How Coaches Can Recognize Their Swimmers

Do you have challenges getting your swimmers to participate in a variety of swim events, including local meets, postal swims, and open water events? Do you have a tough time getting swimmers to volunteer at a meet, sit on your board, or volunteer for the club’s food drive? Consider adapting an all-star program to help entice participation. Think of the all-star program as earning your high school letter: contribute enough to the team, and you’ll be recognized.

It’s critical to encourage participation in addition to swimming excellence. Placing first at the state or national meet is certainly worthy of recognition, but for those swimmers who have come to the sport late, first place might be out of reach. And some swimmers choose not to compete, but they are excellent volunteers and teammates.

Here’s one example of how to provide various opportunities for members to earn points to become an all-star. Get creative to accomplish your goals for your particular club and swimmers. In this example, all-star is given to anyone who earns 100 points for the year.

Practice attendance     

Attend 20 consecutive practice sessions: 20 points (20 points maximum per year)

Events hosted by your club

• Swim: 20 points (40 points maximum per year)
• Volunteer: 10 points (20 points maximum per year)
• Additional points for placing: first place, 10 points; second place, 9 points; third place, 8 points, etc.

Local meets, open water swims, triathlons, and USMS ePostal events         

• Sign up and swim: 10 points
• Volunteer: 5 points
• Additional points for placing: first place, 10 points; second place, 9 points; third place, 8 points, etc.

National and international meets              

• Swim: 30 points (30 points maximum per year)
• Additional points for placing: first place, automatic all-star; second place, 20 points; third place, 18 points; etc.

Service and volunteer opportunities        

• Community kitchen volunteer: 10 points per session (40 points maximum per year)
• Serve on the club’s volunteer board or committee: 20 points per year
• Volunteer for other swimming programs: 10 points per event

As you can see, a member cannot become an all-star by only coming to practice or just participating in the club’s annual meet. Providing a variety of opportunities engages more swimmers in your group.

Your swimmers might ask, what’s the benefit of becoming an all-star? Let your imagination run wild! Embroidered club logo items are always a winner: team towels, jackets, swim bags, etc. Whatever the prize is, make it something unique for each year to allow recipients to proudly display their accomplishments while flying their club colors.

The benefits an all-star receives can reach beyond the annual prize. You might find the program motivates your swimmers to push themselves outside their comfort zones and try something new, whether it be an open water swim, a swim-meet, or community involvement.