USMS Coach and ALTS Certification and Stroke Clinics

USMS Stroke Development and Improvement Clinic for Swimmers - Vancouver, WA

USMS is sponsoring a USMS stroke development and improvement clinic for swimmers of all abilities. All four strokes will be evaluated and corrected with the use of drills and coach instruction. Bill Brenner and local Masters coaches will be on hand to help you improve your technique and teach you drills that will enable you to continue to refine your stroke. Swimmers are not required to swim all strokes and may work on only those strokes they choose. All swimmers must be able to swim a minimum of 200 yards comfortably. 

Mentor Coaches

Bill Brenner is the Senior Director, Club and Coach Development of U.S. Masters Swimming. He has over 40 years of experience coaching swimming at the age group, college and Masters levels. A USMS certified level 4 Masters coach, Bill has been involved in the evolution of the USMS Masters coach certification courses curricula and has taught hundreds of classes to thousands of Masters coaches. Bill established the USMS Adult learn-to-swim certification program and serves as an ALTS lead instructor. With the knowledge acquired from coaching 20-30 Masters swim clinics each year, Bill recently wrote the USMS Clinic Course for Coaches, teaching Masters coaches how to run a successful USMS stroke development clinic. Bill serves as an ambassador and advocate for USMS by visiting hundreds of existing clubs and workout groups, establishing new Masters programs, speaking at national aquatics conferences and maintaining relationships with strategic partners such as USA-Swimming, USA-Triathlon, Y-USA, LifeTime Fitness and the Kroc Centers. Prior to joining USMS as a staff member, Bill served USMS as a volunteer at the local and national level. He has been a swim meet director, support team staff member and coach at his local program, the Sarasota Sharks Masters. Bill enjoys sharing his passion for swimming with others by encouraging adults to swim for life.

Location:
Gold's Gym Camas/Gold's Aquatic Center
2950 NW 38th Ave, Camas, WA 98607

Schedule:
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Registration: 7:30 a.m.- 8:00 a.m PACIFIC TIME
Swim Clinic: 8:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Please be in your suit & on the deck promptly by 8:00 am.

Equipment: Please bring your suit, goggles, fins, paddles and a towel. Fins are necessary because without them many of the drills may be difficult.  Fins help create buoyancy and mild propulsion.

Online Registration:
Online registration only. Registration closes at midnight pacific time on Saturday, November 15, 2025 or when the clinic enrollment reaches 36.

Online Registration is Paid by Credit Card:
Your online registration for this course will be paid by credit card and processed by Club Assistant. Please look for "US Masters Swimming" on your credit card statement.

Fee: $60.00

Questions:
Contact Bill Brenner: [email protected]

U.S. Masters Swimming is hosting a USMS ALTS instructor certification course on Sunday, November 16, 2025 in Vancouver, WA.

Sunday, November 16, 2025 in Vancouver, WA
Check-in: 7:30 - 8:00 a.m.
Classroom instruction: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch: 1:00 p.m.*
In-water pool instruction: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

*Lunch will be provided. Please note in the registration process if you have any dietary restrictions

Location for classroom:
Sunday, November 16, 2025
SpringHill Suites Portland Vancouver
1421 SE Tech Center Drive
Vancouver, WA 98683

Location for pool instruction:
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Gold’s Gym Camas/Gold’s Aquatics Center
2950 NW 38th Avenue
Camas, WA 98607

Instructor:
Wendy Neely is a lead USMS-certified Adult Learn to Swim instructor and USMS-certified level 3 coach. She has more than 20 years of coaching experience and is head coach of Blue Wave Aquatics in Federal Way, Wash. She is a 2010 recipient of the USMS Kerry O’Brien Coaches Award, which is awarded for grassroots coaching accomplishment. In 2013, Blue Wave Aquatics was honored as Local Club of the Year, and also received a Swimming Saves Lives Foundation grant to provide swim lessons for adults

ALTS Prerequisites:
You must be a current USMS member to participate in the course and receive USMS ALTS Instructor certification. You must be able to perform the following five water-competency skills:

• Step or jump into deep water and return to the surface
• Float or tread water for one minute
• Turn around in a full circle and find an exit
• Swim 25 yards to the exit
• Exit from the water

Certification Process:
Upon successful completion of the classroom coursework and the in-water instruction, including all successfully completed tests, each person will be awarded USMS ALTS Certified Instructor certification.

Fees:
$250 per instructor registration. Your ALTS Certified Instructor designation is active until the end of the calendar year in which it is achieved, and can be renewed by paying a $30 annual fee when updating your USMS membership each year. USMS provides references and support for active member instructors only.

Scholarships:
Oregon LMSC members are eligible to receive 100% registration fee reimbursement upon successful completion of the class. For more information, please contact: [email protected]

Maximum:
Maximum attendance is 30.

Who should attend?
Anyone who teaches, or wants to teach, adult swim lessons both publicly and privately. Anyone interested in supporting their community by helping to teach adults to swim.

Online Registration:
Online registration only. Registration closes at midnight Pacific time on Saturday, November 15, 2025 or when the course enrollment reaches 30.

Online Registration is Paid by Credit Card:
Your online registration for this course will be paid by credit card and processed by Club Assistant. Please look for "US Masters Swimming" on your credit card statement.

Lodging:

• US Masters Swimming has secured a room block at Springhill Suites Portland Vancouver for $159.99 per night. Book your group rate for US Masters Swimming  Last day to book at this rate is Thursday, October 16, 2025.

Questions:
Contact Bill Brenner [email protected]