Positive Coaching Alliance and USA Swimming Announce Collaboration to Strengthen Youth Swimming Experiences
09.12.26
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) and USA Swimming have announced a new collaboration to strengthen the youth sports experience for swimmers, parents, coaches, clubs, and Local Swimming Committees (LSCs) across the country.
Creating Safer, More Supportive Environments for Athletes
Founded in 1981, USA Swimming’s mission is to grow, support, and elevate the sport of swimming. Today, USA Swimming proudly serves more than 375,000 members and supports athletes competing across 41 Olympic events. Together, USA Swimming athletes have earned 615 Olympic medals.
In an effort to continue to advance USA Swimming’s mission, USA Swimming and Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) are excited to announce their collaboration in which PCA will provide USA Swimming communities with access to research-based education, resources, and programming that complement USA Swimming’s existing athlete development and Safe Sport initiatives. The partnership will help equip coaches, parents, athletes, and club leaders with practical tools to build positive sport cultures and support athlete development both in and out of the pool. Resources will include live workshops, online courses, and monthly educational content. Programming will address topics such as positive coaching, team culture, athlete leadership and resilience, parent support, and positive sport environments.
“We’re thrilled to work with USA Swimming and the impact it will have on families all across the nation,” said PCA’s CEO Jason Sacks. “A key focus of our work together will be on making education and resources accessible to LSCs and individual clubs, to ensure all families have access to a positive youth swimming experience.”
Additionally, USA Swimming LSCs will have access to discounted programming, flexible delivery options, and turnkey support from PCA, including program consultation, scheduling and planning assistance, marketing materials, certified trainers, and post-event resources.
“Creating a great experience for athletes starts with supporting the coaches, parents, volunteers, and club leaders who shape that experience every day,” said Joel Shinofield, Managing Director of Sport Development at USA Swimming. “Our collaboration with Positive Coaching Alliance gives our LSCs and clubs another set of proven, practical resources they can use to strengthen their local programs and build positive environments for athletes.”
PCA will also be delivering a workshop on Expanding Opportunities for a Positive Youth Sports Experience at the annual USA Swimming Summit in Denver, CO in September. The collaboration builds on PCA’s work with more than 3,500 schools, youth sports organizations, and National Governing Bodies nationwide. PCA has reached more than 20 million youth coaches, parents, and athletes through its training and resources and brings more than 27 years of experience providing research-based social-emotional learning training and resources in youth sports.
PCA and USA Swimming are committed to creating positive, safe, and developmentally enriching sport environments where athletes can thrive both in and out of the pool. By bringing education and resources directly to swimming communities, they will help local leaders strengthen the culture of their programs while supporting the people at the heart of the sport.
USA Swimming LSCs interested in bringing PCA programming to their communities can connect with PCA to discuss their needs and priorities. Individual clubs may also partner directly with PCA.
About Positive Coaching Alliance
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating a positive youth sports experience for every child. Through partnerships with more than 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide, PCA provides research-based training and resources for coaches, parents, administrators, and student-athletes. PCA’s mission is to change the culture of youth sports so that every child, regardless of social or economic circumstance, has access to a positive youth sports experience.
About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 380,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competitions including the Olympic Games and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.
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