During this year, we have surveyed a number of members about undertaking a certification for teachers. Through many conversations with swim schools, we learned that as a group we are open to this. We have also been in contact with a group that can guide this process and help us to get it accepted by government entities.

The danger that I see is that if we don’t do something, then we will have to be certified by some of the non-profits that we voted against last year that we did not want in our organization. We can choose to work on our process and at the end of the day support USSSA with our fees paid in this process. Or we can send checks to other organizations. We have the opportunity to craft a process for teachers to learn about broader child development principles and make our lessons safer. You would still teach your curriculum. We are not interested in dictating your curriculum. We are well aware that everyone has their own style of teaching. But if we sit and wait, we will be dictated how to teach by other groups. We will have more information at the National Conference in Tampa. I truly believe this is a path to relevance. It will mean something when you see our logo. It will mean that our teachers are professionals and have training that is held to a national standard. So I would ask you to engage in and embrace this effort. Join the board and the office in moving this wonderful organization forward into a brighter future. JOHN KIRK

JOHN KIRK

President US Swim School Association