Fwd: July Executive Director Update

Update from the Executive Director "Look what I made, Mom! All by myself!"   Those six words have stayed with me, since Marcus proudly walked out of The Pittsburgh Project holding a cardboard puppet he had created in the DreamLab. He had named his creation "Rex." Made from cardboard, markers, glue, and a whole lot of imagination - it may have looked like a simple summer project to most people, but to his parents it meant something much more.   A few days later, his mom shared with us that Marcus has often struggled with art and fine motor skills and works with an occupational therapist during the school year. Creative projects haven't always come easily for him, and they have often left him feeling discouraged. But on this day, everything was different.   He couldn't wait to show her what he had made. He wasn't just proud of the puppet - he was proud of himself. She told us she was moved to tears. As a parent myself, I could picture exactly what that moment must have felt like. As I reflected on her note, I realized that those six words captured something much bigger than one project.   "Look what I made... all by myself."   That's what discovering confidence sounds like. As I think back on this summer, I realize that Marcus' story wasn't an isolated moment. It was a theme woven throughout our classrooms, electives, playgrounds, and hallways.   A few days ago, I asked one of our middle school students, I'll call her Sarah, how summer camp had been going. Her answer wasn't polished or rehearsed. She simply started telling me about everything she had experienced.   "I enjoyed painting in art, playing Connect Four with friends, and learning how to change a tire, replace spark plugs, and change the oil in our Megatronics elective. We created a water balloon launcher in science class with Dr. Fox, and we also tried miracle berries that made sour foods taste sweet."   As she talked, I couldn't help but smile. She wasn't giving me a report about summer camp. She was remembering a summer filled with curiosity, laughter, friendships, and opportunities to try something she had never done before.   That same spirit showed up in one of our newest electives this summer: fencing. After the program ended, the instructor shared how impressed she was by the focus, discipline, teamwork, and determination she saw in the young men she worked with. She wrote about Jalen, who began the class hesitant and unsure of himself but gradually embraced the challenge and approached each lesson with growing confidence. She also highlighted Malik, whose steady focus and encouragement naturally made him a leader among his peers.   Reading her reflection reminded me that every student who walks through our doors brings different gifts, experiences, personalities, and challenges.   Our job is to foster a community where young people can discover the gifts God has already placed within them.   When I think about these stories together, I don't really think they're about the DreamLab, fencing, science experiments, or learning to change a tire. They're about creating the kind of place where young people feel safe enough to try something new, make mistakes without fear of failure, discover abilities they didn't know they had, and simply have the freedom to be kids. In other words, they're about building community.   Our mission at The Pittsburgh Project is Sharing Hope, Empowering Youth, and Building Community. This summer reminded me that those aren't three separate ideas. We share hope when a child begins to believe, "Maybe I really can do this." We empower youth by creating opportunities to learn, create, lead, serve, and grow. We build community by creating a place where every young person is known, valued, encouraged, and loved.   I often find myself wondering what Pittsburgh will look like twenty years from now. Some of the children who filled our building with laughter this summer will become teachers, business owners, parents, pastors, nonprofit leaders, and neighbors. Some may even return to The Pittsburgh Project as many already have. We don't know exactly where their journeys will lead. But we do know this. Strong neighborhoods are built by young people who know they matter. Communities flourish when children grow up believing they have gifts to offer and people who believe in them.   That's why a cardboard puppet named Rex matters. That's why learning to fence matters. That's why changing a tire, painting a mural, or launching a water balloon matters. Because those activities are never the destination. They are opportunities for young people to discover who God created them to be.   As another summer comes to a close, my heart is full of gratitude. I'm grateful to the families who entrusted us with their children. I'm grateful to our staff and elective instructors who poured their creativity, patience, encouragement, and love into every day of this summer. And I'm grateful for each of you. Whether you volunteer, pray, give financially, or simply believe in this work, you are helping create a community where young people experience hope, discover confidence, and build relationships that can shape the rest of their lives.   Thank you for partnering with us in this mission.   Together, we are helping create a place where children have the freedom to be kids, the courage to make mistakes, the confidence to discover their gifts, and the opportunity to grow into the neighbors, leaders, and community builders our city will need for generations to come. Blessings, Rick Mason Executive Director Sent by The Pittsburgh Project

Fwd: Coaches

TAP-LLC is conducting a Coaches Build and Program a Pool workshop Sept 8-9, 26 - Orlando FL- ASCA World Clinic.  Attendees DO NOT have to register for ASCA – our workshop is separate but in the same hotel.  We have 3 scholarships (worth over $300) available that you can offer to any of your coaching contacts

 

From age group development to elite competition, swim clubs have helped shape generations of swimmers. But many communities still face the same challenge.  There simply aren't enough quality aquatic facilities to meet the growing demand.

That is why we are excited to invite coaches and clubs to the Coaches Build & Program a Pool Workshop, sponsored by Spectrum Aquatics, during the 2026 ASCA World Clinic in Orlando, Florida.

 

As a special opportunity for all coaches and clubs, we are offering a limited amount of scholarships to attend. This is for coaches and club administrators (coach, board member, club owner, aquatic director, or community partner)

You’ll learn how to:

• Turn the need for more pool space into a compelling community vision.

• Work effectively with municipalities, school districts, parks and recreation departments, and private partners.

• Design programming that supports financial sustainability while serving swimmers of every age and ability.

• Build successful Learn-to-Swim, competitive swimming, fitness, therapy, and community aquatic programs.

• Understand what makes aquatic facilities successful long after the ribbon cutting.

Win a FREE $3,000 Enterprise Plan

Every attendee will automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a Total Aquatic Programming Enterprise Plan, a customized planning package valued at $3,000.

The Enterprise Plan includes strategic recommendations, programming concepts, operational guidance, and a customized roadmap to help transform an aquatic vision into a successful and sustainable reality.

Why Attend?

 

✔ Learn from professionals who have helped communities across the country develop successful aquatic facilities.

✔ Gain practical tools you can immediately apply to your club and community.

✔ Help create more opportunities for swimmers, families, and future generations.

 

This workshop covers all sizes and price ranges for aquatic centers.  From learn to swim and training centers to competition venues.  There will be plenty of opportunities for attendees to interact with the presenters and the Dream Team of professionals.

 

The scholarship includes the $299 registration fee plus continental breakfast and lunch both days and the social at the end of day 1.

It does not include motel room or travel.  Registration at the ASCA Clinic is not mandatory.  For more information or to register for this special deal please contact Sue Nelson 719-238-1381  snelson@totalaquatic.llc  

 

TAP Into Your Resources Coaches Build & Program A Pool - ASCA 2026 CBAPP Katharine Berkoff Commercial 2026 Coaches Build & Program A Pool Workshop ASCA World Clinic An exclusive workshop designed specifically for coaches, exploring how aquatic facility design directly impacts team programming, athlete performance, and long-term operational success.       Stop Building Your Program on Rented Lanes! Coaches Build and Program a Pool Conference @ the 2026 ASCA World Clinic Dear Coach,   Coaches BAPP Workshop Every season starts the same way. You negotiate pool time. You work around public swim hours, lessons, water aerobics, maintenance schedules, school priorities, and facility policies that you have little control over. You wonder if you'll get enough water time for your athletes. You worry about losing lanes. You adjust practice schedules around someone else's calendar. And every year, you invest countless hours building a program in a facility you don't own. For many coaches, renting water is simply the way things have always been done. But what if there was another path? At the Coaches Build & Program a Pool Workshop during the ASCA World Clinic, you'll learn how coaches, clubs, and aquatic organizations across the country have transformed from facility renters into facility owners, operators, and community leaders. Owning a facility isn't just about having more lanes. It's about: • Controlling your schedule instead of negotiating for it • Expanding lesson programs, camps, and revenue opportunities • Creating a permanent home for your athletes and families • Building long-term financial sustainability for your organization • Becoming an essential community resource instead of a temporary tenant • Designing a facility that supports your vision, not someone else's limitations The reality is that many successful aquatic centers started with a coach who simply got tired of hearing "no." No additional practice time. No room to grow. No space for lessons. No opportunity to host meets. No control over the future of their program. During this interactive workshop, you'll hear from industry experts who have helped communities, schools, clubs, and organizations develop aquatic facilities that serve athletes while creating lasting community impact.   Attendees will learn: • How successful facility projects begin • Common mistakes that derail aquatic developments • Funding and partnership opportunities • Programming strategies that create sustainable operations • How to evaluate whether a facility project makes sense for your organization • The real-world lessons learned from successful aquatic center projects   Whether you're dreaming about your own facility, considering a partnership opportunity, or simply curious about what it takes to move beyond rented water, this workshop will provide practical insights you can immediately apply. Your athletes deserve a home. Your program deserves a future. And sometimes the first step is simply understanding what's possible. Join us at the ASCA World Clinic for the Coaches Build & Program a Pool Workshop, September 8th & 9th, 2026. Registration is open now: Because great swim programs shouldn't have to depend on someone else's schedule. We look forward to seeing you there. Sincerely, Mick, Sue & Kent Nelson Total Aquatic Programming LLC Total Aquatic Education and Training Institute (a 501-3-c) Coaches Build & Program a Pool Workshop

 

 

 

Mick & Sue & Kent Nelson

E: mick@totalaquatic.llc

E: snelson@totalaquatic.llc

E: knelson@totalaquatic.llc

Web: Total Aquatic Programming LLC

TAP phone:  719-238-1561 or 719-238-1381

Coaches Build & Program a Pool Workshop - Sept 8-9, 26 - Orlando - ASCA World Clinic                                                                                                                                                        National Build & Program a Pool Workshop - Feb 2027 - Reno - AOAP/NDPA Conference

 

TAP-LLC is the official representative of USA Swimming’s Facilities Development Initiative

Link to Build and Program a Pool Workshops – Virtual + National + Custom  www.totalaquatic.llc LinkedIN: linkedin.com/company/totalaquatic  FB: https://www.facebook.com/TotalAquaticLLC

Visit our web site for information and assistance with:

* Dream Team Partners and Professional Providers listings

* Aquatic facilities and programming options

*Aquatic Business workshops

* Stats to help with drowning prevention initiatives

* Owners Advocacy Services - known throughout the aquatic industry-If you don’t get the little things right the big thing wont be right!  We treat your project like it’s our own.

 

 

 

 

Shitty Best: Redefining Athletic Failure with Unconditional Self‑Acceptance and Neural Science

Part 2 of Shitty Best, a book recap by Pavel Samov, Ph.D. in episode #109 of Heavy Or Not

Get the book here!

The Coach’s Guide to Accountability, Responsibility, and Compassion in High‑Stakes Sports

In this episode, #109 of Heavy Or Not, part 2, with insights into Dr. Pavel Somov’s “Shitty Best” framework, showing why athletes miss the mark and how coaches can turn those misses into growth. Learn how unconditional self‑acceptance can coexist with high standards and real accountability.

• The myth of the “unified self” and why akrasia isn’t just weak will

• How competing neural coalitions (pre‑frontal cortex vs. amygdala) drive split‑second mistakes

• Why traditional self‑esteem is a liability and how self‑acceptance builds true resilience

• Acceptance‑enabled perfectionism: practicing without panic and accelerating improvement

• The past‑present‑future coaching model and radical compassion for opponents, officials, and yourself

Turning Mistakes into Momentum: The Past‑Present‑Future Framework for Elite Coaching

Check out this episode!

Shitty Best Explained: How Known, Unknown, and Unknowable Variables Shape Performance (part 1)

Meet the work of my friend, with his book, Shitty Best.

Come and get acquainted with Dr. Pavel Somov’s game‑changing ideas from Shitty Best — the logic behind unconditional self‑acceptance and radical compassion for athletes and coaches. Discover why embracing an athlete’s “moment‑specific shitty best” can be your competitive edge.

In Heavy Or Not, episode #108, you’ll learn:

• How the “shitty best” concept reframes perfection and mistakes in high‑stakes sports.

• The three categories of performance variables: knowns, unknowns, and unknowables.

• Why the “I am perfect” mantra is a neuro‑plasticity drill, not fluffy motivation.

• How to transform film review from a blame‑session into a data‑driven laboratory.

• The “time‑machine” thought experiment that proves contextual inevitability of every play.

Check out this episode!

Get the book too!

Fwd: Can You Review a New Book About Swimming and AI?

Read Chapter Zero and share your thoughts with ISCA.

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Can you review a new book about swimming and AI? Chapter Zero: Our AI Coaching Wizard by Coach Mark Rauterkus of Pittsburgh, PA, explores how coaches, athletes and sports leaders can begin using artificial intelligence as a practical coaching tool. The book looks at AI through the eyes of the swimming community. It offers ideas for planning, learning, communication, reflection and building stronger programs without losing the judgment and personal connection that good coaching requires. We are inviting coaches, educators and swimming leaders to read the book and share their honest reactions. Download the complete PDF edition free at SwimISCA.com. A printed copy is also available for $10.50 plus shipping from the same website. Get the free PDF or order the printed book at SwimISCA.com. After reading it, please send us your review, comments or suggestions. Your feedback can help shape future editions and the continuing conversation about AI in coaching. Reach the author via email at Webmaster-Team@SwimISCA.org. SwimISCA.com View email in browser International Swim Coaches Association · 420 Church Ave SW STE 2 · Roanoke, VA 24016 · USA