2014 FLAG Clarification All Relay competition at FLAGS remains the same; 10 & under, 11-12, and 13-14.  The change for 2014 will be found in the finals sessions; instead of championship and consolation finals, we will swim a championship heat (top 8) of 11 year olds, 12 year olds, 13 year olds, then 14 year olds.  Timed final individual events will score out top-16 in 10 & under, and top-8 in 11, 12, 13, and 14 year olds. Please write Age Group Chairman, Dale Porter, with any questions, [email protected]. Sincerely,...

Attention all Swim Clubs – If you are interested in having an Instructor for the American Red Cross Safety Training for Swim Coaches in your area, please be aware that any currently certified Lifeguard Training Instructor or Water Safety Instructor only has until March 31, 2014 to complete the update to teach this course.  Please read the attached documents.  Once they have recertified to teach this, please have them contact Cori Welbes, Safety Chair, at [email protected] to be added to Florida Swimming’s Authorized Provider agreement.  Instructor Recert Instructor Information  

Warm up changes: The pool will open one half hour early from 6:30-8:50 am on Friday-Sunday.  

  Officials Application and Evaluation forms for 2014 Spring FLAGS are now available on the Officials "Meets" page here.

The 2014 Zone Select Camps will be held in May and the assistant coach and assistant manager positions are filled through an online application process. Applicants for these positions must complete the online application form by March 1, 2014. Applicants are to apply for the camp in their own Zone. If you are interested in one of these positions, please click on the correct link below and complete the form by 3/1/14. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Krumm at [email protected]  or  719-866-3582 719-866-3582 . Eastern Zone Select Camp Assistant...

New USA-S FOC Short Cut Link for Coaches!   This is an updated link for coaches that require Foundations of Coaching certification. Coaches can now use this new shortcut link to get to the Foundations of Coaching page on the USA-S website: www.usaswimming.org/FOC.  It will also be printed on the non-athlete application forms in 2015.   Thank you,   Helen Kelly Executive Director Florida Swimming, Inc. 214 E. Washington St., Suite B Minneola, FL 34715 352-242-5145 (O) 352-242-5245 (F) [email protected] (E) www.floridaswimming.org (W)

New Parent Education Resources!  USA Swimming presents its new monthly Parent Excellence Academy.  We are excited to announce a special relationship with Growing Champions for Life, an organization dedicated to creating cohesive families and principle-centered athletes who win at life, not just at swimming. Every month, you will be able to access new content from inspirational videos and educational webinars to interesting articles and informative newsletters right here on our web site. Check out this great new resource now! Click here to access this today!

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE The “President’s Message” is a continuing effort on my part to keep the members of USA Swimming informed about current happenings in our sport and our organization. Please feel free to share the message with others. I usually try to send my messages in conjunction with one of our Board of Directors meetings, but I have a message and a request that I believe deserves immediate attention.   As I reported to you in my most recent President’s Message, we have received and released the independent review of our Safe...

On Thursday, February 13, Arena Grand Prix event organizers will bring together a group of the USA’s topOlympic swimmers at USA Swimming’s Arena Grand Prix in Orlando at the YMCA Aquatic Center (8422 International Dr, Orlando, FL).  This event is designed to generate water safety awareness and to promote learn-to-swim programs available at either low or no cost to the participant. The time to showcase lifesaving swim lessons couldn’t be better, as Florida schools will soon begin spring break vacations when thousands of students will be heading to beaches, lakes...

Coaches, As many of you are aware, the Florida Swimming Open Water All Star  meet will be on Sunday, April 13th in Ft. Myers.  Selection criteria  for this event is as follows: Senior Champs: Top 5 times from 15-18 year olds boys/girls 1650 FLAGS: Top 5 boys/girls 11-12 1000 and 13-14 1650 *should 13-18 year old swimmers placed in the top 8 in the 1650 decline an invitation to the team, it is the All Star Coach's  discretion to move to the top 8 1000 yard swimmers. Information will be...