Disability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The primary objective of Pacific's Disability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program is to increase multicultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity and to foster an inclusive environment at all levels of the sport of competitive swimming. The Disability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee develops and administers programs which are aimed at encouraging existing clubs and related organizations to expand opportunities to provide a competitive swimming experience to those individuals currently lacking such opportunities.
The DDEI Committee usually meets the last Thursday of each month via Zoom. If you are interested in participating on the committee call, or you have any questions, please email Kent Yoshiwara.
Resources
Use this link to discover a list curated to help you use inclusive language. These style guides are resources for ensuring the written word of your clubs reflects language that is welcoming and inclusive and that recognizes and embraces differences.
DDEI Style Guide Information & List
USA Swimming Athlete Inclusion, Competitive Equity, and Eligibility Policy 19.0
Diversity Grant Program
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 Spring Grant application period has just opened. See below for the application.
The purpose of the DDEI Grant is to increase multicultural, ethic, and socioeconomic diversity and to foster an inclusive environment at all levels of the sport of competitive swimming. It is intended that this grant will reach out to underrepresented groups in the overall community. Grants are not intended to fund general team finances, such as pool rent and coaches salaries.
Evaluation Process:
Requirements:
- Clubs must be in good standing with Pacific Swimming
- Submit a completed application by the deadline.
- Submit a current expense budget for the program you are requesting funding for. Indicate the specific uses of the requested funding if possible.
- Submit your organization's current annual budget and the most recent financial statement.
- Include a general demographic breakdown of your club
- Submit a copy of your current IRS determination letter indicating 501(c)(3) tax-exemption status
Send all documents in one email to diversity@pacswim.org
Due Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
If you have questions, please contact Kent Yoshiwara, diversity@pacswim.org
National Diversity Select Camp
The athlete application for the 2025 National Diversity Select Camp application is now open!
USA Swimming invites up to 56 athletes from diverse populations to participate in a three-day camp program which includes pool training, motivational and education sessions and team-building activities. Selection is based on times achieved at USA Swimming sanctioned events.
Goals of the camp:
To empower athletes from diverse backgrounds and diverse populations to:
- Demonstrate the viability of multicultural success in swimming
- Achieve performance excellence at every level of the sport
- Expound the benefits and value of participating in the sport of swimming
- Be positive leaders and role models that others from multicultural backgrounds can emulate.
Location:
Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Colorado Springs, CO
Camp Schedule:
The National Diversity Select Camp will consist of four in-water workouts and a number of classroom sessions covering various topics. The goal is to provide ignition, motivation, and information for athletes to continue to set goals, work hard, excel in swimming, and feel empowered to take ownership of their swimming careers and roles within their community.
Cost:
Each athlete selected for the camp will be provided lodging, meals, ground transportation to/from the designated airport and full airfare.
Qualification Standard
Application Process:
The National Diversity Select Camps are application based. Applications can be found here and are due Sunday, February 9, 2025, 11:55 MT. Upon completion of this application, you will receive a no-reply email from Formsite to the Athlete's email address provided. Athletes will be notified directly via email if they have been accepted to the camp.
Disclaimer:
This event may be canceled by USA Swimming upon reasonable notice for any reason, including but not limited to a force majeure event. If deemed necessary, the event may be reassigned or rescheduled.
Questions?
For more information, please contact Kristin Alfano.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Camp
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+.
Athlete Qualifications: All athletes must be between the ages of 11 and 16 years old on the day of the camp, and a member of Pacific Swimming in good standing. There are no time standard qualifications for this camp. All athletes are expected to come prepared to fully participate in both swim and dryland activities. If there is an injury that will prevent your full participation in the event, we ask that you inform us of the injury in advance of the camp.
Camp Capacity: 30 athletes. Applications will be accepted in the order in which they are received. Priority is given to athletes attending the camp for the first time, if the camp capacity reached. Confirmation of athletes acceptance into the camp will be sent by email.
Cost of Camp: $15 per swimmer (Cash paid the day of the camp or check payable to Pacific Swimming)
Camp Activities: The camp will include 2 guest speaker sessions, 2 in-water sessions, plus lunch, dinner and snacks are included.
What to Bring: Athletes will need their suit, googles, a couple of towels, and shoes and clothes for dryland activities. Also, please bring your Camp Fee of $15 in either cash or a check payable to Pacific Swimming. Exact change is greatly appreciated. A morning snack, full lunch and pizza dinner will be provided throughout the day. If you would like to bring food of your own, you are welcome to.
Application Deadline: Friday, October 25, 2024 - Apply HERE
Please send any questions to Verónica Hernández at vhernandez@pacswim.org.
Western Zone Diversity Select Camp
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:
- Demonstrate the viability of inclusiveness in swimming within their local LSC.
- Achieve performance excellence at every level of the sport.
- Expound the benefits and value of participating in the sport of swimming.
- Be positive leaders and role models that others from socioeconomic backgrounds can emulate.
- 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
Meet Entry Fee Assistance Program (MEFAP)
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:
If you have additional questions, please contact Annie Stein
Outreach Registration
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.
USA Swimming Diversity and Inclusion
For more information, please visit USA Swimming's Diversity and Inclusion & Disability pages
