Getting Started

Recreational swimmers have typically not met any Para standards, are new to swimming, are currently learning the basics of the sport, and/or only training and competing seasonally.

Next steps:

1. Join a team!
2. Learn about and consider applying for national classification.
3. Progress to complete 50m swims safely and legally.
4. Strive for Can-Am standards.

Best swim meets:

1. Local club or school meets with home team.
2. Recreational level Para meet or Para open event. More information on competitions may be found at on our Competition webpage.

Best camps / clinics:

1. Intro to Para Swimming Clinic.
2. Stroke Clinic at Fred Lamback Disability Meet: August, GA
3. Any "able-body" swim camp or clinic.

Please contact U.S. Paralympics Swimming with any questions at USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org.

Can-Am swimmers typically are nationally classified, have met a Can-Am standard in your assigned sport class, and are training with a competitive swim program and competing in meets.

Next steps for you:

1. Consider joining a year-round program.
2. Establish goals with coach, strive for an Emerging standard.
3. Learn skills & strategies for competing.
4. Identify areas for growth including "hidden training" like sleep & nutrition.

Best swim meets:

1. Local club and/or school meets with home team
2. Recreational Para events, Para open events, Can-Am/Nationals and potentially even a Trials event.

Best camps / clinics:

1. Intro to Para Swimming Clinic
2. Stroke Clinic at Fred Lamback Disability Meet: August, GA
3. Any "able-body" camp or clinic

Please contact U.S. Paralympics Swimming with any questions at USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org.

Emerging level athletes have met an emerging standard, are swimming year-round, and are developing advanced skills both in & out of the pool which drive performance.

Next steps for you:

1. Learn about international classification.
2. Communicate with U.S. Paralympics Swimming staff regarding training, support services & competitions.
3. Develop travel skills, consider obtaining a passport in anticipation of international travel.
4. Develop training & competition plans with coach to attain national team standards.

Best swim meets:

1. Higher-level Para meets like nationals, Can-Am and/or World Para Swimming World Series event in the United States.
2. Continue competing with your school or club program and at regional Para events.

Best Camps / Clinics 

1. Stroke clinic at a Para Open Series meet.
2. May be invited to an emerging camp.
3. Any "able-body" camp or clinic.

Please contact U.S. Paralympics Swimming with any questions at USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org.

National C level athletes have met a National C standard and/or have an international classification.

Next steps for you:

1.    Develop skills and systems for operating independently of your coach when necessary (ex. warm up/cool down effectively).

2.    Promptly attend to U.S. Paralympics Swimming communications.

3.    Work closely with your primary coach to establish training plans which will help you perform your best at events like trials and major international events if you are named to a team

Best swim meets:

1.    Higher-level para meets like nationals, Can-Am and/or the World Para Swimming World Series events.

2.    Continue to compete with your school or club programs and regional Para events.

Best camps / clinics:

1.    May be invited to a U.S. Paralympics Swimming camp.

2.    Any "able-body" camp or clinic. 

Please contact U.S. Paralympics Swimming with any questions at USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org.

National B level athletes have met a National B standard and have systems for operating independently of your coach when necessary.

Next steps:

1. Learn to use services available through U.S. Paralympics Swimming like sports psych, sports medicine, nutrition, strength and conditioning, recovery, race analysis, video analysis, and test sets.
2. Work closely with your primary coach to establish training plans which will help you perform your best at events like trials and major international events if you are named to a team.

Best swim meets:

1. Attend higher-level Para meets like nationals, Can-Am and/or the World Para Swimming World Series events.
2. Continue to compete at your school and club competitions and regional Para events.

Best camps / clinics:

1. May be invited to a U.S. Paralympics Swimming camp.
2. Any "able-body" camp or clinic.

Please contact U.S. Paralympics Swimming with any questions at USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org.

National A level athletes have met a National A standard and are taking advantage of the service providers that U.S. Paralympics Swimming offers (ex., sports nutrition, psych etc.).

Next steps:

1. Work closely with your primary coach to establish training plans which will help you perform your best at events like trials and major international events if you are named to a team.

Best swim meets:

1. Attend higher-level Para meets like nationals, Can-Ams and/or the World Para Swimming World Series events.
2. Continue to compete at your school or club program competitions and regional Para events.

Best camps / clinics:

1. U.S. Paralympics Swimming camps - invite only.
2. Any "able-body" camp or clinic.

Please contact U.S. Paralympics Swimming with any questions at USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org.

This workshop presentation is designed to provide an introduction and orientation to the para-swimming arena in the USA.  It's designed for swimmers with a disability, coaches, parents and anyone interested in the para-swimming community and how to support swimmers with a disability.

In this session, participants can expect to:

• Discover the roles of the USOPC and U.S. Paralympics Swimming
• Identify the swimming sport classifications, rules, and exceptions
• Understand how to prepare for a positive classification experience
• Examine the levels of the Para Swimmer Development Model (PSDM) to supplement the USA Swimming American Development Model (ADM)
• Compare the potential competition progression associated with the PSDM
• Discover basic sport class training considerations for para-swimmers 
• Watch basic biomechanical modifications/adaptations video clips for athletes with physical, visual and/or intellectual disabilities
• Identify basic support for a para-swimmer in training and competition
• Discuss options for coaches and swimmers with a disability to become a part of the para-swimming community

This workshop presentation will be presented via a Zoom presentation.  You must register via the Signup Genius registration.  A link to the zoom presentation will be emailed to all registrants the day of the presentation approximately 1-2 hours in advance of the start of the session.   Please enter a valid email address in the registration to ensure you receive the zoom presentation link and be sure to check your spam folder if you haven't received the link.

• March 3
• May 5
• July 14
• October 6
• November 3