USA Swimming Launches their newest program

I've read other blogs asking about what has USA Swimming done lately. Well last night they launched their new iphone app "Deck Pass." They had already changed "My USA Swimming" into the "Deck Pass" platform. This is great way for kids to track their times, realize accomplishments by achieving National Standards, see their friends progress in achievement, see their IMX score, and other aspects. For coaches, it allows you to hand out digital patches to your swimmers (I have already began to award patches for good practices). On the coaches site you can also see where your team ranks in the Virtual Club Championships.

I know people expect great amazing things from USA Swimming, but these small things can be utilized to help build our athletes. Deck Pass is a Facebook like program that kids can enjoy with modern technology. They also created IMR and IMX to help promote the idea of being a well-rounded swimmer, and to develop IMers (from previous post). Virtual Club Championships is a program that allows to see where you are as a team in your LSC, Zone, or the Nation. It is based off of having speed, but also rewards for being a bigger team and depth throughout the program. It is a way to judge performance at the whole club level for 18 and unders. Some may see these are just gimmicks, but these tools can be utilized to help motivate swimmers and teams.

USA Swimming also has established the Club Recognition program that can help teams develop a good foundation for a swim team. Club Excellence is a way to promote developing high level performers, and the new changes make it a even better program focusing on 18 and unders.

They are doing things for us as a NGB. Sure, they aren't perfect, but they are making efforts. I think that there have been some mistakes made, and some miss management of money within the organization, but they seem to be trying to improve the organization. A lot of bad headlines have come to light in the sport lately, and I hate that these incidents have happened, but it is good to shine a light on them because now we are getting rid of the few bad apples in our ranks. There is a lot of improvement that needs to occur, but at least the progress is being done.

I hope that coaches are able to utilize these programs, and take advantage of the programs in ways that they see fit for their team. We need to be creative, and look to catch the attention of the youth of our new age society. It isn't the same world from even 5 years ago, we need to stay ahead of the game and make the changes so that we continue to keep kids interested and in our sport.