Central California Swimming
Vision
To inspire a generation of athletes who are not only champions in the sport
but also advocates for health, teamwork, competitive spirit,
and community engagement.
 
Mission
Central California Swimming’s mission is to promote swimming at every ability level,
increase outreach membership, produce a championship mindset and work ethic,
and provide every athlete an opportunity to swim. .
Central California Swimming

Coaches Membership Introduction

Coach membership in CCS and USA Swimming has several certification, education and background screening requirements. This section has been added to assist Coaches and Clubs in understanding what those requirements are.

Maintence of all certifications has significant implications for both the individual coach and the club to whom he/she belongs. Failure to maintain certifications can jeopardize both the coach's and club's memberships as well as nullify insurance coverages through USA Swimming.

Coaches Safety Curriculum

USA Swimming initiated the Coaches Safety Curriculum in September 1987 for the 1988 membership year. USA Swimming coach members are required to show current proof of training in First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Safety Training for Swim Coaches.

Local Swimming Committees (LSCs) enforce these requirements largely through the membership function. Justification for the requirements may be found in legislation passed over the years by the USA Swimming House of Delegates. The following passages are found in the USA Swimming's Rules and Regulations.

Article 202.3.3 "….all persons acting in any coaching capacity in a sanctioned event must be coach members of USA Swimming, Inc."

Article 502.4.3 "All coaches of USA Swimming clubs, including seasonal clubs, shall join USA Swimming as coach members and shall satisfactorily complete safety training and background screening required by USA Swimming."

Coaches First Year Educational Requirements

Article 502.4.5 "All coaches of USA Swimming clubs, including seasonal clubs, who register for the first time as a coach member, shall complete coaches' education required by USA Swimming prior to receiving their coach membership for the second year."

This educational requirement is in addition to the safety requirements described under Safety Curriculum. Within 4-12 weeks after the LSC Membership Chair processes the membership application, first year coaches will receive a packet containing information about the educational requirement and an order form for course materials. Upon successful completion of the requirement, the coach will receive a letter from the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA). The letter must be shown to the LSC Membership Chair prior to registering for the second year of coaching with USA Swimming.

Background Screening

Article 502.4.3 "All coaches of USA Swimming clubs, including seasonal clubs, shall join USA Swimming as coach members and shall satisfactorily complete safety training and background screening required by USA Swimming."

Every two years, all coach members are required to complete a background screen. These screenings are conducted by an independent firm contracted by USA Swimming to complete the confidential background screenings. The results of the screening are kept confidential and generally USA Swimming is only notified that the coach has successfully passed his or her screening.

To get additional information and/or initiate a background screen from the USA Swimming website, click on the image below.

Membership Application Process

All course certificates must be valid on the date of application for membership. Coaches should submit their certificates (or copies, if allowed by LSC policy) of the First Aid, CPR and/or Safety Training for Swim Coaches courses (front and back) as adequate proof of training. If an LSC Membership Chair doubts the authenticity of a copy, he/she has the right to request access to the original cards.

It is the responsibility of the coach to renew all certificates in a timely manner.

The First Aid, CPR and STSC expiration dates will appear on the stub of the coach's membership card. The earliest of the expiration dates will also appear in bold letters on the front of the coach membership card. (Example: If CPR expires on May 15, 2004 the following wording will appear on the front of the coach membership card: VALID THROUGH MAY 15, 2004.)

Clubs must have at least one properly registered coach to register as an USA Swimming club. This does not change the fact that all club coaches must fulfill the safety requirements. As defined in the rulebook, a "club" must have at least one coach; group members that do not fulfill this requirement may join only as "organizations."

Coaching Assistants

An athlete member may assist an USA Swimming coach member. However, it is imperative that the USA Swimming coach member be on deck with the non-coach member and maintain "direct line of sight" at all times. If exercising sole supervisory responsibility, the non-coach member must obtain training and become an USA Swimming coach member.

Insurance Disclaimer

ALL COACH MEMBERS OF USA SWIMMING
MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS
SET FORTH ON THE PAGES UNDER THE HEADING OF

CCS & USA SWIMMING
COACHES' MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE COACH AND CLUB TO MAINTAIN INSURANCE PROTECTION.

How to Obtain Certifications

First Aid and CPR

Lists of acceptable First Aid and CPR courses are provided under the CPR Courses and First Aid Courses links. Taking First Aid/CPR courses that are not on these lists will not be acceptable for coach safety certification.

The Adult CPR certificate represents an acceptable standard of training; coaches who feel they need different training because they work with younger athletes may take other approved CPR courses that include training specific to those ages.

Safety Training for Swim Coaches

Coaches must complete one of the courses identified under the Safety Training Courses link to receive Safety Training for Swim Coaches certification:

Education Requirement

Procedures for complete are provided under the Education Requirement link.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification

Any one of the following courses will satisfy the requirement:

American Red Cross:
(All American Red Cross CPR certifications are valid for one year)

  • CPR - Adult

  • CPR - Adult and Child (recommended if you coach 12 and unders) (Infant CPR is optional component)

  • CPR/AED - Adult

  • CPR/AED - Adult and Child (recommended if you coach 12 and unders) (Infant CPR is optional component)

  • CPR/AED for Lifeguards (one year certification)

  • CPR/AED for the Healthcare Provider (two year certification)

  • CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer (two year certification)

  • CPR/AED for the Professinal Rescuer and Healthcare Provider (two year certification)

  • Not acceptable: ARC instructor certification, Workplace CPR, WSI, certifications from foreign Red Cross chapters.

American Heart Association:
(All American Heart Association CPR certifications are valid for two years)

  • Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED (Coach must submit a certiciate signed by instructor confirming optional final exam was passed)
    Only AHA Training Center Coordinators can request the optional exam and certificate from the AHA Customer Support Center

  • ACLS Provider

  • Healthcare Provider

  • Any AHA Basic Life Support Instructor or Instructor Trainee for the courses listed above

American Lifeguard Association:

  • Professional CPR (CPR for the Profesional Rescuer) ("Instructor Led" must appear on card)

  • Community CPR ("Instructor Led" must appear on card)

National Safety Council:
(National Safety Council CPR certifications are valid for one or two years depending on the training agency)

  • Adult CPR & AED

  • Standard First Aid, CPR & AED (includes First Aid component)

Ellis & Associates:

  • Water Safety+ (includes First Aid component)

  • International Lifeguard Training (one year certification, includes first aid component)

  • International Lifeguard Training Program Instructor License (12-18 month certification)

Emergency First Response (PADI) The PADI courses below do not meet the first aid requirement>

  • Emergency Responder - CPR/AED/First Aid (two year certification)

  • Emergency Responder - CPR/AED (two year certification)

  • Emergency Responder - CPR/First Aid (two year certification)

CPR Courses offered by other organizations:

  • Emergency Care & Safety Institute CPR (two year certification) (AAOS - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

  • California State Lifeguard

  • Medic First Aid (course includes First Aid component) (coach must also submit a completed, scored written Medic First Aid test signed by the instructor)

  • EMS Safety Services CPR

  • EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) Basic or Intermediate (includes First Aid component)

  • Paramedic

  • Save-A-Life Educators CPR (Adult, Adult/Child, or Adult/Child/Infant) (course may include a first aid component)

  • StarGuard

  • Tacoma Fire Department First Aid & CPR (includes First Aid component)

  • University Training Centers, Inc. - Healthcare Provider BLS ©

  • ProCPR Adult/Child/Infant CPR & AED for Health Care Provider (BLS) (valid for 2 years) (must have signature of Skills Evaluator on back of card)

  • ProFirstAid (valid for 2 years) (must have signature of Skills Evaluator on back of card)

First Aid Certification

Any one of the following courses will satisfy the requirement:

American Red Cross:
(All American Red Cross first aid certifications are valid for three years)
(When the course includes a CPR component, a separate CPR card will be issued)

  • ARC/USOC Sport Safety Training (may include CPR component)

  • ARC/USOC Sports Injury Prevention and First Aid)

  • Basic First Aid

  • First Aid - Responding to Emergencies

  • Emergency Response

  • Lifeguarding/First Aid (Waterfront/Waterpark optional) (includes CPR component)

  • Standard First Aid

  • Not acceptable: ARC instuctor certification, WSI, certifications from foreign Red Cross chapters, First Aid for Coaches..

National Safety Council:
(National Safety Council first aid certifications are good for 2-3 years, depending on the training agency)

  • First Aid

  • Standard First Aid, CPR & AED (includes CPR component)

Ellis & Associates:

  • Water Safety+ (4 hours; includes CPR component)

  • International Lifeguard Training (one year certification, includes CPR component)

  • International Lifeguard Training Instructor License (12-18 month certification)

American Heart Association:

  • Heartsaver First Aid (coach must submit a certificate signed by instructor confirming optional final exam was passed)

  • Heartsave First Aid 2/ COR & AED (coach must submit a certificate signed by instructor confirming optional final exam was passed)
    Only AHA Training Center Coordinators can request the optional exam and certificate from the AHA Customer Support Center

First Aid courses offered by other organizations:

  • American Lifeguard Association First Aid

  • ASHI (American Safety & Health Institute) Basic First Aid (4 hours)

  • California State Lifeguard

  • Medic First Aid (includes CPR component) (coach must also submit a completed, scored written Medic First Aid test signed by the instructor)

  • EMS Safety Services First Aid

  • EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) Basic or Intermediate (includes CPR component)

  • Paramedic

  • Save-a-Life Educators First Aid or First Aid Renewal (course may include a CPR component)

  • StarGuard

  • Tacoma Fire Department First Aid & CPR Course (includes CPR component)

  • University Training Centers, Inc. - Standard First Aid

  • Life Education of Florida - First Aid for All Ages: A Common Sense Approach

Safety Training for Swim Coaches Certification

Any one of the following courses will satisfy the requirement:

American Red Cross:
(All American Red Cross STSC certifications are valid for three years)

  • Safety Training for Swim Coaches (full course, fast track option, review or challenge)
    Information about STSC course options can be found at www.usaswimming.org/coaches - Education/Safety Requirements - Safety Training for Swim Coaches Test.

American Red Cross:
(All American Red Cross STSC certifications are valid for three years)

  • Lifeguarding with STSC online written test (includes CPR and first aid components)

  • Waterfront Lifeguarding with STSC online written test (includes CPR and first aid components)

  • Waterpark Lifeguarding with STSC online written test (includes CPR and first aid components)

  • Not acceptable: ARC Sport Safety Training, WSI, ARC instructor certifications, and certifications from foreign Red Cross chapters.

American Lifeguard Association:

  • Lifeguarding with STSC online written test includes CPR-PR and First Aid)
    (Three options: First Time Lifeguard, Professional Lifguard Challenge, Lifeguard Recertification)

Ellis & Associates:

  • International Lifeguard Training Program with STSC online written test (1 year certification, includes first aid and CPR components)

  • International Lifeguard Training Program Instructor License with STSC online written test (12-18 month certification)

Courses offered by other organizations:

  • YMCA: Lifeguarding with STSC online written test

  • StarGuard with STSC online written test

ARC Safety Training for Swim Coaches Instructor

Those wishing to be STSC instructors must complete all of the following:

  1. Possess a current ARC certificate in one of the following: Water Safety Instructor, Water Safety Instructor Trainer, Lifeguard Training Instructor, Lifeguard Instructor Trainer, Basic Water Rescue Instructor.

  2. Possess a current Safety Training for Swim Coaches certificate (see above).

  3. Have a competitive swimming background. (This should be determined by the Local Swimming Committee and local American Red Cross Chapter.)

Waiver for Coaches with Physical Disabilities

Effective December 1, 1998, coaches with physical disabilities who are unable to participate in the skill demonstrations required to pass these courses can apply for a Safety Certification Waiver. For additional information, contact your Local Swimming Committee Membership Chair or USA Swimming's Member Services Coordinator at (719) 866-4578.

Coaches Safety Curriculum & Education Requirements

Enforcement in Membership

When persons apply for coach membership for the first time, they must meet the full Coaches Safety Curriculum requirement to be registered. They will not be allowed an interim coaching (grace) period. When persons apply for coach membership after their first year, they must meet the full Coaches Safety Curriculum and First Year Education Requirements. Again they will not be allowed an interim coaching (grace) period.

Coaches Safety Curriculum & Education Requirements

Enforcement at Meets

People without a coach membership will not be allowed to participate in any coaching capacity at any USA Swimming sanctioned competition. This restriction includes being barred from the deck area at all Local Swimming Committee, Zone, Sectional, Junior National, National and International qualifying competitions.

If an offending person refuses to comply with these provisions upon initial warning, all athletes on that person's club shall be designated as "Unattached" for the entire competition, unless the club has some other USA Swimming coach member present. It shall be the responsibility of the meet referee, or his designee, to enforce these provisions.

This "last resort" option of unattaching athletes exists only when the coach does not fulfill the Coaches Safety Curriculum and refuses to leave the deck when asked to do so by meet management.

Athletes should not be forced to swim unattached simply because their USA Swimming coach is not able to accompany them to an USA Swimming meet. Instead, in keeping with LSC policy, the athletes should be assigned to another coach, the host team or a designated marshal.

Enforcement at Practice

Failure of a coach to satisfy the Coaches Safety Curriculum requirement will be grounds for termination of coach membership status and loss of insurance coverage.

Clubs that continue to conduct a program with coaches who have failed to satisfy the Coaches Safety Curriculum requirement risk termination of membership and loss of insurance coverage.

Hy-Tek Support Information

Overview

This section contains instructions on how to download results and meet events to be used with Hy-Tek's Team Manager. Also there are instructions on how to create meet event files to be posted on the CCS website and used by other teams to create electronic meet entries for your meets. A special thanks goes to Spencer Harris of the Aquatic Club of Bakersfield for putting these detailed instructions together.

Download Meet Results

Using Hy-Tek Team Manager for Windows (Win-TM)

  • From Windows Explorer, identify the folder, which contains your WinTM program. (Standard installation creates a directory titled "Hy-sport" in your C drive, and the WinTM program and data files are in this directory in a folder appropriately titled WinTM). Highlight the WinTM folder and from the file menu, select 'new', 'folder' and name the new folder 'results downloads'

  • Go to CCS website & click on Swim Meets.

  • On the left, click on the Meet Results button.

  • Select the Meet Year and then the Meet, then click the Select button

  • On the upper left-hand side of the page click on the file you wish to import into your WinTM database. WinTM can import either SDIF (*.SD3) files or Commlink (*.CL2) files.

  • Select "Save this file to disk" from the Windows File Download popup window, and click OK.

  • You will see a 'Save as' popup window giving you the choice of where you wish to save the download. Using the dropdown bar, move to your 'results downloads' folder and save the file(s) there. From the 'save as' window, you will be able to identify both the 'file name' and the 'file type'. If the downloaded file is a CL2 file or a SD3 file, you are ready to import into Team Manager and you can skip the next step.

  • If the downloaded file is a ZIP file (one which is compressed to consume less space on the website) you will have to un-zip it. A zipped file will be identified in 'file type' as Aladdin Stuffit Archive. (If you forget to look at the file type while the 'save as' window is open, you can identify the file type via Windows Explorer. To un-zip your downloaded file, return to Windows Explorer, find your 'results downloaded' folder and right-click once on the file name. Select 'Expand' by left-clicking once. Aladdin will un-zip the file and create a new file with the .SD3 or .CL2 identity.

  1. From the main screen in Win-TM click 'file' and select 'import', 'Commlink/SDIF/ZIP files of Commlink'. Select 'C' drive to import from & click OK. From the 'Select data file to import' window, find your 'results downloads' folder and open (double-click) on the folder. Using the drop-down from the 'list files of type' window, select SD3 or CL2 to show your file. Highlight (one left-click) the SD3 or CL2 file and click OK. WinTM will open the results data file and give you a number of options regarding import features. Normal import features to select would be:

  • No, do not overlay duplicate results

  • 1 LSC (CC)

  1. Yes, import relays

  • Yes, import split

  • No, add new teams/athlete

  • For standard at least: ALL

  • One Team: XYZ (your team identifier)

  • Course: All

  • Include leadoff relay splits

  • Make the selections desired and click OK

  • If you have previously set the meet up to do your team entries and named the meet differently from the Host, you may get a popup reading "There is already an existing meet with start date: 01/01/2000 named XYZ B+ Long Course. Would you like to treat this meet, XYZ B+ LC Gold and XYZ B+ Long Course as the same meet?" If you're certain that you're dealing with the same meet then click 'Yes' and proceed. In a few seconds you will see "Import Complete" on your Import Commlink window - click on 'Close' and the meet results are now part of your database.

Download Meet Events

Using Hy-Tek Team Manager for Windows (Win-TM)

  • From Windows Explorer, identify the folder, which contains your WinTM program. (Standard installation creates a directory titled "Hy-sport" in your C drive, and the WinTM program and data files are in this directory in a folder appropriately titled WinTM). Highlight the WinTM folder and from the file menu, select 'new', 'folder' and name the new folder 'event downloads'.

  • Go to CCS website & click on Swim Meets.

  • On the left, click on the Meet Schedule button.

  • Scroll down to the desired meet on the schedule & click on Event File.

  • Select 'Save this file to disk' from the Windows File Download popup window, and click OK.

  • You will see a 'Save as' popup window giving you the choice of where you wish to save the download. Using the dropdown bar, move to your 'results downloads' folder and save the file(s) there. From the 'save as' window, you will be able to identify both the 'file name' and the 'file type'. If the downloaded file is a .HYV file, you are ready to import into Team Manager and you can skip the next step.

  • If the downloaded file is a ZIP file (one which is compressed to consume less space on the website) you will have to un-zip it. A zipped file will be identified in 'file type' as Aladdin Stuffit Archive. (If you forget to look at the file type while the 'save as' window is open, you can identify the file type via Windows Explorer. To un-zip your downloaded file, return to Windows Explorer, find your 'results downloaded' folder and right-click once on the file name. Select 'Expand' by left-clicking once. Aladdin will un-zip the file and create a new file with the .HYV identity.

  • From the main WinTM screen click on 'File', scroll to 'Import' and click on 'Meet Events'. The 'Import Meet Events' window will open allowing you to select the drive (normally c:) from which to import. OK will produce a 'Select Events File to Import' window from which you can find and select your 'event downloads' folder. Double-click on the folder to open; highlight the appropriate *.HYV file; and click OK. This will return you to the 'Import Meet Events' window with the text describing the data selected and instructions to 'click OK to begin importing'. Click OK.

  • Once the meet event data has been imported, click 'Meets' from the main WinTM toolbar. You should find the newly imported meet titled exactly as the host team designated. Highlight the meet and click 'Edit' on the left-hand toolbar. This will allow you to view the specifics of the meet including dates, location, course, etc. Once you're satisfied that you're looking at the correct meet, click OK to return to the 'Meets' window. From 'Meets' click on 'Events' on the left-hand toolbar. If you have the meet information sheet, spot-check several events to insure the numbers and events correspond prior to entering your athletes. (This is not entirely necessary, but one should be absolutely certain that all data and events were included on the report you have now downloaded).

Congratulations, you are now ready to enter your swimmers in the appropriate events and submit a 'paperless' entry to the host team!

Export Meet Events

Using Hy-Tek Team Manager for Windows (Win-TM)

To enable for other teams to import into Team Manager

  • Using Meet Manager, setup the meet and events as per normal procedure. From the main Win-MM screen, click on 'Setup' and then 'Meet Setup' to produce the 'Meet Setup' window. Enter all the specifics of the meet including name, location, date, ID format, course, type, style, etc. As the specifics are entered, click OK.

  • Again, from the main MM screen click on 'Events' to produce the 'Events' window. In the upper left-hand corner of the events window, click on 'Add Events'. The 'Add New Event' window will appear with event numbers, genders, age group, distance, stroke, and etc. choices. As each new event is entered, clicking OK will refresh the window with the next sequential event number - ready for the details to be selected.

  • From Windows Explorer, identify the folder, which contains your WinTM program. (Standard installation creates a directory titled 'Hy-sport' in your C drive, and the WinTM program and data files are in this directory in a folder appropriately titled WinTM). Highlight the WinTM folder and from the file menu, select 'new', 'folder' and name the new folder 'event downloads'.

  • As the meet and event details are now loaded into your Meet Manager datafile, making this information available to teams who will be entering their athletes in your meet can save your team loads of time & effort by streamline their entry procedure and eliminating time-consuming entry errors.

  • Back to the main screen in MM, click on 'File'; scroll to 'Export' and click on 'Events for TM'. This will produce the 'Event export to TM' window allowing you to scroll (like an explorer window) to the folder where you wish to copy the events file. Find your newly created 'event downloads' folder; double-click to open the folder; and save the event file (*.HYV).

  • When you email your meet information sheet to the CCS Webmaster for inclusion on the website, attach the event file so that entering teams can download precise event information.

  • A second feature available in Meet Manager is the creation of a Word or Excel file to integrate into your Meet Information sheet. Likewise, this will save duplication of efforts and eliminate errors.

  • Back to the main screen in MM click on 'Reports' and then 'Events'. Click the circle next to "Event List" and the circle next to "Event #" under the 'Sort' heading (both of these selections are the default choices), and then OK. This will create a standard Hy-Tek report showing host team, meet name, date, etc., along with a tabular listing of events. From the toolbar atop the report screen left-click once on the little envelope with the downward arrow. A small 'export' window will appear prompting you to choose from Word, Excel, or Lotus format, and you will want to choose 'Application' under the destination header. Clicking OK will create a spreadsheet or word processor file and open the applicable program. From the (Word, Excel, or Lotus) toolbar, click on 'File', 'Save-as', name your event file & save it to the 'event downloads' folder as above.

  • Using this format event report, you can easily email the events to the person writing your meet info sheet; or if you're compiling the info sheet, you can cut & paste from or add additional meet information to this event report.

Meet Entries Report

When a team wishes to send team meet entries via email to a CCS meet host, CCS requires that a copy of the Hy-Tek Team Manager 'Meet Entries' report be submitted along with the entries file. There are a couple of ways to create a viewable electronic copy of the report that can be emailed to the meet host. The first is through a PDF file, if the team has a program that creates PDF file. If this option isn't available, the second option is to create a Word document of the report.

PDF Procedures:

There are a number of products available that create PDF files. The most common product is Adobe's Acrobat software, however there are a number of other products that will do the same thing. Generally speaking, any of these products, when installed, create a psuedo-printer on your computer. It looks just like a physical printer in your printer dialogue box, but instead of printing on paper, this printer creates a PDF file. The following procedures will create a PDF file of the report.

  1. First, setup your report preferences to use the PDF printer. On the main menubar, go to Set-up, Preferences, Report Preferences.

  2. In the Report Preferences dialogue box, select your PDF printer in the Report Printer window and save the preferences (Click OK).

  3. Next, create the Meet Entries report. On the main menubar, go to Reports, Performance, Meet Entries.

  4. In the Meet Entries report dialogue box, set the appropriate report options for the meet you are entering and click the Create Report button.

  5. Team Manager will then create the report and display it on your monitor. On the menubar above the report, click the printer icon. A dialogue box will be displayed in which you select the folder in which to save the report and give the report file a name. Generally it is a good idea to change the name of the report file from the default to something that identifies your team and the meet. Once you have selected the folder and provided a file name, save the report.

Word Document Procedures:

  1. First, create the Meet Entries report. On the main menubar, go to Reports, Performance, Meet Entries.

  2. In the Meet Entries report dialogue box, set the appropriate report options for the meet you are entering and click the Create Report button.

  3. On the menubar above the report you will see a button with an open envelope anda downward red arrow in it. Click that button to save the report. (You may get a message about email, but ignore it by clicking OK.

  4. You will now get a dialgue box entitled Export. In the Format window, select Word for Windows Document, and select Disk File in the Destination window. Click OK

  5. A new dialogue box will be opened called Choose Export File. In the Save IN window, select the folder into which you are going to save the report. In the file name window, the default file name will be TMIEntriesEvent.doc. CCS recommends you change the name to reflect your team and the meet. Click Save.