McCaffreyCap, Dec. 3, 2010

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 3. YOU'VE found the McCaffreyCap and we're glad you did. This week in the rundown, the coaches guide to Hug a Swimmer Day, a step backwards in transperancy from a governing body, an new job opening at USA Swimming, and more details on the biggest tragedy in our sport's history. Take your mark!

This week USA Swimming announced the members of its Athlete Protection Committee. The committee will work towards making sure that USA Swimming's policies, put in place to prevent any future sexual abuse scandals, are effective.

The committee was announced Tuesday, one day before the 2nd annual hug a swimmer day that. According to Facebook, 170,000 people participated in the occasion. I wonder if the committee had time to put out a guideline reminder to coaches on the appropriate way to participate in "Hug A Swimmer Day." Do you think coaches remembered one-handed hugs only, and only in the presence of at least one other adult? I know that one may not go over well, but those are the guidelines, and that's the state of our sport these days.

Speaking of policies, USA Swimming quietly passed the Athlete Partnership Agreement last week, and 10 days later we finally get our first look at the final draft. If you remember the proposal had gone through multiple drafts over the past year and some speculate that Mark Schubert's stance on what athletes should give up in exchange for the financial support, put him at odds with Executive Director Chuck Wielgus. Wielgus, as well as the United States Olympic Committee, was in favor of a contract-based agreement where the national team swimmers give some likeness rights to USA Swimming in exchange for an increase in the annual financial support, so no real surprises when we saw the details, 10 days later, that the contract based agreement is now in place. According to the final draft the athletes will earn $36,000 in exchange for, among other things, turning in training plans and making mandatory appearances at USA Swimming meets and USA Swimming Foundation events. The image and likeness rights section is wordy, but it does end with the key words "as mutually approved by USA and the Athlete." I would love to know what that entails, but the approval process has been kept behind closed doors. No matter which version of the APA you prefer, at least when Mark Schubert was in charge of the proposal the process was transparent.

Which brings us to our next bit of news from Colorado Springs. USA Swimming is now accepting applications for the National Team Director. Speculation puts names like David Marsh, Eddie Reese, and Jack Bauerle at the top of the list, but I'm holding out for some dark horses. The posting is asking for applicants, and I'd love to see the list of names that apply. I hear Ken Stopkote is looking for a job, although he may, or may not, have other obligations detaining him in the near future. What about retired swimmers like Tom Dolan, Rowdy Gaines, or Michael Phelps?

OK, Michael Phelps has not retired, and I know many of you viewers think I've been too hard on Michael lately, but we haven't seen him in the pool since August. His mother Debbie explained in an interview at the Golden Goggles that he's building his business. I can respect that. All swimmers need an exit plan because swimming won't pay the bills forever. I want to clarify that I am a huge Phelps fan. In my opinion he was the most dominant athlete in the world for eight years and I will always feel privileged that I witnessed it. But whenever Michael is asked about his long-term goals he doesn't talk about domination or even medals. He always says his goal is to take the sport to the next level. I don't see how golf tournaments and spa lines are steps towards that. Whether it's fair or not, he is the face of swimming, and on Saturday the 11th here in America, swimming takes the national stage on NBC. US Short Course Nationals will a sports-hungry audience on their first non-college football Saturday in months and the face of our sport won't be there to pull them in. I can respect that, like a lot of national team members, he's probably preparing for the short course World Championships later this month. But if he's serious about growing the sport the best place to do it is in the competition pool with a national audience. With all the negative press surrounding the sport, we need you now more than ever Michael. We'll take a quick commercial break and come back under the flags.

This week a series of emails were released regarding the tragic death of Fran Crippen. I encourage all of you go to https://www.swimmingcoach.org/wsca/safety.htm
and read the messages from athletes, FINA representatives, and even an email from Fran himself sent to Chuck Wielgus just one week before his death. I had coach Richard Shoulberg on Split Time this week to discuss the issue, so if you're interested I encourage you to check that our as well.

We'll stop the clock right there on this weeks show, and remember that's just one man's recap.

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