April and May Team Services Update from Mike Novell

Susan Huckeby

Coaches and Team Leaders,

I hope everyone’s Long Course season is off to a great start!  This monthly communication is intended to keep you abreast of USA Swimming information, upcoming events and educational opportunities.  As your team advisor I am committed to collaborating with you to help you meet any challenges and achieve your goals in the areas of performance, growth, retention, and program development.  Please know I am only a phone call of email away.

I will be out on the road visiting various LSC’s, coaching clinics, and meets over the next two months.  Here is my upcoming schedule:

April 30 - May 2          National Diversity Select Camp

May 11-14                   Southern California Swimming Club Visits

May 15th                      International Water Safety Day – Los Angeles, CA

May 27th-30th              IES Club Visits and TCCC Invite

June 1-4                      Las Vegas Club Visits

June 4-7                      Western/Central Zone Select Camp/Regional Coaches Clinic

 

PROGRAMS, OPPORTUNITIES, & RESOURCES

  1. 2026 Regional Coaches’ Clinics at Zone Select Camps

This two‑day professional development experience is designed to support coaches in strengthening both their technical expertise and leadership capabilities, while expanding their network with other elite coaches from across the country.

The 2026 curriculum is centered around intentionally preparing athletes for advancement between the Sectional and National levels.  Throughout the clinic, presenters will address key components of readiness, including:

  1. Understanding the expectations and qualities of a National‑Level swimmer,
  2. Utilizing a repeatable developmental framework to guide progress,
  3. Recognizing that athlete progression should be designed, measurable, and holistic,
  4. Replacing guesswork with evidence‑informed coaching approaches, and
  5. Enhancing strokes, drills, and season planning through collaborative discussions.

Registration & Cost

  • Individual Registration: $125
  • Team Registration (up to five coaches): $250
  • Lunch is provided each day.

June 5-6 at the Central/Western Zone Select Camp, UNLV, Las Vegas, NV, |REGISTER HERE through May 27!  A room block is available at a discounted rate upon completion of the registration.  Speakers: Mark Hesse & Mike Novell – USA Swimming and Ron Aitken – Sandpipers of Las Vegas

June 12-13 at the Eastern/Southern Zone Select Camp, The Westin BWI Airport, Baltimore MD | REGISTER HERE through June 3!  A room block is available at a discounted rate upon completion of the registration.  Speakers: Terry Jones & Dana Skelton – USA Swimming and TBD             

  1. NEW! Summer League Education Curriculum

Following a successful pilot program last year our new summer league education catalog is live!  If you are looking for ways to connect with and support your area summer league coaches and officials, please share this information with them.  They are not required to be USA Swimming members to access the classes.  Click here to see the catalog and resource documents.

  • The Summer League Coaching course is ~90 minutes and covers:
    • Quality coaching principles
    • Fundamentals of all four strokes and the IM
    • Working with kids
    • Communication
    • Practice design
  • Officials’ courses are also available
  1. Webpage Resource Highlight

The Coaches and Team Leaders Home Page connects you to a multitude of resources to help you lead a stable, successful team including the Marketing Toolkit, Clinic and Webinar info, the US Olympic & Paralympic Grassroots hub, BoardSource, Anti-Doping and much more.  To access this information from the USA Swimming home page, select Coaches & Team Leaders from the top menu and click on the light blue Coaches and Team Leaders.  Selecting the red “View All Coaching” button connects you to multiple downloadable templates for Season and Practice Planning, recording splits, and Staff Meetings and Evaluation.  Alternatively, scrolling down and selecting the “2025 Member Resource Guide Learn More” button will direct to our recent best practices for retention studies.  Have fun exploring!

  1. 2026 Women in Governance Workshop

The Women in Governance program is geared towards identifying, educating, supporting and mentoring female coaches who wish to be more involved in organizational governance.

Mission statement: Uniting and Empowering Women Swim Coaches

Do you know a passionate coach in your LSC who is interested in furthering her coaching career by expanding into governance?  Click here to nominate her to participate in the 9-week fellowship program.

This hybrid professional development opportunity is geared towards women swim coaches across the country who have little to no governance experience.  There are eight virtual Zoom meetings and one in-person session.  Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about governance in our sport at both the local and national levels.

The in-person session will be held at the USA Swimming Annual Summit in Denver, Colo. September 23-27, 2026. LSC’s are asked to cover the in-person program registration fee ($75), travel and lodging expenses for attendees in their LSC.

The program consists of approximately 58 individual members, with priority given to LSC nominated individuals first.  Self-nominations will fill any additional empty spots.

Please complete the entire nomination application before Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to be considered.

  1. Online Coaching Networks

These virtual clinics are a great way to learn from experts and your coaching peers without the hassle of travel! Network webinars are open to all coaches and club leaders.

  1. 10 & under Coaching Network Webinar | Team Culture is Your Superpower – join USA Swimming SafeSport’s Michael Mares and Cha’vera Jackson as they discuss team building, creating confident athletes, developing a supportive, involved parent partnership
    1. May 11 | noon ET | Register
    2. May 20 | 2:30 ET | Register
  2. 11-14 Coaching Network Webinar | Age Group Coaches as Head Coach: Models for Leadership
    1. May 27 | noon ET | Register

Did you miss a past Coaching Network session? You can watch the recording HERE

  1. Virtual Safe Sport Trainings

USA Swimming Safe Sport staff host monthly Zoom trainings for parents and minor athletes to assist clubs in completing the Training and Education requirement of the Safe Sport Club Recognition program.

  1. For Parents:
    1. May 19 | 8 p.m. ET | Register, June 23 | 8 p.m. ET | Register
  2. For Athletes:
    1. May 21 | 8 p.m. ET | Register, June 25 |8 p.m. ET | Register
  1. Block Party National Virtual Challenges

What Is a National Virtual Challenge?

It’s an opportunity for swimmers of all ages and abilities to test their skills against swimmers from across the country and see their names on the National Block Party Leaderboard!  Each challenge is unique and must be swum during a sanctioned Block Party Meet.

You can:

  • Run the challenge as a standalone time trial, or
  • Include the challenge inside a larger, more traditional one day meet with multiple events.
  • All USA Swimming clubs are welcome to join the pilot and take part in these challenges.  The ability for you to sanction a Block Party Meet is already available in your Club Portal.  Directions on how to sanction, etc. can be found under the "Resources" section.

How to Participate

  1. Sanction Your Meet
  • Log into your USA Swimming Club Portal in SWIMS.
  • Sanction a Block Party Meet- the date must be within the time parameter of the National Challenge you wish to participate in.
  1. Keep It Simple & Fun
  • Mission: Simple, fun, and accessible.  A chance for swimmers to shine, especially those still falling in love with the sport.
  • Run at least one challenge and watch it boost your team’s culture, growth, and retention.
  1.  Timing & Officiating
  • Use 3 watches per lane (minimum) for timing.
  • Officiating can be handled by:
    • USA Swimming Certified Officials (MR, AO, ST), or
    • USA Swimming Coaches (per Block Party officiating guidelines).
  1.  Make It Memorable
  • Add music, decorations, and a festive theme.
  • Use the Block Party Coloring Page for a team coloring contest.
  • Consider making it a team fundraiser!

For more information or help getting started with Block Party please reach out to myself or schedule a meeting with the Block Party Pilot coordinator Julie Bachman

 

Thanks for reading. I look forward to connecting with you!

 

 

 

MICHAEL NOVELL

Senior Advisor

 

1 Olympic Plaza 

Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5780 

c: 719.217.4800