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USA Swimming Conference Swimmers with Disabilities. West Michigan Swimmers Chris Hamstra. Attracting Swimmers with Disabilities. Webpage Free Public Clinics Partnering with Organizations. Attracting Swimmers with Disabilities: Using your Webpage.
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Attracting Swimmers with Disabilities • Webpage • Free Public Clinics • Partnering with Organizations
Attracting Swimmers with Disabilities:Using your Webpage • Use your webpage to publicize your policies on accepting disabled swimmers • Publicize how your club can meet the needs of swimmers with disabilities looking for a club
Attracting Swimmers with Disabilities:Free Public Clinics • Offer free swim clinics for swimmers with disabilities in your area • Build swimmers confidence • Show swimmers how they improved during your clinic
Attracting Swimmers with Disabilities:Partnering with other Organizations • Reach out to local organizations for partners • Special Olympics • Recreational Teams • Home School Organizations • School district APE programs • What’s in your area?
Is your Facility Truly Accessible • Be sure your facility is truly accessible for swimmers with disabilities • Parking – level spots, ample room, safe, distance • Allow helpers or coach access to facility • Entrances – Sidewalks, doorways, stairs, etc. • Locker rooms – space, privacy, shower accessibility, pool entrance
Training Considerations • Training Groups • Meet Schedule • Training Yardage • Injuries • Core strength/balance • Equipment • Dryland in Water
Training Considerations:Training Groups • Training in appropriate group • Sharing a lane w/ able-bodied swimmers (usually of a younger age) vs. • Training with friends of the same age, strike a balance
Training Considerations:Meet Schedule Must meet the challenge of training a swimmer with disabilities in a training group on a different meet schedule, especially different Championship Meets
Training Considerations:Training Yardage/Injuries • Use Classifications (S1, S2, etc) to estimate yds. • S5 does 50% yardage • IE 10 x 100 @ 1:45, S5 could do 10 x 50 @ 1:45 or 5 x 100 @ 3:30 • Like any swimmer, know potential injuries and adjust training accordingly
Training Considerations:Core Strength/Balance • Building core strength is very important for all swimmers and especially swimmers with disabilities • However, core strength doesn’t matter without the ability to put it to use with core balance • Train both strength and balance
Training Considerations:Equipment • Do not be afraid to use all sorts of equipment • Allow swimmers to use equipment to help training • Do not allow equipment to become a crutch, may need to take that piece away for a time
Training Considerations:Dryland in Water • With swimmers with disabilities do some dryland exercises in water • Helps strengthen core • Allows athletes to do exercises they may not be able to do on land
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY Chris Hamstra Head Coach West Michigan Swimmers chamstra@zps.org