Many who continue to swim year-round at the four local swim clubs (MAC, YMCA, FAST and Health Unlimited) got their start in the FSSL. Many FSSL swimmers will compete on the 10 FCPS high school teams during the winter season.

It is fitting that the FSSL All Star meet be held at the Frederick High School pool. The reality in this county is that swim teams depend on the Frederick County Public Schools' pools to train and run meets. We appreciate that the county school system has decided to keep them open in these precarious economic times.

The community swim teams become the major sport and social activities for many county residents during the summer. The size of the league is growing with new teams regularly added.

As we all know, childhood obesity is a growing problem in our country. Starting in May, while other children sat in front of the TV or video game monitor, FSSL kids spent their summer going to early morning and afternoon/evening training sessions. Setting weekly goals and dropping time in personal events keeps potentially idle bodies in motion all summer long.

The end-of-the-year swim banquet in Spring Ridge was particularly heartwarming. The coaching staff of 10 coaches and six junior coaches are all former or current summer team members who had had great experiences and wanted to give back to the community. Their enthusiasm and innovation is contagious.

They range in age from 15 to 25. Some swim college, some swim high school, some swim year-round on club teams, some swim only in the summer. The younger and junior coaches learn from their older colleagues how to manage young people and share their skills. The college grads came back to work one more summer in the pool before they go off to "real jobs" in the future. It is a great life cycle to observe.

Watching the older and sometimes former competitive swimmers hug and congratulate the excited, first-time participants brought a tear to my eye. I remember when my children were those little guys almost 10 years ago. Now they coach and are working to bring a new generation into the sport that they love.

Another high note was when a first-time swimmer at the age of 16 received the Most Improved Swimmer award after never having swum a lap before. She had such a positive experience that she is now going to join her high school team this upcoming season. What other varsity sport offers this new opportunity to students at this age?

Inspiring and encouraging people to grow and reach their potential is a "real job." Business executives hire consultants to provide this service to their management teams in hopes that it will increase worker productivity and net gains.

If you would like to see some of that investment payoff, make your way to Frederick High this Saturday morning and cheer on your neighbors at the last meet of the summer. As you head off to beach vacations, be thankful to those who taught you how to swim.

Hats off to Frederick Summer Swim League and all 15 community pool teams. Also, thanks to FCPS for keeping the pools open for at least one more year.

Mark Kavanaugh
President
Frederick County Advocates for Swim Teams (FCAST)