Disability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The 2024 Pacific Swimming Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Camp will be held on November 2, 2024 at Solano College in Fairfield, CA. The camp will be for swimmers 11-16 years of age, and will include in-water stroke work, team building and leadership development activities, plus more.

The goal of this camp is to create a culture of inclusion and opportunity to spread the mentality that elite level swimming can happen in any pool, by anyone, from any background. This camp encourages participation by athlete from the underrepresented groups of USA Swimming, which include: African-American, Latinx, Asian, as well as socioeconomically underserved, athletes with a disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

The purpose of the Diversity & Inclusion Grant is to increase multicultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity and to foster an inclusive environment at all levels of the sport of competitive swimming. Twice a year, Pacific Swimming clubs are encouraged to submit an application for a Pacific Swimming Diversity Grant. Available funding for each grant period is dependent on the approved annual budget.

The Fall Grant application period has just opened. See below for the application.

Clubs and organizations requesting support from Pacific Swimming submit a written Program Plan which includes the purpose, plan description, test metrics, schedule, budget, funding requested from Pacific Swimming, and manpower expectations. The Committee then evaluates the requests based on the following criteria:

• Fulfillment of the USA Swimming Outreach program mission, which is to provide opportunities in swimming to the underrepresented and economically disadvantaged youth in the United States)
• Fulfillment of the Pacific Swimming mission, which is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in swimming
• Benefit to the athletes
• Innovation
• Likelihood of success
• Other sources of funding                                                                    

Note: Scholarships for swimmers with financial needs will not be considered this session as we are developing an Individual Scholarship program. All other grant requests will be considered.

The Fall Grant application is now open. Applications are due by October 15, 2024.

Questions? Contact Kent Yoshiwara        

Previous Grant Recipients

2024 Western Zone Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Camp Application

General Information:

Purpose: Instill a vision of success and inspire athletes from under-represented populations to become leaders in the sport of swimming.

Goals: To empower athletes from ethnically underrepresented populations, those economically disadvantaged, and LGBTQAI2S+ and their coaches to:

1. Demonstrate the viability of inclusiveness in swimming within their local LSC.
2. Achieve performance excellence at every level of the sport.
3. Expound the benefits and value of participating in the sport of swimming.
4. Be positive leaders and role models that others from socioeconomic backgrounds can emulate.
5. To connect, network, and promote the virtues of the sport of swimming through a comprehensive strategy involving the athletes, coaches, and LSC DEI Chairs in their own local LSC’s and throughout the Western Zone.

Location: Butler University, Indianapolis, IN 

Date: June 17-20, 2024, during Olympic Trials

Number of Attendees: 2 athletes from each LSC in the Western Zone. Each LSC may also submit up to 2 athlete alternates.

If, after the deadline, there are openings available for additional athletes, the alternates submitted by each LSC will be considered to attend the camp. LSCs will be notified by March 31, 2024 if their alternates have been accepted.

Athlete Age: 13 -16 years of age on the first day of the camp

Preferred Qualifications: Athletes should have an "A" time in one or more events in any course either as a 13-14 or as a 15-16 year old athlete. Designate the time standard achieved and age on the application.

Secondary Qualifications: If an LSC has no athletes apply who meet the preferred qualifications, then the LSC may select athletes who have qualified in at least one individual event in their local LSC championship meet in either SCY or LCM seasons.

Additional Information: If an athlete has attended a previous in-person Western Zone Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Camp, USA Swimming Regional Diversity Select Camp or a USA Swimming National Diversity Select Camp, the athlete may not attend this Western Zone Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Select Camp. An athlete may attend only one in-person Western Zone Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Camp.

Camp Schedule: The camp will include a multiple in-water sessions, combination of dryland training, motivational, educational and networking sessions for all participants, as well as a Finals Session at the 2024 USA Swimming Olympic Trials! 

Application Requirements: To complete this application you will need your USA Swimming Member ID number, qualifying event information [event, distance, course (SCY or LCM), qualifying time, time standard, age when time achieved, meet where time was achieved, date/LSC of the meet and USA Swimming Power Points], your IMX Score, a written personal statement of 150 words or less and a parent/guardian's signature.

https://www.usaswimming.org
https://www.usaswimming.org/times/individual-times-search 
https://www.usaswimming.org/times/popular-resources/power-point-calculator 

Application Deadline: In order to be considered to attend, individuals must submit their application to Pacific Swimming no later than March 4, 2024.  

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Verónica Hernández at vhernandez@pacswim.org.

2024 Western Zone Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Camp Application

Pacific Swimming has introduced a new Meet Entry Fee Assistance Program (MEFAP) to help swimmers cover the costs of entering swim meets. The swimmer would pay for the splash fee associated with each meet and Pacific Swimming will cover the individual swims’ entry fees. To be eligible, swimmers must be an Outreach registered athlete OR have a family-proven hardship, verified by a coach. Swimmers may register for each meet through their coach/club.

For more information and the form, please click below:

MEFAP Form

If you have additional questions, please contact Annie Stein

Pacific Swimming participates in the USA Swimming Outreach Program and offers registration at the USA Swimming registration fee of $7.00 with no additional fees to Pacific Swimming. Valid September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2025.
The registration fee will reduce to $5.00 in the 2025-26 season.

Click here to review Outreach Qualifications

If you meet the qualifications, please contact your team to apply for an Outreach membership.

The Fred Siegrist Scholarship is designed to give economically disadvataged youth the opportunity to participate in Pacific all-star meets and camps for which they qualify which would normally require a co-pay from the athlete's family.

Click for common forms needed

For more information, please visit USA Swimming's Diversity and Inclusion & Disability pages

USA Swimming Diversity and Inclusion Resource Page

USA Swimming Disabillity Resource Page