As part of SwimNews's look at which models of athlete support work best as the sport of swimming takes its next stroke in the professional era, we asked Chuck Wielgus, CEO of USA Swimming, to explain how a proposed Athlete Partnership Agreement would work for US athletes. 

In November, the USA Swimming board will consider the final draft of the APA to be put to the United States Olympic Committee for the approval needed to attract USOC dollars. Wielgus told SwimNews: "One of the beauties of the proposed program is that it will in no way negatively affect the athlete's ability to work with private sponsors, even those whose business may rival that of a USOC or USA Swimming partner.  Of course, when an athlete is competing as part of a USA Swimming team in international competition the same terms and conditions as have been applied in the past will remain in effect for the future, but under the proposal the athletes will gain significant flexibility and new opportunities in domestic competitions.  Additionally, we have also approved a new rule that grants the athlete's additional advertising space on their attire that they can use for their personal sponsors."

In a paper sent to the board and staff of USA Swimming, Wielgus sought to clarify the federations position on athlete support and a link to the USOC in a partnership that may become a model that would be rolled out to all Olympic sports in the US. Wielgus noted that the original APP proposal, developed by a task force led by Michael Lawrence and Trent Staley, focussed on an "opt-in" approach in which the decision to accept an increase in funding and accompanying requirements would be left up to each individual athlete. 

USOC supported that proposal and then got the idea of using it as a model for all Olympic sports. USA Swimming's condition for any go ahead was that USOC provide at least 50% of the increased financial support, and that the new USOC funds would be "incremental to other funding that the USOC allocated to the National Team program".

After concerns were expressed by athletes and agents about the demands of the APA, the USA Swimming task force softened the conditions but still insisted on a signed contract. Two days before a meeting of Wielgus, head coach Mark Schubert and his assistant and former US international Lindsay Mintenko (nee Benko), Schubert let it be known that he wanted a few changes and was opposed to having athletes sign a partnership agreement in order to get more money. Wielgus says: "I expressed my reservations about this dramatic change to the proposal and suggested that in our presentation to the USOC that we describe the APA as a 'work still in progress'.  I also agreed to support Coach Schubert in taking the proposal with his changes to the USA Swimming Executive Committee."

Down the line a couple of weeks and USA Swimming's Executive Committee backed the APA with changes subject to approval of the full USA Swimming Board of Directors, with no final decision due until "sometime in October or November".

In the meantime, when USOC got wind that swimmers were not keen to sign in order to get more money", its "enthusiasm for the APA proposal dropped dramatically", notes Wielgus. Where he and Schubert do not appear to agree is over the significance of the executive's backing for an APP proposal that did not require athletes to sign a contract (partnership deal). Rather than that being a "done deal", says Wielgus, "I assure you that this was never the case". 

In recognition of USOC's waning support, USA Swimming's "staff and members of the task force crafted a dramatically scaled down proposal for additional funding that was submitted to the USA Swimming Board of Directors on September 14.  The board approved this funding request for increased athlete support," writes Wielgus.

During the USA Swimming Convention in Dallas last week (as Schubert took paid leave from his role as head coach), the National Team Steering Committee asked Wielgus to take the original APA proposal back to the USOC. He did and USOC welcomed the move.

Writes Wielgus: "Knowing that several athletes and their agents might still have issues with some aspects of the written partnership agreement portion of the proposal, task force members, staff, Jim Wood [outgoing President of USA Swimming and now acting USA team head] and I have taken a careful look at the requirements, with an eye toward creating greater flexibility and allowing athletes to shift the requirements away from commercial terms in favor of  charitable purposes.  I think this is an important and noteworthy development because it will allow athletes to fulfill requirements with personal charitable efforts and thus encourage greater citizenship."

The outcome of that, set out below, will be voted on at the USA Swimming Board of Directors on November 21 in New York City to coincide with the Golden Goggle Awards.

Below is an outline of the proposed Athlete Partnership Agreement (APA) that provides clarity on what's being discussed in the US. In return for signing up to such a program, athletes would gain access to a greater level of funding than they would get from  the existing stipend program operated by USA Swimming (a program that would remain in place for those who opted for that or for those who might not not qualify for the APP). Some do not welcome the need to sign a contract, though such things are part of the professional world, of course. Much of the proposed APP appears sound and is based on a "you help us, we help you" approach. But what do you think? What's good, what's not so good? What improvements do you think could be made? And do you think different models might suit different groups of athletes/countries?

Further to our article What Share Due To The Stars Of The Show?, we repeat our invitation to athletes and others to forward their views on athlete support for inclusion in a follow-up article in last October. Comments can be sent to craig@swimnews.com or the address often used by those writing in, craig.lord@thetimes.co.uk. Those who write in may have their views published without being named, provided they make their true identity, which will remain confidential, known to SwimNews. Those who wish to be named will be, of course.

How the Athlete Partnership Agreement (APA) may look: 

The Athlete Partnership Agreement is designed to expand current National Team athlete services and significantly increase the financial support to National Team athletes ranked in the Top 16 in the world. All participants are required to fully commit to a comprehensive training program with the ultimate goal of winning a Gold medal at the 2012 or 2016 Olympic Games.

Eligibility: Athletes eligible for this Agreement must:

• Be a member of the 2010-2011 USA Swimming National Team;
• Be ranked in the Top 16 in the world in an Olympic event (pool) based on swimnews.com world rankings closest to Sept 1, 2010 OR finished in the Top 16 at 2010 Open Water 10K World Championships (open water)
• Be 18 years and older;
• Have exhausted or given up their NCAA eligibility;

USA Swimming athlete funding will be offered to a maximum of 56 athletes (26 pool and 2 open water athletes per gender). Eligible athletes who decline this Athlete Partnership Agreement are eligible for the current monthly stipend ($1750/month) program.

Athlete Benefits:

• Financial Support
• Increased annual funding. Amount to be determined based on USOC and USA Swimming funding commitment.
• Opportunity to earn bonus dollars if athlete brings USA Swimming a corporate sponsor
• Opportunity to earn paid corporate appearances integrated into USA Swimming sponsor agreements

Athlete Services

• Professional Swimming Orientation Camp
• Priority / Featured Listing on Speaker’s Network
• Financial Consulting Services and Referrals
• Marketing and Promotional
• Media Training
• Networking Events

Athlete Deliverables

• Performance
• Submit an Athlete Seasonal Plan developed in collaboration with the athlete’s personal coach
• Submit three Athlete Seasonal Plan progress reports (anticipated to be Jan 1, Apr 1 and July 1)

Competition - Pool Athletes

• Compete in the AT&T SCY National Championships and ConocoPhillips National Championships and/or World Championships
• Compete in three USA Swimming Grand Prix Series meets

Competition - OW Athletes

• Compete in the USA Swimming Open Water 10K National Championships
• Compete in three FINA 10K Open Water World Cup Competitions

Administrative

• Maintain current USA Swimming membership
• Comply with FINA, IOC, WADA, USADA Doping Control Program requirements and deadlines
• Comply with deadlines for forms, information requests, etc. as required by USA Swimming
• Attend Professional Swimming Orientation Camp in the first year eligible

Marketing

• 2 appearances annually (see options next page)
• Autograph 25 items to be used for charity auctions focused on “Giving Back to the Sport”
• Incorporate messages about our joint collaboration in their media interviews surrounding appearances
• Work in good faith with USA Swimming on promoting non-commercial programs: America’s Swim Team; Make a Splash; Join a Swim Team/recruiting promotion; New Member Welcome Kit
• Abide by USA Swimming’s media best practices at National and International competitions
• Be a good steward of the sport

Appearances can be defined in multiple ways to provide the most flexibility to the athlete. A full schedule will be created with timelines and a sign-up form for athletes to designate their participation." 

There follows a long list of examples, still be discussed and finalised. Looking down the list, from which athletes could choose any two options in a given year, the range of choice is extensive, with options including charitable appearances, including appearances for charities of the swimmer's choosing. The APP proposal states that "both sides would jointly approve" the two choices of the athlete. That's where the rub may come in, as federation and USOC would surely want to see a degree of diversity in the 'promotional" activity.

If you want your say: mails to craig@swimnews.com or craig.lord@thetimes.co.uk. Those who write in may have their views published without being named, provided they make their true identity, which will remain confidential, known to SwimNews. Those who wish to be named will be, of course.