​​​​The I-League aims to dramatically increase inclusion within interscholastic aquatics

Introducing the I-League

Learn about the proposed I-League, the problems it intends to solve and how it can operate in the years to come.

Meta Meet(s)

Meta Meets are extra-special, additional, scholastic meets.At first glance, think of a Meta Meet as a new type of highly competitive, All-Star, Invitational.   Meta Meet At first glance, think of a Meta Meet as a new type of highly competitive, All-Star, Invitational.  SummaryExisting high school rule issues to overcome / compromise:Scheduling the Meta Meet Continue Reading.

Philosophy and seeds of hope with the I-League

Over-arching themes Fix what is broken.Do NOT change what is working well.Emphasize playing well with others. Sportsmanship.Lifeguard training in an expectation for all. Becoming a lifeguard offers ideal, initial steps for one’s career journey and a lifestyle devoted to wellness. Be caring, loving, open, and honest.Cultivate and support fast swimming and new challenges.Scale and engage more participation Continue Reading.

Benefits of the I-League

Benefits for SchoolsIncrease the number of varsity sports opportunities available for its students.Aquatic rehab can engage students athletes from other sports who get mid-season injuries.Easier, plug-and-play operations lighten the burdens on the Athletic Director and Principals with the Done-For-You deployment from expert I-League leadership.Sponsors, scholarships, tech tools and other resources can show up to aid Continue Reading.

Done For You — Catch your breath and swim downstream with the help of the I-League

These plans present done-for-you programs that are easier for school administrators to implement. Done-for-you is the flip side of do-it-yourself (DIY). The model, duties, boundaries and transition steps are shared

I-League meanings

First and foremost, the letter “I” in the name, “I-League” stands for inclusion. But other words fit as well.

I-League’s Institutional Interactions

The pieces of the puzzle need to fit together, as the logo illustration symbolizes. Institutional HistoryYears ago, the swimming federation in Canada developed a swim lesson program called, I Can Swim. Over the years, the program developed, and its ownership was transferred to Current Wave in British Columbia, Canada. Current Wave’s modern brand identity, (another i-word Continue Reading.

Rule Clarity and Flexibility for launching the I-League

Rule Clarity  1ScrimmagesBackground on ScrimmagesVision for the I-League concerning scrimmagesNew Rule for the I-League (about scrimmages):Rule reminders (not a rule change):2Grades of ParticipantsBackground on Grades of ParticipantsVision for the I-League concerning grades of participationNew Rule for the I-League about grades of participation:3Extended Calendar Background on Extended CalendarNew Rule for the I-League about extended calendar:4Independent AthletesBackground Continue Reading.

Launching and Enrollment steps for the I-League

Enrollment Steps League to LeagueI-League Relations with the WPIAL & PIAA I-League EnrollmentLeague to LeagueAs a scholastic aquatics league, the enrollment process starts with the WPIAL and PIAA. First comes a B2B (business to business) discussion, negotiation and contract with the existing league(s).School employees could decide to to an intramural swim upgrade, but when it Continue Reading.

Competitors

Getting participants to the I-League activities means other endeavors are left behind.Participants at the I-League’s after-school activities are able to keep busy, stay out of their houses for some time, and spend time with others in a productive setting.  Hopefully this will mean less time on the couch and more time spent learning and developing Continue Reading.

I-League model may be similar to what schools use for athletic training services.

Consider the Athletic Training Model deployed in many schools.Schools often obtain the services of Athletic Trainers by way of a contract. The athletic trainers support the school’s athletic programs. Three examples: UPMC, AHN / AGH, ESSMC. UPMC Sports Medicine is a larger provider with more than 30 schools / contracts. UPMC Sports Medicine offers a range Continue Reading.

How the I-League works (for various populations)

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers about the I-League

FAQs & As Question: What is the minimum number of schools needed to start the I-LeagueQuestion: What is the timeline for starting the I-League?  Question: What would happen in the first year of the I-League?Question: Is the I-League a model that can be replicated in elsewhere, beyond Western Pennsylvania?Question: How does the I-League launch fit Continue Reading.

Getting the I-League to SCALE

Operations to scale the I-LeagueLevel 1: Sell and serve ten customersConfirm that the I-League is wanted and it delivers as desired. Sell and serve ten customers as soon as possible to provide income and insights, data, buzz and confidence. The first ten clients are a question of will power and making raving fans.Level of Scale Continue Reading.

Insurance

Best Practices for Solving Insurance Issues with the schools and I-LeagueThis page is under construction.  As modern policies are recorded, this page gets updated. Question: What about insurance?Insurance is always a gotcha question asked by those in schools wishing to reject facility usage. Glad to take on this concern straight away.First of all, what does the school district Continue Reading.

Schools well suited for I-League involvement

Detailed examinations of all schools are forthcoming.If you have notes and other suggestions, please input them into the comments at the bottom of the page. Middle schools well suited for I-League involvementIn no specific order:Albert Gatllitin, Union, PABrowsville Area High School, Brownsville, PAGeibel Junior-Senior Catholic High School, Connellsville, PAYough Senior High School, Herminie, PAWaynesburg Central High Continue Reading.

Junior High Schools well suited for I-League involvement

More research coming.Help with your inputs in the text box at the bottom of the page.

Advice from a sponsor from Australia

Sally from Australia wrote and email, 3/8/2023Hi Mark,We’re excited to hear about the Pennsylvania High School Coaches Annual Conference on April 15, 2023, and your involvement in leading a Coaches Roundtable. It sounds like a fantastic opportunity for coaches and educators to come together and discuss important topics in the field.As you know, we are Continue Reading.

Marketing: Getting students to the pool and wanting to join the I-League.

Original and authentic stories can efficiently spread I-League news. Word-of-mouth marketing and building relationships in person is the best way to market. One the I-League gets into the school setting, great word-of-mouth marketing is needed and expected. Background for building word-of-mouth messages:Students in schools without swim teams are often NOT willing to rush to the swim pool to Continue Reading.

I-League could become a model for developing additional teams in other sports.

Idea from a former high school principal:This might work well for other sports too, such as bowling.The I-League model might be able to be replicated in other sports beyond swimming. At its core, the I-League helps students at schools without swim teams get a swimming experience. Perhaps the same benefit could be true for other Continue Reading.

Join our I-League Advisory Committee

After you fill out and SUBMIT this extensive survey, we’ll make it worth your time. Survey and Input Formhosted at Read.SwimISCA.org

Our water imperative.

Speaker: Henk Ovink Dutch, special envoy to the UN for water. 

New York policy shifts

New York’s PSAL (Public School Athletic League) new policiesStudents at schools with under five teams get first crack at individual access programs.In New York, the students who are interested in a sport their school doesn’t offer are assigned to a new building by the PSAL. Those students do have to try out and make the Continue Reading.

Memo to ISCA about plans for Ohio and Pennsylvania

To Doug Fonder, President and Meet Director of ISCA Table Of Contents BackgroundMid-season Ohio vs. Pennsylvania Dual Meet InviteIntergalactic Meets: Intergalactic Ohio & Intergalactic Pennsylvania Since ISCA runs many high quality, well-trusted meets throughout the year, perhaps ISCA could consider hosting the following meets in the future.BackgroundA meta meet has been shared with some local Continue Reading.