|
|
|
“Overall, we are very pleased with the direction of the Club Excellence program. Not only did we have the most teams ever apply to participate, we also had more teams than in any previous year qualify to be considered for the Gold level. While only 16 teams can earn the Gold medal rank in a given year, 2006 saw 48 different teams achieve the performance measures to be eligible for the Gold level.” said Pat Hogan, USA Swimming’s Club Development Director |
Below is a detailed description of the Club Excellence Program.
As you can see, we are coming very close to reaching our long
term goal of being a Gold Medal program. You can view complete
results of the 2006 Club Excellence Program
here.
What is the Club Excellence Program?
The USA Swimming Club Excellence Program is a voluntary program
that identifies and recognizes USA Swimming clubs for their
commitment to excellence in operation, performance, and for
their support of the sport and USA Swimming. This program
strives to meet the following objectives:
1. Promote the development of comprehensive age group and senior
swimming programs
2. Provide ways that USA Swimming can better assist, encourage,
and motivate our member clubs to strive for the highest ideals
of development and performance
3. Encourage USA Swimming’s most successful clubs and
professional coaches to become leaders in the sport through
involvement in local and/or national governance
This program’s goal is to embrace leadership and excellence in
up to 200 of USA Swimming’s top member clubs. The program
provides funding and support to the clubs and recognizes the
club development system as integral to achieving excellence.
What Factors Are Involved in this Program?
All clubs participating in the Club Excellence program must meet
the following four application requirements.
1. Provide documentation of Professional/Organizational
components
2. Complete the USA Swimming Club Profile and Facility
Information accessed through the new Club Portal on the USA
Swimming website
3. Participate in periodic “best practices” data
collection/surveys
4. Submit the required Performance Eligibility and Performance
Scoring information
What Are the Levels?
Clubs will qualify as Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal clubs. Up to
24 clubs will qualify for the Gold level. Clubs ranked up to
#100 (that are not Gold) will qualify for the Silver level.
Clubs ranked #101 and lower (that are not Gold or Silver) will
qualify for the Bronze level.
How Does My Team Qualify as a Gold Medal Club?
The highest scoring 16 clubs, based on the 2005 IPS
"International Point Score" rating system developed by Nick
Thiery for www.swimnews.com, will be recognized as Gold Medal
Clubs. Up to eight clubs with swimmers that participated in the
most recent Olympic Games will also be recognized “Gold Medal
Clubs” according to the priority order listed below. If there is
a tie and more than eight teams are eligible, the team(s) with
the highest IPS rating system total for that event will qualify
as a Gold Medal Club:
Priority #1
18 & Under individual event medalist
Priority #2
19 & Older individual event medalist
Priority #3
18 & Under individual event finalist
Priority #4
19 & Older individual event finalist
Priority #5
18 & Under relay event medalist
Priority #6
18 & Under Olympic team member
Priority #7
19 & Older relay event medalist
Clubs qualifying according to the IPS rating system AND the
Olympic Games method will count as one of the 16 clubs in the
IPS list. Gold Medal Clubs must have at least one 18 & Under
athlete ranked in the Top 150 in the World in the final FINA
2005 Long Course rankings (in Olympic events only). Clubs that
meet the qualifying criteria but are not ranked as a Gold Medal
Club are automatically eligible for inclusion in the Silver
Medal Clubs program.
Gold Medal Club coaches are required to provide a mentoring
service to USA Swimming once per year. The mentoring service
will allow our most elite coaches the opportunity to mentor a
developing club and its coaches.
How Does My Team Qualify as a Silver Medal Club?
Clubs ranked through number 100, and not recognized as Gold
Medal Clubs, will be recognized as Silver Medal Clubs IPS
(International Point Score) rating system. Clubs must have at
least one 18 & Under athlete compete in the 2005 Spring or
Summer National Championships or the 2005 Olympic Team Trials in
an individual event. Clubs that meet the qualifying criteria but
are not selected as a Silver Medal Club are automatically
eligible for inclusion in Bronze Medal Club programs.
How Does My Team Qualify as a Bronze Medal Club?
Clubs ranked #101 and lower and not recognized as Gold Medal or
Silver Medal Clubs, will be recognized as Bronze Medal Clubs
based on the IPS (International Point Score) rating system
provided they meet all the criteria. Clubs must have at least
one 18 & Under athlete achieve a 2005 U.S. Open qualifying
standard.
Who Reviews Applications?
Applications will be reviewed by a special committee appointed
by the USA Swimming President.
What Are the Benefits?
Those clubs that qualify as Gold or Silver clubs will be sent a
grant application once they qualify for that level. The benefits
for all of the levels are as follows:
GOLD MEDAL
Recognition as a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club, 2005-2008 and use
of the USA Swimming Gold Medal Club designation and logo in all
advertising and promotional materials for the remainder of the
2008 quadrennium. In 2005, all 24 Gold Medal Clubs are eligible
for up to $12,000 in grant assistance to be used for program
enhancement. Grants are awarded based on a share system of how
many clubs are chosen and point totals from a review of the
actual grant applications. Recognition from USA Swimming
includes: a team banner for the current quadrennium,
announcement in Splash magazine, and an announcement on the USA
Swimming website.
Note: Clubs must reapply for the Club Excellence program to be
eligible to receive grants each year. In the remainder of the
quad, only clubs placing in the Top 16 each year, based on the
performance points, are eligible for grant funding at the Gold
Medal level. Based on performance points, a Gold Medal club for
2006 might be eligible for Silver Medal funding in a subsequent
year.
SILVER MEDAL
Recognition as a USA Swimming Silver Medal Club for a period of
one year. May use the USA Swimming Silver Medal Club designation
in all advertising and promotional materials for a period of one
year.
Eligible for possible mentoring opportunities from a Gold Medal
Club coach, and a recognition team banner from USA Swimming.
Eligible for up to $2,500 in grant assistance to be used for
program enhancement. The grant application process will take
place after clubs have been named a “Silver Medal Club.” Grants
are awarded based on a share system of how many clubs are chosen
and point totals from a review of the actual grant applications.
BRONZE MEDAL
Recognition as a “USA Swimming Bronze Medal Club” for a period
of one year. May use the “USA Swimming Bronze Medal Club”
designation in all advertising and promotional materials for a
period of one year.
Eligible for possible site visit from a USA Swimming Sport
Development or Sport Performance Consultant within two years of
qualifying as a “Bronze Medal Club,” and a recognition banner
from USA Swimming