Crisis and the churn at the pool
Some people say that there is a crisis in youth sports participation. To be sure, the levels of this crisis — or not — depend upon many factors including location, coaching, other opportunities, support from the society and culture, school district and more.
Click image for larger view. Source: USA Swimming. Chart of national retention percentages by years for swimmers in USA Swimming programs.
Overall retention has stayed pretty constant around 70%. USA Swimming had its second best year ever in 2017 with 74.2%. Basically means that 7 out of 10 athletes stay with the sport from one year to the next.
The 12-Under retention levels within USA Swimming hovers around 60%. Again 6-out-of-10 12-Unders athletes stay with the sport. Colleagues in other sports say they’d love to have that retention rate for younger kids.
And most of you already know that if a 13-Over-Swimmer is with your team, they are more than likely to stay with your team, since the retention hovers around 90%.
High School Athletes, guardians, coaches and school guidance workers
Everyone has to know this and be aware, as futures depend upon it.
NCAA Eligibility PDF
Source: http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA19.pdf
Swimmers in Pittsburgh: We’ve got some weekend fun on May 12, May 19 and June 2
SKWIM disk toss from play in the pool.
The Saturday Swim School is a labor of love with Coach Mark Rauterkus and a crew of other volunteers. We’re looking for Scouts, summer-swimmers, future lifeguards, and former Summer Dreamers to come out and join us as well.
11:30 am to 1 pm
Oliver High School
2323 Brighton Road, Pgh 15212
Team Meetings at Swim & Water Polo with SDA18 include CIRCLES
Expecting both team meetings and circle time in our Swim & Water Polo Camp in 2018. Ideas welcome.
With Summer Dreamers in 2018, #SDA18, our regular, daily, Swim & Water Polo Team Meeting is going to include some circle time. This new program wrinkle comes on the wake of a school district push to Restorative Justice.
Mindfulness history
A few years ago, a friend, Richard King, PhD, helped to launch and lead a practice with circles with the students in a program he championed, Mindful Gardening. He is not leading any SDA activities in 2018., sadly.
Wishing for sanity and dialog in recent seasons
In 2017 as well as in the early part of 2018, I would have welcomed the on going use of restorative practices within PPS programs. The kids were fine. I needed the circles among a few of the adults who were going in different directions.
Circles and community slide from PPS training.
This offers a dramatic mind shift for some at PPS. With us at the swim pool, not so much. Sure, it is a new wrinkle. New touchstones are going to be needed. But we have always had an approach that gives students a voice, some choices, and builds upon respect.
Ideas and tools to implement the new circle time at Swim & Water Polo are welcome. We hope to document the process and offer more examples.
City Jobs program for youth of certain households. Pass the word now and apply!
Both work sites and young people need to step up now.
You can always call the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, as part of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation too. Main site, Jobs4Summer.org.
Learn and Earn 4 9 2018Those who do not qualify for the Learn & Earn can apply for work with our Swim & Water Polo efforts at a google form.
PDF above is 9 pages. Click the buttons to navigate. Or, download the PDF.
The Water is My Sky
New swimming film in final stages.
Seed&Spark Case for Optimism Campaign from The Water Is My Sky on Vimeo.
The pledge goals are already achieved. Bravo!
Best hashtags of the year:
- #WIMS
- #CASEFOROPTIMISM
First 2-minutes of the film
The Water is My Sky: First 2 Minutes from The Water Is My Sky on Vimeo.