Sleep – What is it Good For?   “Sleep deprivation is an illegal torture method outlawed by the Geneva Convention and international courts, but most of us do it to ourselves” Ryan Hurd.   Elite athletes compete on rest and recovery, so sleep is an essential part of their performance armory. We might not all need this type of forensic approach to sleep, but there’s certainly a good opportunity for us to ensure we’re not missing out on essential sleep benefits. So, this guide will help you ensure you’re getting...

Is Your Young Athlete Ready to Start Training   Children gradually gain skill, balance, coordination, and strength through unstructured play. At some point we add structured sports to the mix and increase the focus on certain types of movement and strength (shooting baskets, hitting baseballs, sprinting 100 meters, etc.). But at what point should children begin structured conditioning, like strength training or running intervals, designed to improve their physical ability to perform better in sports? When is too early? If your child wants to train, what do you do? Continue...

Parenting Toolkit From U. S. Center for SafeSport   The U.S. Center for SafeSport has published a series of Parent Tool Kits. While the tool kits are aimed at parents, the information is helpful to anyone wanting to better understand the forms, signs and means of preventing abuse. To view the complete guide, covering all identified age groups, click on the “complete parent tool kit.” To view a particular age group, click on the associated link.    Complete Parent Tool Kit   Parents of Preschool Children Parents of School-Age Children Parents of Middle...

Understanding Intense Pre-Meet Anxiety and Panic Attacks By Dr. Alan Goldberg   How nervous do you get before your big meets? Are you the kind of swimmer whose butterflies seem to quickly multiply out of control as your best event approaches? Do you sometimes suffer from pre-race panic attacks that steal your confidence and sap your energy? Do you notice that your anxiety isn't just limited to the pool and racing, but often shows up in academic or social settings as well?   Continue  

USADA News   Resources: The negative effects of performance-enhancing drugs can drastically alter the human body and biological functions. Learn more at    Many athletes need to use pain medications  at some point, but they have to be mindful of which products are allowed in sport. #antidoping   Supplements: Per the @US_FDA, "Muscle building" and "weight loss" dietary #supplements are some of the products most commonly spiked  with drugs or other illegal ingredients. #BeInformed  

Psych Sheets, Timelines & Heat Sheets Posted for Classic   Meet Management has releasd the Estimated Timelines along with the Psych Sheets and Heat Sheets for next weekend's Tampa Bay Swim Classic. The meet will take place Friday through Sunday, June 1-3, at the North Shore Aquatic Center, in St. Petersburg.  Please be sure to dowlnload your Heat Sheets prior to attending the meet, as there will be limited availability and they will be priced at a premium.   To go to the Official Meet Webpage and get all the...

New Training Suits from Funky Trunks and Funkita Up for Grabs   We’re getting set for Memorial Day festivities by giving you the chance to score new training suits from the latest  Funky Trunks and  Funkita collection. Making a splash in the water and on pool decks across the US, Funky Trunks and Funkita splash out on brilliant colours and have over 1000 unique prints to their name. The Aussie brands took their sponsored swimmers for a post-Commonwealth Games party to let their hair down before getting prepped for Australian...

10 Sure-Fire Ways to Spot a Swim Parent By Bailey Duran, Swimming World Intern. Many people have no problem spotting swimmers from a mile away with these telltale features: a bulky bag, messy bun filled with dead hair (for the girls), dry skin, tired eyes, goggle and cap tan lines, and the wide-eyed fear whenever the word “butterfly” is used, no matter the context. Swim parents, however, can be more difficult to spot. They wear a camouflage much like any other parent, but a few distinct characteristics sets swim parents...

FLAGS Meet Announcement Finally Arrives   The Florida Swimming Age Group Committee has finally released the 2018 Florida Swimming Age Group Championships Meet Announcement.  To check it out, Click Here .  There is also Hotel Information and more available oin the Event Page.

5 Gum Runs Ads Featuring Senior Citizens' Inspiring Stories   5 Gum has rolled out a group of ads that feature the inspiring stories from senior citizens who felt like they missed their golden opportunities in life, and the way their stories now have impacted the lives of younger generations. One spot in particular focused on Stanford, who grew up in Chicago in the 1960s. In his two minute spot, Stanford recounts his natural talent and dedication to swimming, but the societal obstacles that blocked him from continuing the sport...