2009 FS LC Championship Date Changes Official- On August 24, 2008, Florida Swimming Board of Director's with the recommendation from the Florida Swimming Technical Planning Committee passed the date change of the 2009 FS Long Course Junior Olympic Championship, to July 16-19, 2009, to be hosted by Gulf Coast Swim Team, Ft. Myers, Florida.  Also, passed was the date change of the 2009 Florida State Senior Swimming Championship, to July 23-26, 2009, to be hosted by Indian River Aquatic, Ft. Pierce, Florida.

Changes to Safety Training for Swim Coaches Requirement for 2009 Registration Year (USASwimming.org)- Information has been sent to LSC Registration Chairs about the updated Safety Training for Swim Coaches requirement.  These changes take effect for the 2009 registration year which begins in September.  The main change is that all coaches must successfully complete the online (25 questions) Safety Training for Swim Coaches written test.  

There are several options for completing the rest of the certification process:

1.    “Challenge” the course.

     A.    Take the online test and then demonstrate the required water skills to a certified Red Cross instructor who will issue a Safety Training for Swim Coaches card.

2.    Present a valid and current lifeguarding card (Red Cross, American Lifeguard Association, Ellis and Associates, YMCA Lifeguarding, or StarGuard) along with email confirmation of the online Safety Training Test to your LSC Registration person.

3.    Take a full Red Cross Safety Training for Swim Coaches 8 hour course. This includes the written test.

The options are explained more fully on the coaches’ page of the USA Swimming website.

Dave Thomas, USA Swimming, will be presenting the USA-S Club Leadership & Business Management class. (Attendance for this class is mandatory for new clubs and it is recommended that renewing clubs have 1 member attend.)  Out of LSC clubs are also welcome to attend.

Also, on the agenda for Saturday will be coach certification classes, Athlete Committee meeting, Official’s Committee, Technical Planning and the FS Board of Director’s meeting.  More information and the week-ends agenda will be published soon.

Coaches Safety Curriculum Updated- the 2007-2008 USA Swimming Coaches Safety Curriculum Requirements and Equivalents have been updated.  To get the latest list, Click Here.

120 Day Rule Waiver for Olympic Trials- Attached is a waiver for the Olympic Trials with respect to the 120 Day Rule as issued by Bruce Stratton, Chair of the Rules and Regulations Committee.  Click Here to download waiver.

USA Swimming Introduces Ultimate Coach Resource- USA Swimming’s ultimate coaching education resource, “Foundations of Coaching,” is now available on DVD for the first time. The two-DVD set provides over four hours of education for coaches of all levels. The project, which was supported by the U.S. Olympic Committee, is the new required resource for USA Swimming’s updated Foundations of Coaching certification test.

The DVD is hosted by seven-time U.S. Olympic coach and USA Swimming National Team Head Coach and General Manager Mark Schubert. Included are chapters on philosophy and ethics, administration and organization, stroke technique and workout development. Among the highlights are practical tips from top U.S. coaches, including 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Coach Eddie Reese and 2007 World Championships coaches Bob Bowman, Teri McKeever, Sean Hutchison and Bill Rose.  In addition USA Swimming Nutritionist Charlene Boudreau provides a “grocery store tour,” to teach coaches about proper dietary choices for their swimmers.  The DVD includes access to over 50 downloadable coaching education files and documents.

The Foundations of Coaching DVD is available for purchase at www.usaswimming.org and www.swimmingcoach.org. The cost for the two-DVD set is $25.

FS Rules & Regulations Adopted 4/12/2008- Changes in Article 33 & Article 43:

Article 33 - Infraction of Rules

233.4     Clubs swimming unregistered swimmers will be fined $50.00 per swimmer.  Each additional   offense occurring during the same registration season by a FS chartered club will be $50.00 per swimmer and an additional $100.00 fine to the club.

Article 43 – Sanctions

443.1.1     (d) Each reposting of originally sanctioned meet information or HYV entry file will require an additional fee of $20.00.

FHSAA State Series Assignments Updated for 2008-09 Fall, Winter Sports (From FHSAA.org)- Schools should check listings to verify accuracy.  Assignments for the 2008-09 FHSAA state championship series in all fall and winter sports have been updated for the 2008-09 school year. These listings reflect requests submitted by schools to be assigned to or removed from state series competition for the 2008-09 school year. Each school should check the assignments in each sport to verify that it is accurately listed. Updates to state series assignments for the 2008-09 school year in spring sports will be made over the summer.
» State series assignments index

2008 Florida Swimming Handbooks Now Available- Each 2008 chartered FS club has been mailed a 2008 FS Handbook.  Anyone who desires a copy of their own, can forward a check or money order for $6.00 to the Florida Swimming Office and one will be mailed to you.  These handbooks include a list of the organizations officers and committees, Florida Swimming Member Club contact information; Registered Officials, Event Schedule; Championship Time Standards; Florida Swimming Records; Personnel directory, FS Standing Rules & Regulations; FS Registration Procedures and More!  This is a must have handbook for the parents & swimmers of Florida Swimming.

2008 Zone Team Eligibility Changed- The qualifying standard for the Age Group Zone Championship this summer has changed.  Any swimmer under the US Open cut may participate.  In the past, National level swimmers were excluded entirely – even for achieving just one National cut.  This year, swimmers may swim at the Zone meet in there non-US Open events!  A great option for those border line athletes with one or two Open Cuts.  Swimmers in the Zone meet are allowed 6 events and relays.  Swim Fast!

USA Swimming Seeks Assistant Coaches for Zone Select Camps- USA Swimming is now accepting applications for assistant coaching positions for the four Zone Select Camps to be held in the Spring. Applicants may apply only within their own zones. All applications must be submitted to USA Swimming by February 29...  Read more...

NCSA Junior National Update- Coaches & Friends:   We wanted to give you an update on the 2008 NCSA Junior Nationals... We're 53 days out, and hope your season is shaping up well...

#1: Meet Information:  The Meet Information is posted on the NCSA Website, with the format, time standards, info, etc.  Meet Information Guide: http://ncsassociation.homestead.com/08_NCSA_JUNIORS_MEET_INFORMATION.pdf  

#2: Team Commitments Page:  The Team Commitments Page is updated for the 2008 Meet, please fill out the form so that we can get you on the website and plan for the meet in a few months.  http://ncsassociation.homestead.com/teamcommitments.html

#3: Entering the Meet:  We will be using the USA Swimming OME system again this year, and will be posting details on the NCSA website in the next week or so…

#4: Hotel Blocks:  We have some hotel blocks set up and will get the info on the website in the next week

That's it for now, if you have any questions or need anything as we're approaching the championship season, feel free to drop me a note....  See you at the pool!

Kevin Milak, President – National Club Swimming Association, Email: kevinmilak@hotmail.com, Cell: 832-233-0234, Web: http://ncsassociation.homestead.com/

FS Looking for Zone Team Coaches- Florida Swimming is always looking for interested volunteer coaches for the Florida Swimming Zone All-Star Team Coaching Staff.  This year we will be sending 48 swimmers ages 11-18 to Atlanta for the USA Swimming Zone Age Group Championships.  The meet is being held at the Olympic Venue on Georgia Tech’s Campus and will run July 29 - August 3^rd.

If you are interested in volunteering for the Zone Team Staff, please Click Here, fill out the information and return it to the Florida Swimming Office as soon as possible.

For more information, contact Sherwood Watts, FS Age Group Chairman at swatts@sarasota-ymca.org.

Scholastic All-America Applications Online (USASwimming.org)- The Scholastic All-America Team applications have now been posted. For the 2007-2008 program year, a few changes have been implemented, including uniform time standards that an applicant must achieve to be considered for the program. For more details on eligibility, selection method and the awards available, visit the Applications & Forms section of the USA Swimming web site and download the application.

2008 List of Prohibited Substances Goes Into Effect January 1- Please note that the 2008 List of Prohibited Substances goes into effect January 1, 2008. See the advisory from USADA (below) that summarizes the changes.  Coaches, please have your athletes check the status of all medications before they take them! This can be done at www.usantidoping.org/dro or 1-800-233-0393. 

The 2008 Guide to Prohibited Substances can be downloaded here:  http://www.usantidoping.org/files/active/what/usada_guide.pdf.  The 2008 Wallet Card can be downloaded here: http://www.usantidoping.org/files/active/what/wallet_card.pdf...  Read More...

More information will be available before the Holidays at the NCSA Website (http://ncsassociation.homestead.com/).