Community Aquatic Directive

By Ron Usher & Mark Rauterkus

The Community Aquatics Directive is a practical guide for communities that want to make better use of their pools, people, programs and partnerships.

Built around ten pillars of community aquatics, the book looks beyond traditional swim programming to show how aquatic facilities can become stronger assets for education, health, fitness, drowning prevention, workforce development, competitive opportunities and community life.

The Directive explores learn-to-swim programs, vertical swimming and therapeutic programming, retention programs, school partnerships, competitive pathways, staff development, scheduling, community outreach, funding and more. Its focus is practical: identify the assets already available, connect organizations that too often work separately, and build programs that serve more people throughout the year.

Written for aquatic leaders, coaches, recreation professionals, educators, nonprofit leaders, public officials and community advocates, The Community Aquatics Directive offers ideas that can be adapted to communities of different sizes and circumstances.

The central message is straightforward: communities often have more aquatic capacity than they realize. Better coordination, stronger partnerships and purposeful programming can turn existing pools and programs into lasting community infrastructure.