Guidelines for Outreach Assistance Program

Program Description: 
This is an assistance program designed for economically disadvantaged families in an effort to make USA swimming available to more swimmers. A maximum of 3 swimmers per team can initially qualify for this program. If not all available money during each trimester is used the Missouri Valley Executive Director and Missouri Valley Treasurer may allocate remaining money amongst additional applicants at their discretion.

Program Requirements

• To be eligible, families must meet the previous year’s free and reduced lunch requirements +30% for the family income (table included here)
  
  
• B. Financial need must be demonstrated by including a copy of the previous year’s federal tax return (pages 1 and 2 of federal tax form 1040 only), or confirmation that the athlete has been deemed eligible for free and reduced lunch at their school for the current school year or similar documentation if athlete attends a non-public school which does not follow the federal program requirements for free and reduced lunch with application. Private information such as dates of birth and Social Security numbers must be redacted.
  
  
• All applicants must be registered year round USA swimming members (seasonal and flex members are not eligible)
  
  
• In order to be eligible, each athlete in the program must compete in 2 non-closed, sanctioned USA swim meets per trimester.  Trimesters are (Sept. 1-Dec. 31; Jan. 1-April 31; May1-August 31).
   
• Confirmation of activity is defined as being billed monthly by their host team during the applied for trimester and must be confirmed with a team treasurer/contact.
  
  
• Applications must be submitted by the families within the first 30 days of each trimester.
  
  
• Shortly after the conclusion of the application window, the Missouri Valley Executive Director will notify all clubs who have athletes applying for the scholarship. Each team has 2 weeks after the beginning and end of the trimester to confirm that the athlete is current and active or forfeit the assistance reimbursement. If teams have more than three applicants, funds will be granted to the first three applicants submitting qualifying applications.
  
  
• Reimbursement will occur within 45 days of the end of each trimester upon confirmation of active status and fulfilling meet participation requirements.
  
  
• Reimbursements will be made to the host team with a maximum paid of $150 per athlete per trimester.
  
  
• All reimbursed funds must be directly applied to the applicant’s program fees (fees directly associated with participating with a USA Swimming team, i.e. training fees or meet fees).

• Applicants must reapply for the scholarship each trimester, but only need to submit financial documentation once per calendar year.

   

 

 

Athlete Information

 

USA Swimming ID can be found on the athlete's Deck Pass, or by using the following formula

6 digit DOB (ex. 033107)

First 3 letters of the athlete's first name

Middle Initial (or * if none)

First 4 letters of the athlete's last name

Participation in required USA Swimming Meets

 

Missouri Valley Swimming will confirm participation in two open, sanctioned meets during the trimester. Failure to to compete in the required number of meets will result in forfeiture of awarded funds.

Parent / Guardian Information

Questions concerning this process should be addressed to Scott Bliss at director@missourivalleyswimming.com