Effective May 1st (2003), USA Swimming entered into an agreement with the American Red Cross to become the National Authorized Provider for Safety Training for Swim Coaches (STSC).There are several advantages to USA Swimming:

• USA Swimming will have access to a list of all instructors nation-wide
• USA Swimming can decide who the instructors will be & ensure that there are enough in every LSC (some ARC chapters have refused to accept our coaches as instructors)
• USA Swimming can ensure that there will be at least two ARC instructor-trainers in each LSC so that they can certify more coaches to be STSC instructors if necessary
• One ARC chapter (the Pikes Peak Chapter in Colorado Springs) will coordinate Safety Training for Swim Coaches and KNOW what is going on with this course (many ARC chapters have been under the impression that the course is no longer being taught)
• All instructor authorizations will be processed at the Pikes Peak Chapter, but paperwork is filtered down to the instructor's local chapter so that the instructor continues to maintain a good working relationship with his/her local chapter
• All course record sheets and evaluations are processed by the Pikes Peak Chapter, but copies are filtered down to the instructor's local chapter (LSCs will be able to send an e-mail to the Pikes Peak Chapter to verify if a coach has completed a course but doesn't have the card yet - usaswim@pparc.org)
• Instructors will have "extended" privileges across the country (our instructors can offer Safety Training for Swim Coaches in other areas if necessary)
• The Pikes Peak Chapter will maintain a website for USA Swimming that lists instructors by city and state, as well as a calendar of courses being offered around the country

USA Swimming feels that this agreement will benefit our coach members by making Safety Training for Swim Coaches available on a regular basis across the country, and eliminate the confusion that exists in many ARC chapters about this requirement.

THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY MAKE THE AMERICAN RED CROSS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF SAFETY COURSES FOR COACH MEMBERSHIP. Coaches can still be certified through the American Heart Association, Ellis & Associates, the National Safety Council, etc .A list of approved courses for coach membership is attached to this e-mail.

It is our goal to identify at least two Instructor-Trainers in each Local Swimming Committee who would be willing to help us maintain enough STSC instructors in each LSC in order to make the course available several times a year.

If you have any questions about this program, please don't hesitate to contact me.If your questions are related to ARC procedures, paperwork, certifications, etc. please contact Eva Ruane at the Pikes Peak Chapter at usaswim@pparc.org.I am also attaching a document that was sent to USA Swimming-identified ARC instructors with more information about the program.

USA Swimming hopes that this program will result in better delivery of the course, more instructors, and fast turn-around on cards (some chapters take 3 months to mail cards).

The ARC has 1200 chapters and each one does things their own way.With this new system, we hope to alleviate some of the problems that coaches have encountered in the past with their local ARC chapters. If your LSC or clubs already have written agreements with their local ARC chapters, you are not required to participate in this program. If that is the case, please let me know.

Please forward this email to your LSC Safety Chair and Coaches Rep. Thank you very much.

Cathy Durance

Member Services Coordinator
USA Swimming