Dear Coach,

1. State of the Sport
2. Swimsuit Information
3. 2009 USA Swimming Awards

Wielgus gives State of the Sport speech - Highlights

At his annual State of the Sport speech on Saturday, USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus shared the organizational successes over the past year, while sharply focusing on the challenges ahead in

the next year. Looking back on the year prior, Wielgus suggested that Swimming has become the “glamour sport of the Olympics.”

“The bar has been raised” said Wielgus, who recognized National Team athletes, and specifically Michael Phelps, for bringing more attention to the sport of swimming. Wielgus also repeated the organization’s core objectives of “Build, Promote and Achieve.” Few organizations, he said, enjoy objectives that have such complete buy-in, and that remain consistently relevant. Taking stock of the past year, Wielgus stated that “USA Swimming’s vital signs are good.” Among those positive signs, Wielgus cited strong leadership, a positive and cooperative relationship between staff and volunteer leadership, and a solid financial position.

Build the Base

Among USA Swimming’s 2009 successes, Wielgus cited the historic 11.2% membership increase- accounting for an influx of 30,000 new athletes into USA Swimming clubs. Along with new members, Wielgus praised the retention rate of 73% and the shrinking gap between the number of males and females in the sport.The USA Swimming Foundation also earned mention, after bringing in $11 Million in donations.

The USA Swimming Foundation’s primary initiative, Make a Splash, has also enjoyed great success, Wielgus stated, with 142,000 children take swimming lessons since the initiative’s inception in 2007. The organization believes strongly in this initiative, stated Wielgus, and therefore will continue to put resources and staff behind it. Wielgus shared the actions by Olympic gold-medalist Cullen Jones, who in 2009 joined the USA Swimming Foundation and partner ConocoPhillips on a six-city event series that saw the star meet with key community and public leaders, speak to thousands of school children, and put the Make a Splash initiative on front pages across the nation. In a similar vein, Wielgus promised that the organization will continue to focus efforts on diversity and cultural inclusion.
 
Wielgus praised the USA Swimming dues increase of 2003, which provided funding for its Club Development Division. The increased revenue has been reinvested in grassroots services, to develop clubs and coaches who Wielgus called, “our lifeblood.” This program is being measured by several benchmarking programs which USA Swimming hopes to expand in the future.

Also, while Club Development representatives visited more than 500 clubs this year, USA Swimming will continue to expand its reach by embracing “decentralization” in 2010. This effort will include holding coaching clinics in under-served rural and urban areas in an effort to reach more new coaches. Also, the annual “Build a Pool” conference, previously held in Colorado Springs, will morph into five “regional” conferences in 2010.

Promote the Sport
 
Under the heading of “promote the sport,” Wielgus singled out the renewed, 10-year partnership with long-time sponsor, ConocoPhillips. ConocoPhillips earned high praise from Wielgus for its commitment to increase activation surrounding the sponsorship, specifically raising the bar on the annual National Championships.  A number of events in 2010 offer the opportunity for USA Swimming to promote its sport and athletes, Wielgus stated.

Among them, the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool is expected to take place in Great Britain in December, and will receive television coverage on NBC. The annual USA Swimming Grand Prix Series continues to seek more media attention, including television or webcast coverage. In August, the USA will host the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, featuring the U.S. team as well as competitors from non-European nations. NBC will broadcast the Pan Pacific’s.

These events, Wielgus stated, represent USA Swimming’s opportunity to keep swimming in the public attention in the years between Olympic Games. Looking forward, Wielgus also expressed his pleasure with the decision to return the 2012 Olympic Team Trials to Omaha, Nebraska.

Along with its premier events, USA Swimming’s media relationships, specifically the relationship with NBC, offer the opportunity to promote the sport. Where in the past, USA Swimming has purchased time for its events on NBC, the organization now enjoys a four-year contract with the Olympic broadcaster, which ensures more coverage for the sport of swimming.
 
Also in the vein of promotion, USA Swimming is directing funds and efforts into the digital space. By reducing production costs of its magazine, Splash, the organization will shift significant funds toward its digital strategy.

Central to this strategy, are USA Swimming’s two wholly-owned websites, Swimnetwork.com and USA Swimming.org.

Achieve Competitive Success

Focusing on the final core objective of “achieve competitive success,” Wielgus warned that the “hill is getting steeper,” as evidenced by the participation and successful training of foreign athletes in NCAA programs.  In 2009, athletes from 47 countries competed at the NCAA Championships.

“American college coaches are doing a great job training our competition,” Wielgus joked, eliciting laughter from the crowd of more than 400 delegates. “This provides our athletes with the opportunity to raise their game.”

In its effort to be successful against other swimming nations, USA Swimming looks to its “High Performance Plan” in cooperation with the U.S. Olympic Committee, which funds approximately 50% of the USA Swimming

National Team program. This relationship with the USOC, Wielgus said, is critical to the success of U.S. swimmers on the international stage.

On the lower end of the scale, USA Swimming is increasing its investment in the National Youth Team program. The purpose of this program is to provide more athletes with international and National Team experience at a younger age. “I think we are all proud of how our athletes represent the U.S.,” said Wielgus, stating that this program offers positive exposure for up-and-coming swimmers.

Trends to Watch

Wielgus also identified several areas that USA Swimming will “watch” over the coming year.

Those areas are:

• Membership trends, including the retention rate and ratio of male and female swimmers.
• The growth of the Make a Splash initiative and the organization’s efforts to advance diversity and cultural inclusion.
• The development of USA Swimming’s digital platform, specifically swimnetwork.com.
• The Chicago 2016 bid, and the organization’s ability to adapt to the opportunities or challenges resulting from the decision on October 2.
• The performance of top athletes at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, which will serve as the best opportunity to evaluate progress toward the 2012 Games.

Wielgus concluded his speech by thanking the USA Swimming headquarters staff, individual coaches, coaching organizations including CSCA and ASCA, athletes and volunteers.

USA Swimming Adopts October 1 Ban on Full-Body Suits 

At its annual Convention on Saturday, over 400 USA Swimming Delegates, representing swim clubs from all 50 states, voted overwhelmingly for early implementation of a ban on high-tech swimsuits. The legislation, which will go into effect on October 1, regulates swimsuits worn in all USA Swimming–sanctioned competitions.

The Amendment to Rule 102.9 reads, in part:

“All swimsuits shall be made from textile materials. For men, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel nor below the knees, and for women, shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor extend below the knee.” 

Textile fabric is defined as material consisting of natural and/or synthetic, individual and non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting and/or braiding.

The legislation will go into effect here in the U.S. three months before FINA, swimming’s international governing body, is expected to implement the same rule for international competition.

“As an organization, we have been working with FINA and other swimming nations to find a solution that will ensure a fair and even playing field for all swimmers, and that will ultimately advance the best interests of our sport,” said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming Executive Director. “With Saturday’s vote, our membership has sent a clear message that it wanted this action taken sooner, rather than later. We hope that this action will put the emphasis back where it belongs – on our athletes, their training and hard work.”

The regulation will apply to all levels of USA Swimming meets.

Click here to read the official correspondence on this issue.

http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/a972702d-31da-40b3-81de-dc81018033d6/Letter%20to%20members%20re%20swimsuits.pdf

USA Swimming Names Ryan Lochte Athlete of the Year
Phelps Nabs ConocoPhillips Performance Award for 100m Fly World Championship Gold
Open Water Ambassador Sid Cassidy Wins USA Swimming Award                   

CHICAGO, Ill. – After winning five medals, including four gold, at the 2009 FINA World Championships, two-time Olympian Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) was named USA Swimming’s Athlete of the Year at the U.S Aquatic Sports Banquet on Saturday. World Championship teammate Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) took the ConocoPhillips Performance of the Year Award for his dramatic win in the 100m butterfly at World Championships.  

In total, 16 awards were given out at the 2009 USA Swimming Annual Convention.

Three open water swimmers were recognized with Emily Brunnemann (Crescent Springs, Ky.) taking Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year honors. World Championship medalists Andrew Gemmel (Wilmington, Del.) and Fran Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.) shared the Men’s award.

In an emotional presentation on Friday evening, the Disability Coach of the Year Award was presented posthumously to Paralympic Coach Jimi Flowers, who died tragically in July. The award was accepted by Jimi’s wife. The award has been re-named to honor the late coach. 

Two other awards were presented in Disability swimming. The Disability Swimming Service Award was presented to Keith Kennedy, while the Trischa L. Zorn Disability Swimmer of the Year Award went to American record-holder Mallory Weggeman.

Three other coaches were honored for their performances in 2009. Longhorn Aquatics’ Eddie Reese was recognized as the American Swim Coaches Association Coach of the Year. From North Baltimore Aquatic Club, Bob Bowman received the Terao Award as World Swimming Coaches’ Association Coach of the Quadrennial, and Mission Viejo skipper Bill Rose was honored as Developmental Coach of the Year.

The USA Swimming Award, USA Swimming’s most prestigious annual honor, was presented to Sid Cassidy. Cassidy serves as chairman of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, and has served on the committee since 1996. Cassidy, who is recognized as a major contributor to the addition of the Open Water 10K to the Olympic program, also served as USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Team head coach for five years from 1991-1996. 

A complete list of the award winners is below.

AWARD                                                   RECIPIENT                                  

Glenn S. Hummer Award                          Jay Thomas                                 
Established in 1978 and named for an Olympian and Coach, the Glen S. Hummer Award is given annually to the person or group making the greatest contribution to Long Distance Swimming.

Female Open WaterSwimmer of the Year  Emily Brunneman                       

Established in 1985, the Open Water Committee Award is presented by the USA Swimming Open Water Swimming Committee to the person or group judged as making a major contribution to open water swimming the previous year.

Male Open Water                                   Andrew Gemmel and                  

Swimmer of the Year                              Fran Crippen

Established in 1984, the Open Water Swimmer of the Year Award is presented by the USA Swimming Open Water Swimming Committee to the swimmer judged as the most outstanding open water swimmer of the previous year.

Adolph Kiefer SafetyCommendation Award   Jenny Burgess                                                                                                                 

Awarded to an individual or organization for demonstrating outstanding commitment to aquatic safety.  Recipient selected by the USA Swimming Safety Education Committee; not necessarily awarded every year.

Disability Swimming Service Award     Keith Kennedy                               

The Disabled Swimming Service Award is presented to an individual (swimmer, coach, volunteer) who has made significant contributions to competitive swimming for athletes with a disability. Members of the Disabled Swimming Committee nominate candidates at the mid-year committee meeting. The vote, by all members of the Disabled Swimming Committee, also takes place at the mid-year meeting. This award originated in the year 2000.

James Raymond (Jimi) Flowers Disability Committee Coachof the Year Award
 Jimi Flowers                               

Accepted by Sue Flowers                       

This award was established in 2009. It honors coaches with outstanding inclusion of swimmers with a disability under the nominee’s direct coaching assignment and / or promotion of swimmers with a disability and disability swimming within the nominee’s sphere of influence.  Contributions to inclusion may include club, LSC, national, or international examples. This demonstration of inclusion and influence should be evident as part of the nominee’s ongoing coaching philosophy.

Disability Swimmer of the Year Award (Trischa L. Zorn Award)      Mallory Weggeman 

The Trischa L. Zorn Award is presented to the swimmer (or relay team) with a disability with the most outstanding performances during the previous year. Anyone present at the USA Swimming Disability Championships may nominate a swimmer for the award. A screening committee comprised of a few members of the Disabled Swimming Committee selects finalists. The chairperson(s) of the Disabled Swimming Committee prepares a ballot, then all members of the Disabled Swimming Committee vote to determine the winner. The vote is conducted by mail. This award originated in the year 2000.

Diversity Inclusion Award                   Arthur Lopez                                           

Established in 2006, the Diversity Inclusion Award is presented to the person or group who has positively heightened the awareness of inclusion efforts through various modes and media resulting in the increase and successful participation of currently underrepresented groups in the sport. 

Kenneth J. Pettigrew Award               John Wilson                                     

This award was created to honor Ken Pettigrew, a swimming official who devoted over 30 years to the sport of swimming.  Each year the recipient is chosen by the USA Swimming Officials Committee.

ASCA Coach of the Year Award        Eddie Reese                         

Awarded this year at the ASCA Convention in Fort Lauderdale.

The ASCA Award is 47 years old. The first one awarded was to James "Doc" Counsilman in 1961. It honors the American Coach who has done the most in the past 12 months to improve American International Swimming Performance.  It is annually presented at the ASCA Clinic in early September.  Twice in the past, it has been presented at the USAS convention, due to the timing of the Olympic Games, in 1988 and 2000.

TERAO Award                                    Bob Bowman                                               

Presented by the World Swimming Coaches Association to the Coach of the Quadrennial

Developmental Coach of the Year Award       Bill Rose                                                      

The Developmental Coach of the Year Award is for coaches who develop athletes a step or two away from major national or international success.  The winner of the award is the coach who places the most swimmers on the National Junior Team.

Athletes Appreciation Award              Janet Evans                                      

Conceived by the USA Swimming Athletes Committee in 1983, the Athletes Appreciation Award recognizes the individual or organization perceived by the committee to have contributed most significantly to the Athletes Movement.

ConocoPhillips Performance Award  Michael Phelps                                

This award is presented to an American swimmer who gives the single most outstanding performance during the year.  This award is voted on by selected coaches, athlete representatives and members of the swimming media.

USA Swimming Award                       Sid Cassidy

The USA Swimming Award was established in 1981 to recognize exceptional contributions to the sport of swimming.  The award is presented each year to an individual or organization selected for financial, material or service contributions to USA Swimming.  The award is a two-thirds life-size bronze sculpture of a swimmer mounted over a wave of marble.

Athlete of the Year                              Ryan Lochte                                                             
The Swimmer of the Year Award is presented to the athlete judged by the USA Swimming House of Delegates as the most outstanding swimmer of the previous year.