V O L U M E 3 0 | I S S U E 4 2 019
U N I T E D
S T A T E S
S W I M
THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE GOOD 20|20 VISION for 2020-2024 In the Child Development Center Industry MAKE POOLS SAFER & MORE ENJOYABLE FOR SWIMMERS
S C H O O L
A S S O C I A T I O N
forward
new! fun and colorful kids’ goggles!
ADVENTURE GOGGLES comfortable kids’ goggles
Designed with silicone eye gaskets for a gentle, watertight fit. Made in three fun prints, these goggles are ready to take you on your next adventure! Adventure Goggles are latex and PVC free and offer UV protection to keep children’s eyes safe during water activities. Ideal for swimmers ages 4 to 10.
Give us a call to learn more about goggles, caps, fins, swim diapers, water confidence & more! Marie Morefield | 925.290.2657 | mmorefield@FINISinc.com
IN THIS ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
Letter from the President
4 Career Plug Hiring Software Partnership 5 From the Desk of the Executive Director 6 The Power of Collective Good 8 30 TIPS ON FREESTYLE SKILL BUILDING FOR 4-YEAR-OLDS
20|20 Vision for 2020-2024
13 Ending 2019 with Intention 15 Creating a Successful Special Abilities Program
16 Make Pools Safer & More Enjoyable for Swimmers 20 We Are On Fire! Highlights of the 2019 National Conference 24 Ask Al
26 2-Year Google Study 29 Stop Drowning Now
30 Tips on Freestyle Skill Building for 4-year-olds
ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS 7100 E. Cave Creek Rd., Suite 109 Cave Creek, AZ 85331 480.837.5525 usssa@usswimschools.org usswimschools.org Executive Director Lisa M. Zarda, CAE, CNAP Editor Monica Martin ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President John Kirk, Little Otter Swim School Vice President Tracy Koleber, Nitro Swimming Treasurer Buffy Folise, Chicago Swim School ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS Karen Clay SwimWest Swim School Brad Grzelka Atlanta Swim Academy Bobby Hazen SAF-T-SWIM Melissa Taylor Small Fish Big Fish Swim School USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 1
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT We are driven in our service to grow the association. I hope you are enjoying this time of year! In past generations, winter was a time of reflection and preparation. A time to decide what crops to plant and which fields would be used, and which would lay fallow. In that vein, the board has been looking at the future of the organization. We are driven in our service to grow the association. We have seen a long-term trend of flat enrollment. We add a few swim schools and lose a few swim schools each year. That bothers us as board members. We had a study done to see how many swim schools there are in the United States and then reached out to them. That effort has not borne much fruit. A trend that we see in other industries is that larger groups are taking over. This is a trend you may not have noticed. The funeral home down the street that you thought was family owned is now owned by a corporation. I learned this while arranging my mother’s funeral at the funeral home that everyone used in my community. I found out they were part of a national organization. They still retained their original name and the national firm was in small script. You might be surprised to know that your local veterinarian’s practice is owned by someone like Purina. I point out these two industries because I have always considered them to be “mom and pop” locally owned businesses. In our industry, we are seeing some groups and individual schools being sold. We are seeing franchisers and investors come into our space. The USSSA cannot control competition. In fact, it would be illegal for us to say that someone cannot build next door to you. So, limiting competition is not something the association can do and not part of this discussion. In 2020, my desire is to honestly explore whether the United States Swim School Association is an association for the learn-to-swim industry or a group of for-profit swim schools. If we are to be the organization for learn-to-swim, then we must explore how to navigate that space. This would mean finding a way to have an organization that welcomed everyone that taught swimming. This means we must look at non-profits as possible members. On the other hand, if we are to be an organization for only for-profit swim schools then we must figure out how to go forward with that. This may mean a smaller organization and increased fees to support the work we are doing now. My fear is that the association will fade away as members retire and sell. We will be faced with an ever-dwindling pool of possible members. We feel we are at a crossroad with opportunity to map the future.
JOHN KIRK PRESENTING AT THE 2019 MILWAUKEE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Over the next year, the board and the office will share what we have learned about other industries that have gone through this shift. We are planning a Town Hall Meeting at the upcoming Spring Workshop in Sugar Land, Texas, so that everyone can have a voice. I believe this is a crucial question that we need to address in a measured and forthright manner. I hope you will join the board in a respectful and revealing discussion on the future.
JOHN KIRK President US Swim School Association
We must find our relevance. We are exploring an accreditation program for schools and for teachers. This is one area we want to learn if the membership wants. We see this as a way to give some relevance to the USSSA brand by the general public requesting that accreditation.
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 3
Hiring Software Partnership About CareerPlug and the Partnership CareerPlug provides hiring software to help swim schools attract more qualified candidates, identify candidates more confidently, and improve hiring results. We have partnered with the United States Swim School Association (USSSA) to provide you access to a free account that you can use today to post jobs to the new USSSA website’s Careers Page, as well as a Careers Page specifically for your swim school. As a member of USSSA, you can also access a “Pro” version of CareerPlug for a special rate to take your hiring to the next level.
Basic Plan
Free
$275/month for 1 location
Everything you need to create attractive and compelling job postings and hire superstars.
($60/month each additional) plus applicable taxes
Have all of your job posts displayed on USSSA’s Careers Page
Improved Applicant Experience and Visibility
Each member has their own Careers Page, which can be easily linked to your swim school’s website Make it easy to apply from any device with mobile optimized job postings
Keep track of all your applicants in one place Determine if applicants meet your needs with prescreen questions Create Better Hiring Results and Reduce Turnover
Pro
Email candidates in-app with pre-built templates to take the guesswork out of what to write
Take your hiring to the next level with everything in a basic account + these features. Increase the visibility of job postings with unlimited postings to major job boards such as Indeed, Facebook Jobs, ZipRecruiter, Google for Jobs, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. Applicants can easily import their information from major job boards Applicants can easily switch between English and Spanish versions of job postings Receive notifications for applicants with the best answers to prescreen questions Compare candidates against each other and your top team members with math/verbal and personality assessments Text candidates for faster responses
Have sample, ready-to-use questions with interview guides Complete I-9s, W-4s and any custom paperwork online with a secure storage functionality
Save Time and Stay Compliant
Need help setting up your account?
Email us at upgrades@careerplug.com.
Already have an account and need help?
Call Support (512-579-0164) or visit our Help Center in your account. Support Hours: M-F 9a.m. - 5p.m. CT
FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Looking forward As business owners, I’m sure you have been doing a lot of looking forward recently as you make plans for 2020 with your teams. Your board of directors has been doing the same, looking forward. While this association is a non-profit, we are also still a business. We’ve been looking at the current make-up of our membership, discovering that we’ve seen a shift from over 60% of our membership bringing in $200,000 or less a year to now seeing that percentage drop to 35% of our membership. More and more of our owner members are shifting from in-water curriculum focus to front office growing a successful business focus. We are also starting to see some longtime members retire, some choosing to pass the torch on to family members, while others taking advantage of one of the benefits of business ownership and selling their business. As we look at 2020 and beyond for this association, we do so with a focus on remaining relevant and viable in this changing industry. We are examining what this industry needs from a trade association and doing the research to take a close look at who we serve and our market share. We are talking to other industries that have seen an influx of investment groups to find out what we can learn from their experiences. We thank those of you that have been a part of this research and taken the time to fill out surveys and answer our questions. Looking forward there are immense opportunities. Opportunities to elevate the industry. Opportunities to educate. Opportunities to bring the lifelong skill of swim to many more children and families. We invite each of you to join us as we lean forward into the future and we wish you all a successful and prosperous New Year!
LISA M. ZARDA, CAE, CNAP Executive Director US Swim School Association
THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE GOOD BY CHRISTY BOSTIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOPE FLOATS FOUNDATION
“The power of collective good among successful and heart-centered people is unlimited.” FRANK SAHLEIN, HOPE FLOATS BOARD MEMBER
Hope Floats Foundation is honored to welcome Frank Sahlein from 3rd Level Consulting to its Board of Directors. Beyond his contagious passion, Frank brings a wealth of industry knowledge, a focus on best practices, and an innovative mindset that will benefit Hope Floats for many years to come. Have you ever heard the term “Collective Impact?” Simply put, collective impact models bring like-minded, passionate people and organizations together in an organized way to tackle serious problems. When done well, collective impact models have been known to result in extraordinary outcomes. As an industry of swim professionals, we know that drowning statistics represent an extraordinary problem worldwide. Solving the problem will require us to collaborate, to coordinate our efforts, to track our collective progress, and to think outside of the box. Today, nearly 150 swim school locations across 25 states have partnered with Hope Floats to begin solving the problem through the power of collective good. This was evidenced on December 3, 2019 when 68 individual Facebook fundraising pages were created in unison to support Hope Floats on #GivingTuesday (a global online charitable giving movement). Collectively, Hope Floats partners raised $32,664 (before matching) for scholarships in a single day, providing at least 1,960 swim lessons for children in need across the United States. IT ISN’T TOO LATE TO JOIN OUR SUCCESSFUL AND HEART-CENTERED TRIBE If your swim school would like more information about Hope Floats partnership, contact Christy Bostic at info@hopefloats.foundation and visit www.hopefloats.foundation. Partnership is affordable for schools of all sizes. A little bit of fundraising can go a long way in saving lives!
6 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
Highlights
78% 1,000 When compared with #GivingTuesday 2018, Hope Floats’ partners increased fundraising and scholarship swim lessons by 78% during #GivingTuesday 2019.
Of the 68 fundraising pages created, 10 raised over $1,000 for scholarships.
The MVP, Oklahoma Swim Academy, raised $4,050 for local scholarships.
$2,580 FROM 38 UNIQUE DONORS
L iquid Lifestyles held its first #GivingTuesday campaign, setting an excellent example of a grassroots effort raising $2,580 from 38 unique donors. Co-owner Mike Cousino said, “#GivingTuesday offered an exciting opportunity to publicly launch our partnership with Hope Floats. We branded our campaign and emphasized that local donations provide swim lessons for local children, which really helped to activate our community.”
Lori’s H20 Skills raised $2,200 during #GivingTuesday, and added in a Swim for Hope event in late November bringing their scholarship total to $5,273. Owners Lori and Kyle Weber shared, “We are grateful that Hope Floats encouraged us to participate in #GivingTuesday. Within a few hours of setting up our Facebook fundraiser, we were surprised to have exceeded our initial goal of $500. When we focus on the betterment and safety of our community, we unknowingly achieve more than we could have ever imagined.”
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 7
BY FRANK SAHLEIN FOUNDER & CEO 3RD LEVEL CONSULTING
20|20 VISION FOR 2020-2024 IN THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER INDUSTRY We can “see the future” best when we view through a variety of lenses. We will be examining the upcoming 2020-2024 time period through the “lenses” of Industry Trends, Technology Trends and Social Trends.
8 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
As we begin this 20|20 VISION article, here are a few interesting questions for Child Activity Center owners going into 2020-2024 time period: • What are the most pressing NEEDS at this time for your Business? • What are the most pressing NEEDS at this time for the Education of your Staff Members? • How do you plan to monitor the entire Life Cycle of each Staff Member through your Business? • How do you plan to handle the increasing need for Risk Management? • How do you plan to professionalize your Marketing over the next 6-12 months? Let’s examine a some of the Key Action Points with respect to the Children’s Activity Center industry and the future. • STOP for a few hours and map your 2020-2024 Business Strategies for Model, Marketing, HR, Technology, Finance, Facilities and Risk. • ASK YOURSELF EXACTLY WHAT RESOURCES AND APPS will give you and your business LEVERAGE moving forward. • DECIDE which resources and apps will give your Key Managers and Staff the tools to streamline their work. • INVEST NOW to reap the benefits later. There is always a “lag time” between a decision and implementation. • DEDICATE THE TIME for yourself and your Key Managers to implement the resources. 3rd Level Consulting, RiskAssure and LEAP Learning exist to help you do this in the most efficient and effective ways, including setting up timelines and accountabilities across all of your programs and operations.
BELOW IS A GRAPHICAL OVERVIEW OF KEY AREAS (1-3), AS WELL AS FOR YOUR COMPANY (4):
in Qu al i
Market Align and Performance KPIs
&
Experiences via Augmented Reality
RE LTU CU
lu Va
Industry Business App Integration (AI)
TRA N S PA RE
Outside Investors
rce kfo or W
FLEX IBL EB US Increas e I
Tr
s RM
ILIES AM F R” TE e
Inst ruc to r
T N
C
Emp o we re d
Qu ali ty
SMA LLE R ,“ LA
PART 3 SOCIAL TRENDS What are the most impactful SOCIAL Trends emerging now?
ty
&
IND US T
C ls Too ng ni ai
PART 1 INDUSTRY TRENDS What are the most impactful INDUSTRY Trends emerging now?
ELS OD M S tion ES peti N om
RY
20|20 vision trends for 2020-2024 (radar diagram)
PART 2 TECHNOLOGY TRENDS What are the most impactful TECH Trends emerging now?
PART 4 YOUR COMPANY What are theACTIONS your company needs to take now?
PART 1 INDUSTRY TRENDS
ty
in Qu al i
FLEX IBL EB US Increas e I
ELS OD M S tion ES peti N om &
C
Outside Investors
LET’S START BY FOCUSING ON THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER INDUSTRY TRENDS. LET’S EXAMINE A SOME OF THE KEY POINTS THROUGH THE INDUSTRY TRENDS LENS.
FLEXIBLE BUSINESS MODELS: In today’s world, Child Development Centers can take on any single selection or combination of Sports or Arts Instruction, Education, Entertainment and/or Outreach programs. The models can be strictly developmental, competition-based, or both. Models can be in a facility or mobile. Ownership models can be: company-owned operations, licensed programs, franchising and others. Furthermore, the models of each category are also changing and morphing continuously. An example is the “Ninja” phenomenon – is it really ninja or martial arts, gymnastics, parkour, free running, acro or a blend? There are so many variations on the theme that it is in constant evolution! How this relates to your company: It is wise to review all of your program annually for relevance, participation (student number trends) and profitability. INCREASING QUALITY AND COMPETITION: All industries mature and change over time. In recent years, however, the Child Development Centers have evolved to the point where customers now EXPECT quality programs, facilities and instruction. This is a positive change, as it separates “excellent operators” from merely “average operators”. How this relates to your company: Be sure that your company is consistently planning for upgrades in programs, facilities and instructional quality. Consistently challenge yourself and your staff to GROW. OUTSIDE INVESTORS: Because Child Development Centers have improved so radically over the past 10 years, profitability is now at investment quality levels amongst the best operators. This, in turn, has attracted outside investors. How this relates to your company: Outside Investors do not have the same industry orientation (“blinders”), nor might they have the same passion for child development as previous generations. What they DO have is sufficient capital to enter the Child Development Center industry, and they are fully prepared to embrace whatever existing business systems, technologies and apps will give them ROI. USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 9
PART 2 TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Inst ruc to r
C ls Too RY ng ni ai
IND US T
s RM
Tr
Industry Business App Integration (AI)
WE WILL NOW FOCUS ON THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER TECHNOLOGY TRENDS. LET’S EXAMINE A SOME OF THE KEY POINTS THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY TRENDS LENS.
INDUSTRY CRMS: Our marvelous industry CRM (customer relationship management) databases (now calling themselves business management software) are constantly improving. The features and functions continue to “move to the same place” in terms of CRM companies, because their clients (us) generally have the same needs. How this relates to your company: As companies we need to stay up on most, if not all, of the features and functionalities. There is a definite need for an internal “expert” in a business for the CRM that you have chosen. INSTRUCTOR TRAINING TOOLS: The transition in this area is one of finding an excellent Learning Management System (LMS) that can accommodate the consistent, growing and changing need for effective and quick training in all areas – sport/art/education technical courses, business courses and personal development courses. How this relates to your company: The challenge is to find LMS’s that already have world-class content as well as the ability to place your company’s specifically-desired trainings in place. INDUSTRY BUSINESS APP INTEGRATION (AI): You will see rapid progress in the integration of CRM’s and various LMS tools in the marketplace. This is essential for these companies to forge market share advantages by providing customer use efficiencies. How this relates to your company: As an example, the LMS sports/arts/education teacher training platform www.LeapLearn.net is actively integrating it’s expert content with CRM company’s skill tracking functions. This will save both office staff and instructors multiple steps in the process!
Experiences via Augmented Reality
&
lu Va
IES MIL A F R” E T e
PART 3 SOCIAL TRENDS
Qu ali ty
SMA LLE R ,“ LA
WE WILL NOW FOCUS ON THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER SOCIAL TRENDS. LET’S EXAMINE A SOME OF THE KEY POINTS THROUGH THE SOCIAL TRENDS LENS.
SMALLER, “LATER” FAMILIES: According to the 2017 Global United Nations study, Household Size and Composition Around the World 2017, average household size has declined almost everywhere. As the average size falls, a smaller share of households include children. How this relates to your company: If there is a smaller “total pool” of children, both now and in the immediate future, then our solution is to impact PERCENTAGE of children (and families) participating in the sports/arts/education programs that we, as child development centers, offer. We will accomplish this through more professional and scientifically-measured marketing plans. QUALITY AND VALUE: Customers today (parents who pay our tuitions) are pressed in terms of both time and budgets. They are getting more discriminating in HOW, WHEN and WHY they spend their time and money. How this relates to your company: We must intentionally create BOTH quality and value inside our companies via excellent staff education and reasonable pricing. In addition, we must market the BENEFITS in an engaging, inspiring and logical manner. EXPERIENCES VIA AUGMENTED REALITY (AR): Winning companies will embrace the augmented reality (AR) and use “live” visual and graphics to enhance the class experience for the students. How this relates to your company: Start dreaming up creative AR scenarios now!
10 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
PART 4 YOUR COMPANY
TRA NS P AR E
Emp o we re d
T N
Market Align and Performance KPIs
TRANSPARENT CULTURE: Given the age and experience “mix” of today’s workforce, there has never been a more critical time to transmit a transparent culture to our valuable people. This means conveying openness, honesty, sincerity, respect and more. How this relates to your company: Your chosen cultural cornerstones are definitely reinforced by your systems and LMS applications. Be sure that yours are world-class! EMPOWERED WORKFORCE: As pointed out in the Technology Trends, we can empower with the following simple mantra: How this relates to your company: “Having the right people in the right spots, doing the right things with the right tools.”
rce kfo or W
RE LTU CU
ALIGNING MARKETING WITH PERFORMANCE: We need to assure that our Marketing Plans are “synched up” with actual Staff Performance. How this relates to your company: You’ll need detailed Performance Dashboards (PDs) for staff at all levels of employment. These PDs are (a) Position Agreements; (b) Self-Evaluations; and (c) Action Items.
SUCCESS STEPS ACTIONS THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE TAKING NOW? For Accelerated Business information, visit www.3rdLevelConsulting.com (3rd Level Consulting membership includes the www.RiskAssure.net application). For Accelerated Staff Technical Training information, visit www.LeapLearn.net.
Streamline & Grow Your Swim Business WITH US
COMPLETE PAYMENT PROCESSING SOLUTIONS SAVE TIME AND MONEY – Back office reporting SUPERIOR SERVICE AND SUPPORT – Grounded saves you time so you can focus on your swim business while low cost payment processing saves on monthly processing fees.
E-COMMERCE AND PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY Accept payments through our online Payment Gateway and access a wide variety of industry leading shopping carts, EMV/NFC card-ready POS Systems and customized solutions. Keep track of your customers and payments with the Customer Vault and Recurring Payments features or download the mobile application and take payments on the go.
in our deep industry expertise, we are committed to earning and keeping your business through world-class service and support.
NEXT DAY FUNDING – Fast deposits as soon as the next business day.
MERCHANT FINANCING – Receive funds to expand your business in as little as 24 hours! MARKETING & ADVERTISING PROGRAMS
C&H’s Digital Concierge helps grow your online footprint. Add Gift & Loyalty Cards to increase your bottom line.
855-600-2437 • www.chfs.us
C&H Financial Services, Inc. is a proud supporter of the U.S. Swim School Association
ENDING 2019 WITH INTENTION BY WALTER BOND
The holidays are upon us, which means you have a unique opportunity to end the year strong. Here are a few ways you can prepare your team for the end of the year and set yourself, your team, and your company up for success in the new year: 1. SHARE YOUR VISION. Don’t wait until the first workday of the new year to introduce your vision to your team. Start sharing this now. Sharing your vision with your team now give them a few weeks to process new ideas, come up with questions or creative suggestions to improve the vision, and think about how they can best contribute to the growth of the company 2. HAVE AS MANY ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS AS YOU CAN WITH YOUR TEAM. This gives you a chance to check in with members of your team to see how you can put them in a role where they feel appreciated, challenged, and respected. Find out how your employees are feeling now so that you can create a space for them in the new year that matches their strengths and passions. 3. MAKE TIME FOR REFLECTION. Even if this means taking a day away from the office to carefully review the year, do it. There is power in reflection, and you can learn a lot about your company’s past, and its future through intentional reflection. Some of the things you may want to reflect on before the end of the year include: • A big mistake that I made this year—and the lesson that I learned as a result—was: • An obstacle or a challenge that I overcame this year: • This is the best thing I bought all year: • A really cool thing I created this year was: • Here’s how I grew emotionally this year: • Here’s how I grew spiritually this year: • My biggest time waster this year was: We’ve got 26 days left in 2019. That’s 26 opportunities to set our companies, our families, and our relationships up for success in the new year. We can do this by sharing our vision, fostering open communication with our teams, and setting aside time for intentional reflection. Hall of Fame speaker, Former NBA player, and expert coach, Walter Bond empowers you to stop negative habits in their tracks, rocket past challenges and unleash your greatest potential. Learn more about his new book, titled Swim!, a fascinating story about the power of leadership, mentoring, and next level success at www.walterbond.com/swim. Reprinted with permission.
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
71 Manta | p11
iClass | p23
Aquam | p27
Neptune-Benson | p32
A3 | p23
C&H Financial | p12 CES | p28
Cressi | p18 Dolfin | p19
Finis | Inside Front Cover Gulbenkian Swim | p14
iPlay | p27
Pool Guard | p28
NEW MEMBER LIST ACUATICS NATACION EDUCATIVA Maria Alicia Alfaro Guanajuato, Mexico ALOHA AQUATIC CENTER Tamas Bosnyak Las Vegas, NV AQUA APRIL April McCarty Dickinson, TX AQUATICS IN MOTION Justin Tay Singapore DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH ACADEMY FOR SPORTS SCIENCE ACTIVITIES Ibrahim Mersal Dubai, AE DOLPHINZ SWIM SCHOOL Jaylene Cantrell Parker, CO EXCEL AQUATICS SWIM SCHOOL Steven Murry Brentwood, TN FAST TRACK SWIMMING Matt Hone Tomball, TX KIDSCANSWIM CANADA Hugues Baisvert Ottawa, ONT STREAMLINE BRANDS Paul Gerrard Englewood, CO SWIM & SMILE TX Kim Emery Decatur, TX
Risk Management | p2
Snyder Insurance | p33 Tri Swim | p32
USA Swimming Foundation | p12
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 13
BY KIM WALTERS SPECIAL ABILITIES COMMITTEE MEMBER
CREATING A SUCCESSFUL SPECIAL ABILITIES PROGRAM Inclusion and diversity are hot topics in most industries these days. Businesses, schools, and other organizations are actively working to create a diverse and inclusive environment for clients. Our industry is no different and creating an environment where our swimmers can actively participate is something most swim schools strive to achieve. We have a unique opportunity of truly making an impact on a community that is often unable to fully incorporate with the “mainstream” world. Swimming is something everyone can enjoy, no matter their abilities. However, welcoming students with physical, mental, emotional, and developmental differences into our swim schools takes more than just a desire to do so. Developing a special abilities program that meets the needs of your community can be a challenge for even the most seasoned swim school owner.
The biggest challenge to establishing a successful special abilities program is acquiring and training instructors who can teach to the unique needs of each student. It seems that there are two ways of acquiring special abilities instructors. Swim schools either actively recruit individuals or, in many cases, current instructors just naturally gravitate towards those students and become special abilities instructors. I’ve heard many swim school owners and managers say that they hire the character and personality and teach the skill, because that is how you get teachers who are passionate about children, swimming, and water safety. Special abilities teachers are no different. In fact, it is probably even more important, when developing a special abilities program, to hire individuals with the character and personality necessary to work with special abilities students and then train them on how to use those skills to teach swimming lessons. No matter the path taken to becoming a special abilities instructor, there is always a need for extra training and professional development in order to be successful. While there are plenty of resources available that are geared towards educating people on inclusion and diversity, training programs and resources specifically designed for aquatic education are severely limited.
The United States Swim School Association Special Abilities Course is one of only a few classes available that provides specific training for swim teachers who work with special abilities students. This course is designed to provide a foundation on which teachers can build and grow. The course is offered twice a year at the USSSA national conference and spring workshop, as well as being available in an On-The-Go format that swim school owners can host at their own facility. The On-The-Go class is the same format and material presented at conferences but allows swim schools to train more teachers in a more cost-effective manner. On-The-Go courses can be taught by several members of the Special Abilities Committee and is available to all USSSA members. On-The-Go training courses are an invaluable benefit to USSSA members and one we hope many schools will take advantage of! To schedule a Special Abilities On-The-Go class at your swim school, please contact one of the Special Abilities Committee members. KIM WALTERS | 317.809.2724 kim@stonycreekswimcenter.com ERIN GRANDE | 813.310.6959 erin@sealswimschoolpinellas.com ANGIE BAKER | 571.426.4838 angie@swimkids.us
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 15
MAKE POOLS SAFER & MORE ENJOYABLE FOR SWIMMERS BY PENTAIR COMMERCIAL AQUATICS
16 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
Have you ever gone swimming in a pool and smelled like bleach when you got out? Have you ever entered an indoor swimming pool complex and noticed a strong smell of chlorine? Have you ever come out of a pool with your eyes burning and bright red? Why does this happen?
Most people would think this an indication of too much chlorine in the water, but if you think so, you would be wrong. In fact, all this indicates there is not enough chlorine! Burning, red eyes are a strong indication of a low pH (acidity) and most likely the presence of high levels of substances called chloramines, which can be very irritating to your eyes and lungs indoors.
Why is there not enough chlorine in the water? Because chlorine is an oxidizer. You may ask, “What is an oxidizer?” Let’s look at this in more detail. A FAMILIAR EXAMPLE OF OXIDATION Let’s say you are on a camping trip, and you build a nice camp fire. You may think you are simply burning some logs or firewood. In fact, you are really oxidizing those logs! As they burn (oxidize) they release heat and energy. When the fire goes out, what are you left with? Ashes. Those ashes are the result of oxidation. When chlorine oxidizes organic material in a swimming pool the very same process takes place. The chlorine reacts with this organic material and in doing so sanitizes the water. But just as in the example of a camp fire, there’s something left over. In a swimming pool these remaining materials are not called ashes but are called chloramines! Where does organic material come from? There are many sources, such as urine, sweat, suntan lotion and others, mostly from the people who swim in the pools. Now let’s be honest, people really pee in pools. And they do a lot of it. CHLORAMINES CAN LEAD TO LIFELONG ILLNESS When those organic materials enter the water, the chlorine present begins to combine with them or oxidize them. The chloramines (ashes) that form take a few different forms such as monochloramines, dichloramines and
trichloramines. These compounds make their way from the pool water into the air above the pools to produce that chlorine smell. Physical activity in the pool—swimming, splashing and diving— agitates the water surface, releasing even more of these contaminants. Over a short period of time a large buildup of these materials will occur, producing a very unhealthy environment around the pool area. Numerous studies show that exposure to this environment can result in lifelong illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and other breathing illnesses. In the past, to eliminate these contaminants people would “super chlorinate” (add a lot more chlorine) the pool water to remove the chloramines from the water. The problem with this approach is the more chlorine in the water, the more oxidation of organics; thus, you produce even more chloramines and finally more of these lethal contaminants in the air! Only a proper ventilation system will remove them from the air. What can be done then?
add nothing to the water by definition (A water conditioning device (WCD) is any technology or device that, without the use of chemicals, can improve the water quality in a pool or spa). One of these devices uses ultraviolet light to destroy those chloramines in swimming pool water through a process called photolysis. This is the same type of light from the sun (called UV C) that causes damage to your eyes and skin. Many scientific studies have proven the effectiveness of this process in destroying chloramines. If you destroy most of the chloramines in the water, they cannot then contaminate the air! If the water is treated with a UV Physical Water Conditioner Device, you can enter the indoor pool area and not be confronted with the strong smell of chlorine. You can swim in the pool and come out smelling just as fresh as when you entered, not like chlorine! More importantly, you don’t have to worry about exposing your lungs to a harsh environment that could harm your health.
A LESSON FROM A DIFFERENT HEALTH PROBLEM In the not-too-distant past, we had a similar problem: secondhand smoke in public places, such as a restaurant or bar. In some cases, it would be hard to see clearly across the room because there was so much smoke. Yet we still went inside, not really understanding the hazard to our health. The very same thing is happening today with public indoor swimming pools. We smell the strong odor of chlorine, our eyes burn and our skin has a rash and, yes, we still go inside. But we have to understand that there is a real threat to our health. Breathing illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis are lifelong illnesses. The government is very slow to act. Remember how long it took for them to act on secondhand smoke. Should we wait for government to react to this very pressing health issue? We at Pentair think not.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO USING THESE DEVICES The people who own and operate these indoor pool facilities are also finding that by using these Physical Water Conditioning Devices, their air conditioning equipment will last much longer. This is because the chloramines in the air cause the condensation from those air conditioning systems to become very acidic, which helps to destroy those systems. The manufacturers of these systems have known about this problem but did not have a solution before. With this new technology, some of the manufacturers are now offering extended warranties if a UV Light Physical Water Conditioning System is being used. Also, health officials have known for a long time that waterborne illnesses are caused by swimming pool water that has been infected with known pathogens. This problem has continued to grow in severity, with some of these illnesses even becoming fatal. Ultraviolet light has been found to be very effective in deactivating these pathogens. However, regulations and the required testing and controls for ultraviolet systems make them very expensive. Because of this, ultraviolet systems are now only found
A NEW TYPE OF PRODUCT Many companies are looking for solutions to this issue, but older solutions can be very expensive. This is why Pentair has helped push the creation of a new type of product called a Physical Water Conditioner Device. These devices
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 17
on those pools classified as “increased risk venues,” like splash pads. The ordinary public pools that most of us use are not increased risk venues, but they do have a risk factor for pathogens growing in them. Since regulations don’t require ultraviolet systems and they are so expensive, owners of these pools don’t install them. SAFETY AND COMFORT WITHOUT BLOWING YOUR BUDGET There are now Physical Water Conditioning Systems that are inexpensive to purchase and very economical to operate. They have been tested to remove chloramines but have not been tested and certified to inactivate waterborne pathogens. However, these systems produce an ultraviolet light dosage much larger than what’s needed to inactivate these pathogens! We can certainly say “some UV is better than nothing.” And these systems’ low costs make pool owners much more likely to purchase them.
Just think of it: no more chlorine or other bad smells associated with the pool, no more breathing illnesses for swimmers, protecting expensive air conditioning systems and maybe preventing an infectious outbreak, all at a low cost. Can you think of why some someone would not want to use a Physical Water Conditioner Device? Pentair is a proud sponsor of the US Swim School Association and has the very first NSF approved Physical Water Conditioner Device that is certified to destroy chloramines in swimming pools. Pentair’s Physical Water Conditioning Systems are inexpensive to purchase and very economical to operate. Talk to your Pentair Sales Person for more information on this new technology.
Pentair is a proud sponsor of the US Swim School Association and has the very first NSF approved Physical Water Conditioner Device that is certified to destroy chloramines in swimming pools.
REUSABLE
DIAPERS
UV 50+ UPF
Secure Fit, elastic and drawstring in the waist contains solid waste.
Protection from Sun’s Dangerous UVA and UVB Rays
Various sizes. [ xs-5T] Comfortable interior lining. Attach your logo to five available colors*
3- 5T *Custom logo diapers at an additional cost.
For more information, e-mail swim@cressiusa.com or call 201-594-1450
@dolfinswimwear dolfinswimwear.com
Stock your Pro Shop with swimsuits and accessories from Dolfin Swimwear!
WE ARE ON FIRE!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
This year’s National Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was by all accounts a blazing success!
Nobuko Saito Cleary & Niko Saito
20 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
Strong keynotes included The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center back by popular demand, Rich Specht challenging us all to pay kindness forward and two dynamic Coutts Family Scholarship recipients sharing how to save money through energy efficiency and using data to drive business decisions. The afternoons were filled with a wide variety of topics to meet the ever changing demands of a swim school owners, managers and teachers. Workshops kicked off on Monday educating our members with the best in Infant Toddler, Special Abilities and CPO. And there were also some new features to the conference this year, including a dinner hosted by Hope Floats as well as the return of the Ask the Expert, which raised over $4,000 for Stop Drowning Now and Hope Floats. Our largest exhibit hall yet, attendees were able to get business done by visiting with vendors and getting their questions answered over the course of two days. Here are exciting event highlights which include newly elected Board Members and honoring the accomplishments and service of fellow Association peers!
John Kirk & Cindy Tonnesen
Kathy Hubbard & Lulú Cisneros
Miren Oca & Tracy Laman
BIG WELCOME AND WARM CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY ELECTED ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS: John Kirk Little Otter Swim School | President Tracy Koleber Nitro Swimming | Vice President Karen Clay SwimWest Swim School | Director Brad Grezelka Atlanta Swim Academy | Director
GUIDING LIGHT AWARD Tracy Laman Houston Swim Club The Guiding Light award is given to those who have made a particularly outstanding contribution to the organization in previous years. The Guiding Light recipient demonstrates a generous commitment to teaching, helping, sharing and otherwise serving the Association and/or its members. Tracy is the epitome of what this award is all about. She has served on multiple committees, spoken at conferences and opened her doors to many members, teaching, helping and sharing. Thank you Tracy for your dedication.
NATIONAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR Heather Fields La Petite Baleen Swim Schools Chris Gagne Saf-T-Swim USSSA is committed to the education and recognition of our swim instructors. We are proud of the amazing instructors at our member schools and these two educators truly demonstrate the breadth and depth of what it means to be a swim instructor. Teaching babies to adults, as well as working with those with special abilities. These are two special instructors we were honored to celebrate!
THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE LEARN-TO-SWIM INDUSTRY: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Niko Saito Saito Aquatic Academy She is retiring from the learn-to-swim industry as the first woman to introduce Baby Swimming to Japan and to introduce her amazing program of Aquamics to the world of Infant Swimming. She is an innovator and inspirational Educator who has dedicated her life and passion to teach infants and children of all ages to love and learn in her aquatic classroom. HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Lulú Cisneros Lulú Cisneros Educación Acuática The Hall of Fame award honors individuals who have at least 20 years of experience and have made exceptional contributions to the swim school profession and learn-to-swim industry. The Hall of Fame recipient demonstrates a lifelong passion and devotion to the teaching and learning of swimming and has exercised their expertise for the advancement of children, safety, learning to swim and the lifelong benefits and joys of swimming. Lulu’s commitment, dedication and lifelong career demonstrates the essence of what this award is all about!
HUMANITARIAN AWARD Cindy Tonnesen SwimKids Swim Schools, Founder and President of the Hope Floats Foundation The Humanitarian Award seeks to recognize members of the US Swim School Association who have provided outstanding service to others, demonstrating empathy, selflessness and commitment. The Humanitarian Award seeks to encourage good works among the members of the US Swim School Association, particularly good works that impact children, learning to swim, safety, community, and families. Many swim school owners were seeking a sustainable way to reach local children in need. This individual saw that need and created a solution. Today, there are nearly 100 swim school locations partnering to provide swimming lessons, light and joy to local children in need because of Cindy’s work.
We brought back the storyboards for the Awards of Excellence this year with great success! Swim Schools submitted unique, creative and memorable community promotions, swim school t-shirts, photos and marketing and we also added the new category of recruitment video. Many thanks to everyone for participating. CHEERS to the winners! OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPH Little Flippers Swim School BEST T-SHIRT SwimKids Swim Schools MEMORABLE MARKETING SwimWest Swim School FAVORITE FACILITY Hubbard Family Swim School PR PROMOTION SwimKids Swim Schools RECRUITMENT VIDEO Ocaquatics
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 21
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY 13-17, 2020
2ND INTERNATIONAL SWIM SCHOOLS SPECTACULAR SINGAPORE usswimschools.org/events
JANUARY 18-22, 2020
OWNERS CIRCLE BALI INDONESIAN ISLAND
Sp
round 'emUp
r
in
p
20 - 2 1 , 202 0 ksho
Y
or
R
W
F E B RU A
usswimschools.org/events
g
SUGAR LAND MARRIOTT TOWN SQUARE, SUGAR LAND, TX
FEBRUARY 20-21, 2020
USSSA SPRING WORKSHOP SUGAR LAND, TEXAS usswimschools.org/events
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2020
USSSA NATIONAL CONFERENCE TAMPA, FLORIDA
usswimschools.org/events
22 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
THANK YOU ANNUAL SPONSORS
TURBO
Kids ONE-TOUCH, QUICK ADJUST!
1- 888-369-7946 a3performance.com
CLEAR LENS, ANTI-FOG, & FOUR FUN COLORS!
ASK AL BY ALVARO G. MENDOZA COMMERCIAL ENERGY SPECIALISTS, INC.
WE CAN’T ALWAYS BE AROUND OUR SWIM SCHOOL(S) AND ARE EVEN LOOKING TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WANT TO BE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE CORRECTLY BY OUR STAFF. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE CAN STAY IN TOUCH WITH OUR POOLS TO HELP PREVENT PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN?
Welcome back to our “Ask the Expert” feature, designed to assist you with issues related to swimming pool water, mechanical equipment, space conditioning and code compliance. Ask a question, and we will try to answer to the best of our ability. It’s no secret that swim schools are really tough to operate and they seem to become even tougher once you have multiple facilities. While your school may have great staff, not all staff is good at all aspects of the operation. For example, some managers are great at pool water chemistry, while others…not so much.
24 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
Staying in touch with the “heartbeat” of the swimming pool is really important and there are some pretty innovative ways to accomplish this! CHEMISTRY CONTROLS & COMMUNICATIONS This strategy has been pretty well publicized, and it is becoming rare to see swim schools where the chemicals are being manually fed. Also, remote controls and communications are becoming more commonplace as well. Many schools, large and small are staying in touch with their equipment rooms by using systems that utilize PC connections and no-cost apps to stay connected with their equipment rooms no matter where they are. Many are also receiving alerts of ANY out of range parameters that might cancel a lesson or cause irritation to one of their patrons or instructors. Alerts normally escalate until they are resolved, so the owner can let their team manage the pool, but still intercede if things are not being handled in a timely manner. Chemistry control systems with communications come in all sizes and models, and are very affordable, starting at around $110 per month (on a 3-year rent-own program) for basic models that specifically control water chemistry. This is a great baseline for just about any operation. Other systems will cost double or more (depending on how much you want to monitor/control), but can also run pumps, heaters, filters, water level, and can track water consumption (to detect pool leaks and help avoid skin irritation), etc. Some schools track all the major mechanical parameters for multiple locations from a single flat screen or PC, making the avoidance of major issues a whole lot easier. TEST KITS Yes! This is a relatively new way that an owner can stay on top of their water quality, and is starting to show real promise by allowing owners to know: • IF and the EXACT TIME their team took required water tests • What the actual pool readings were at that exact time • What chemical parameters were out of range at that time
• What chemical corrections, including exact dosages, need to be made in order to keep the water balanced How does this work? Simple. The operator supplies each facility with a special digital test kit. (Some facilities equip their roving maintenance staff instead – if they have the luxury of having all schools in close proximity). While digital kits can cost between $800-900, the accuracy of testing, and required NSF® certification of test kits are so important that many owners consider this a small price to pay to assure the overall well-being of their facilities. Some test kit models have special features that help make remote monitoring and reporting of water test readings possible. These come with an inexpensive subscription-based service that provides storage of readings as well as other features described below and are NSF® rated as Level1 (L1) accuracy – the most accurate on the NSF® L1 to L3 scale. Next, the operator gets a water sample from each pool using the supplied syringe and injects the water slowly into the disk, places the disk in the kit, and presses “test” to take the actual reading (30-60 seconds). Using their smart phone and a free app they press a button to transmit that reading onto the subscription-based cloud portal. The readings are stored, but more importantly they are instantly evaluated against the desired high, low, and target parameters for your pool. (These are set up proactively by those administering your program). By itself this “proof of testing” is a huge development for those trying to bulletproof their facilities as much as possible against potential liability claims. Then….you, and ANY interested staff members will receive an instantaneous “bounce-back” email with a recap of the readings, but more importantly listing any variations from your ideal parameters, AND with specific dosages of what to add to the pool water in order to correct any specific imbalance. WHAT PARAMETERS CAN THIS TYPE OF KIT TEST? One specific kit comes with different pre-loaded disks used for daily and/or periodic testing. One series of disks test for Chlorine, pH, and Combined
Chlorine. This series is perfect for the typical indoor swim school, takes 30 seconds to run, and can be used (3) times before you recycle it. Another disk tests for 11 parameters in 60 seconds including: Chlorine, Combined Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Calcium Hardness (to protect pool finishes & heaters and provide proper water balance), Total Alkalinity (to stabilize pH and provide proper water balance), Iron and Copper (to help prevent staining the pool finish), Phosphates (to protect the chlorinator output and reduce irritation), Salt (for those using saline chlorinators – or to keep track of your salinity in bleach pools), and Stabilizer (useful on outdoor pools but not needed in indoor pools). CONCLUSION Since swim schools are a water-based business, it stands to reason that water quality plays a significant part of the success of many schools. One key and often overlooked aspects of a swim school operation is the tremendous risk that the owners have in making sure that the water is ultra-safe and free from irritants…. for BOTH customers and their valuable instructors. Parameters such as Phosphates, Iron & Copper aren’t otherwise easily tested, but can cause some pretty significant issues like staining, irritation and chemical consumption. Staying in touch with the pool via remote communications of chemistry control systems and new test kit technologies, including remote testing and reporting, provide a great set of tools that the owner/operator can use to keep track of water quality control, while allowing them to concentrate of keeping their great schools growing and prospering. Hope that helps! Please feel free to forward your questions and comments through the Association office, or directly to me, via email at amendoza@ceswaterquality.com. Best Regards, Alvaro G. Mendoza
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 25
THIS 2-YEAR GOOGLE STUDY SAYS YOUR TEAM WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY CAN ANSWER YES TO THESE 5 QUESTIONS A GOOGLE TEAM STUDIED 180 TEAMS AND IDENTIFIED TELLTALE SIGNS OF A WORLD-CLASS UNIT. Looking back on my corporate career, there are teams I was on that stood out. I felt like I was part of something special, achieving something that could only be achieved by a unit rowing harmoniously in the same direction. It’s hard to say exactly what made such teams so special. UNTIL NOW. Some really smart people at Google studied 180 teams as part of “Project Aristotle,” named after the philosopher’s quote “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” It was a quest to find what discerns the very best, most successful teams. Their work yielded an initial big surprise. The study’s hypothesis was that the best teams were made up of the best collection of individuals, presumably with a set of discerning traits. WRONG. No distinct pattern could be identified for individual traits that drove overall team performance. Instead, they discovered it wasn’t about who was on the team, but how that team worked together; more specifically, what the group norms of that team were. So, what group norms drive superior team performance? Exactly what I felt when I was on great teams. The Googlers boiled it down to five questions, to which the most accomplished teams can answer an emphatic “Yes!” Scott Mautz is the author of ‘Find the Fire’ and ‘Make It Matter.’ He’s also an award-winning keynote speaker and a seasoned Procter & Gamble veteran who successfully ran several of the company’s largest multi-billion-dollar businesses. He’s the CEO of Profound Performance, an online entrepreneur, and an adjunct professor at Indiana University. Scott writes and speaks passionately on how to work, lead, and live fulfilled. Learn more about him and subscribe to a high-value stream of free content at www.scottmautz.com. Reprinted with permission. 26 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
1
CAN WE, AS A TEAM, TAKE A RISK WITHOUT FEELING INSECURE OR EMBARRASSED? This is about psychological safety. Members of the most successful teams aren’t afraid to take risks in front of one another. They know when they admit mistakes, ask questions, or share new ideas, they won’t be punished. They see the team leader modeling acceptance of everyone. This resonates with me because on the best teams I’ve been on, I vividly recall feeling like I belonged, was valued, and could bring my whole self to the table. It was authentic. And awesome.
2
CAN WE COUNT ON EACH OTHER TO DELIVER HIGHQUALITY RESULTS ON TIME? Mutual accountability is one of the greatest forces on earth. Knowing you can depend on your teammates to do their part allows you to focus on doing yours. With accountability in place, you don’t want to let your teammates down, of course. But beyond that, you’re driven to bring that 10 percent extra effort to further ingratiate yourself to others. In fact, social psychology research from the University of Michigan shows having a greater sense of interdependence is more meaningful for people than the pursuit of individual goals. That feeling is further exacerbated when you’re working on a winning team doing winning work.
3
ARE OUR GOALS AND ROLES CLEAR? Teams need a certain amount of structure and clarity. Period. Each member needs to understand “their role on the assembly line” and that of their co-workers. The team leader can ensure this by having
BY SCOTT MAUTZ group discussions about roles. In this way, no one individual can be dismissed because other people don’t understand how or what he/she contributes. As for goals, in Make It Matter, I introduced 3C goals as a way to drive interdependency. That is, the team leader should set goals that are common (so everyone’s working toward the same end), compelling (so the goals create energy on their own and draw people to them), and cooperative (lofty enough that the only way the goals can be accomplished is by the team working together).
4
ARE WE WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT IS PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL TO EACH OF US? We find meaning in things that make emotional connections and are remembered, and thus matter. When we’re emotionally connected to our work, when it matters to us, we derive meaning from it. In fact, we hunger for such meaning. Research from human resources development author Linda Holbeche shows that 70 percent of us are on a greater search for meaning at work than we even are in life itself. Leaders of great teams find out what’s meaningful to each person and tailor the work assigned and how it’s framed accordingly.
5
DO WE FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE THE WORK WE’RE DOING MATTERS? This is about impact. Does everyone feel they’re contributing to an organizational goal that matters? Leaders of the most successful teams make sure every team member understands how their work fits with the mission of that team. The most successful teams I’ve been on had leaders that took the time and effort to connect the dots between each team member’s work and the goals of the organization. The common denominator across all these questions can be summed up by one question. It’s not “Who’s on that team?” or “What did the team produce?” but “How does that team make me feel?” The answer to that is what you’ll always remember.
the
original
Now in sizes
6mo-5T! reusable absorbent swim diaper
since 1991 wicking liner absorbent layer waterproof layer
greensproutsretailers.com
Patented Triple-layer Protection! U.S. Pat. No. 7,678,094
Patented Triple-layer Protection! U.S. Pat. No. 7,678,094
Innovative tools for your swim school
Hoop Set
Diving Rings
aquam.us | info@aquam.com | 1 877 766-5872
Mega Water Snake
Say Goodbye to Chlorine Odor, Bather Irritation, and Toxic Pool Water!
Proven swim school treatment systems since 1983 including: UV • Saline • Ozone • Chemistry Controls • Drinking Water-Grade filtration Wirelessly control your pump room including chemistry, UV, Heaters.
Choice of leading USSSA Swim Schools! Proven On-Site Support and Service throughout the US via the SSD™ Network. Experts in new construction and renovation treatment programs. Excellence in Water Quality Control
Commercial Energy Specialists • 952 Jupiter Park Lane • Jupiter, Florida 33458 • 800.940.1557 • www.ceswaterquality.com
MAKING POOLS SAFE FOR KIDS! SEE HOW WE CAN HELP.
888-876-4005 | www.poolguardusa.com
SDN: FUELING THE FUTURE OF DROWNING PREVENTION Stop Drowning Now fuels drowning prevention just like you do – through education, awareness and experiential activities. Even in the high season for swim schools, we have been busy and have so much to share with USSSA members! SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO ADOPT SDN’S INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM Several new schools and school systems adopted the SDN Curriculum in their classrooms over the past several months. Many others continued from last year, given the success of the curriculum with their students. Two notable groups include the Archdiocese of Omaha’s schools as well as all elementary schools in Charlotte County, Florida. As of today, the SDN program is used in six states nationwide and we hope to double that number in the next 18 months. SWIM SCHOOLS & THE SDN CITIES PROGRAM Conceived and pioneered by Board Member, Dan Berzansky, municipalities are partnering with SDN to reduce drowning risk in their communities. For example, Dan and his swim school’s team helps their hometown of Aliso Viejo educate its 57,000 citizens about drowning and how to protect their families. Our newest SDN City is Seal Beach! Additional cities in Southern California are exploring the SDN City partnership right now. Your swim schools have a vital role to play in your community bringing not only a problem to their city’s leadership, but also a solution that saves lives. STATE LAWS FOR DROWNING PREVENTION EDUCATION Board Member, Joe Oehme, has been working with New Jersey State Assembly-person, Sean Kean, to pass a state-wide law requiring drowning prevention education for all New Jersey students. NJ bill A-269 is currently on the docket for review by the NJ Legislature. HOW CAN YOU FUEL CHANGE? Join SDN or upgrade your membership today. To get more involved and learn about the initiatives above, please contact us at info@stopdrowningnow.org.
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 29
TIPS ON FREESTYLE SKILL BUILDING FOR 4-YEAR-OLDS BY LAURIE LAWRENCE OLYMPIC SWIM COACH AND WATER SAFETY ADVOCATE
Laurie’s Tip ‘make sure that each of these skills are mastered before moving on to the next skill! This article is written as an accompaniment to the Module - Freestyle Skill Building for 4 years olds available on Laurie’s World Wide Swim School Platform. In this article Laurie will share with you the building block process of freestyle swimming. All Rights Reserved World Wide Swim School (2019).
30 | USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG
TEACHING STRATEGIES Laurie uses the following strategies when teaching the 4-year-old learner.
BUILDING BLOCK SKILLS The following is a list of the skills Laurie recommends for freestyle skill building.
1. Positive Communication • Always use eye contact when delivering instructions. • Use swimmers name for rapport and attention. • Simple verbal instructions. • Physical demonstrations. • Ask child to repeat instructions for understanding. • Positive reinforcements. • Lots of feedback given where necessary.
1. Prone Float with Board • Hold board in the middle on the side for balance (thumbs on top, fingers underneath) • Straight arms assist streamline position • Chin on chest assists streamline position • Push from ledge/side of pool/bottom of the pool • Feet together where possible • Eyes in for 10
2. Enthusiasm • Verbal praise • Have fun with swimmer so they want to return to the lesson • Rewards such as bowing to the group and ringing the Champions Bell
2. Prone Kick with Board • Hand position remains the same on the board • Instructor hands in the middle of the calves for manipulation with body facing away from swimmer • Manipulation helps build muscle memory and skills • Independent kicks up, manipulate back to build skill and increase muscle memory • Lots of feedback and support where necessary
3. Lesson Instructors should plan lessons with a focus in mind, build a good rapport with swimmers, understand the needs of the swimmer and their parents. Skills should be reinforced and practiced until mastered and swimmers are ready to progress. Maximum practice time and work towards all swimmers within the lesson moving as much as possible. 4. Propulsion The 4-year-old swimmer can have a strong propulsive drive with their legs and a good feel from the water with their arms and with lots of assistance and support from their instructors. Manipulation assists instructors in teaching these skills to swimmers of all ages and abilities possible. 5. Other Laurie and World Wide Swim School recommends parents stay in the water with their children until they turn 4. This will form excellent muscle memory and create great swimming technique.
3. Prone Float Without Board • Hands together (one on top of the other) • Straight arms behind ears • Chin tucked down on chest • Feet together • All of the above points lead to good streamline position 4. Prone Kick Without Board • Same head and hand position as above floating activity • Little fast kicks will achieve better propulsion through the water • Manipulation should occur on the ledge or with kick-board so as not to scare swimmers or have them feel like they are being pushed under water 5. Staggered Arm Kicking • One arm up beside the ear – entry position for freestyle • One arm down beside the leg – exit position for freestyle • Arms stay still as feet kick • Chin on chest to achieve streamline position
6. 6 Kicks Change Drill • Land drill first for understanding Laurie shows swimmer what he wants • 6 kids promote a fast 6 beat kick for regular swimming • Little fast kicks then change arms • No breathing when first attempting this skill – cover short distance and gradually move out to longer distances • Physical manipulation assists learning – don’t’ cover swimmer’s hand too much so child feels the water with their hand • Thumb underneath the swimmer’s wrist and 2 fingers on top of the hand to guide the swimmers paddling movements 7. Bubble and Breathe to the Side • Swimmer practices only to one side breathing then alternates. The end product is bilateral breathing • This skill can be practiced with a board while getting it right 8. 6 Kicks Change Breathe to the Side when you need a Breath • Swimmer should breathe only when they need a breath, not every time • Work towards getting a reward (ring the champions bell) CONCLUSION These steps will produce excellent quality stroke development and allow swimmers to progress through the stages of learning freestyle at their own pace. Laurie loves teaching swimmers of all ages freestyle and the aim is always the same – step by step swimming following a building block approach. World Wide Swim School and USSA Partnership – Member Discounts! As a USSSA Member you will receive a 5% discount when joining World Wide Swim School. To find out more about World Wide Swim School go to worldwideswimschool.com/usssa. Listen to Laurie on his podcast ‘Stuff the Silver, We Are Going for Gold,’ get more info at https://laurielawrence.com.au
USSWIMSCHOOLS.ORG | 31
wholesale information: chase@sbrsportsinc.com 800-620-4094 www.sbrsportsinc.com
Better Water Quality, Lower Operating Costs
Your One Stop Shop For All Your Insurance Needs! “WHAT ELSE CAN GO RIGHT?”
TM
We Specialize in Children’s Sports & Fitness Facilities, Swim Programs and Liability for Lifeguards.
UP TO 50% SAVINGS! CALL FOR A QUOTE Toll Free 800.874.6704
Ask us about group medical plans that actually pay you back for low utilization!
We Consult You
Personal Service
Contact Us Online
www.Snyder1Stop.com 800.874.6704 Ray Snyder@InsureAsset.com
UNITED STATES SWIM SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
2
r
op
h
in
s
Sp
round 'emUp
0
F E BR
A
20 - 2 1 Y , R
02
U
7100 E. Cave Creek Rd., Suite 109 Cave Creek, AZ 85331
g Work
SUGAR LAND MARRIOTT TOWN SQUARE, SUGAR LAND, TX