Today USA Swimming launched a dedicated web page dedicated to Athlete Protection.  The hot link to this page is http://www.usaswimming.org/protect.   This page has links to information for athletes, parents, coaches and volunteers. In the coming months, there will more information released as the programs authorized by the House of Delegates are developed and implemented.

IMMEDIATE IMPORTANT INFORMATION for Florida Swimming   There are THREE topics that need your IMMEDIATE attention following the USA Swimming House of Delegates legislation passed in Dallas, TX, September 18, 2010:   1.     COACH BACKGROUND SCREENS   A. All NEW coaches registering between now and 12/31/2010 must pass the current background check before they can be a coach on deck. New coach procedure has not changed.  B. FOR ANY EXISTING COACHES WHOSE BACKGROUND CHECK EXPIRES ON OR BEFORE 12/31/2010: DO NOT initiate a renewal background screen until the new procedure for...

2010 FL CONVENTION & FL HOUSE OF DELEGATES MEETING – OCTOBER 2-3, 2010: The FL Convention and FL HOD meeting is being held at Mission Inn Resort & Club, 10400 County Road 48, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida 34737. ( Map) BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW, 352-324-3101!   PROGRAM - October 2, 2010         Internet/Cybercrimes/Child Predators Seminar, 9:00 A.M. Presented by: ICAC, Internet Crimes Against Children (Information for Coaches, USA-S/FL Clubs, Officials, Parents) FS Coach Re-Certification Classes, 9:00 A.M. FS Athlete Committee Meeting, 10:00 A.M. FS Officials Committee Meeting, 11:00 A.M. FS...

 USA Swimming has released the Scholastic All American list for 2009 to 2010. Florida Swimming LSC had 58 swimmers on the list. View the list here. (revised 9/28)

Ryan Lochte was named USA Swimming’s Swimmer of the Year at the annual U.S. Aquatic Sports Awards Banquet Saturday. The two-time Olympian won six gold medals at the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships, and was the high-point winner at the 2010 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships. The award was the second in two days for Lochte, who won the ConocoPhillips Performance Award on Friday. USA Swimming presented its most prestigious award, the USA Swimming Award, to backstroke legend and safety activist Adolph Kiefer. The 1936 Olympian has dedicated...

Through decisive action at today's House of Delegates meeting, USA Swimming will expand its athlete protection efforts across multiple areas. The measures, which were put forth by the Board of Directors, will educate the membership on the issue, implement athlete protection policies, expand background checking to include all non-athlete members and require those employees and volunteers that interact with athletes to become members, and therefore undergo background checking. Additionally, the House of Delegates passed legislation making it mandatory to report credible information regarding sexual abuse. By USA Swimming bylaws, the above legislation...

DALLAS, Texas, September 18. AT the USA Swimming House of Delegates meeting, current chair of the Rules & Regulations Committee Bruce Stratton won the election to replace outgoing two-term USA Swimming President Jim Wood. Stratton has been a USA Swimming official for the past 25 years, and has served as a chair for a total of eight years. Currently, he's also a member of the Olympic International Operations Committee and is the United States Sports Insurance Company Treasurer. He also served on the Professional Swimming Task Force during the past...

  USA Swimming recognized volunteers, coaches and athletes at its award presentation on Friday night. Headlining the list of award winners was Olympic gold-medalist Ryan Lochte, who won the ConocoPhillips Performance award for his gold-medal-winning performance in the 200m IM at the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships. Also honored was Lochte’s coach Gregg Troy (Gainesville, Fla.) who was named ASCA Coach of the Year. Todd Schmitz (Aurora, Colo.), coach of phenom Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.) was awarded Developmental Coach of the Year.   Also highlighting the evening, outgoing...

DALLAS, Texas, September 15, 2010. IN the middle of USA Swimming's annual convention in Dallas, Texas, Mark Schubert took a paid leave of absence effective immediately from his duties as USA Swimming's national team head coach. A development that can only be described as shocking, USA Swimming released a statement to Swimming World saying that "Out of respect for individual privacy, and as a matter of policy, USA Swimming does not comment on personnel issues." Swimming World confirmed through credible sources that the reason for the sudden announcement had nothing...

The Florida Swimming Nominating Committee has posted their recommended slate of officers for the 2011 Florida Swimming Board of Directors.  Elections will take place at the Annual Convention on October 3 in the House of Delegates meeting.  Nominations will be accepted from the floor. Candidates applications that were submitted by the deadline can be viewed here.