Make a Splash Mid-South will host the second annual Diveristy in Swimming clinic and developmental meet for beginning swimmers on Saturday, March 27. This event will be held at the University of Memphis Student Recreation and Fitness Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include exhibition events and instruction from experienced swimmers- including Olympian Gil Stovall of Memphis.

This event is for developing swimmers between the ages of 5 and 18 who will be paired with experienced swimmer mentors for stroke instruction and water games. During the Future Champions Developmental Swim meet, participants will select three events from the 25 yard freestyle, backstroke, breastroke and butterfly. Swimmers will compete in heats based on their age. Everyone will receive a ribbon for competing. Cost is $30 per swimmer. Register for this event as www.memphistigerswimming.com or by calling Carla Mabie at (901) 763-1709.

Make a Splash Mid-South was formed after the tragic deaths of several children in May 2008 and is committed to provide economically disadvantaged children with swimmimg lessons. Since the groups's inception, more than 100 children have received free lessons. Of those, two received competetive swim team scholarships and several have developed to the level to particiapte on swim teams starting this summer.

Event sponsors include Safe Kids Mid-South, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis Tiger Swimming, City of Memphis Park Services, Fogelman YMCA, Memphis Jewish Community Center, Schilling YMCA, Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross, City of Bartlett Aquatics and the Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis.  

Event Part of Effort to Make Pools Safer for Kids

Make A Splash Mid-South will host Lifeguard Games Sunday, July 19 at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center (6560 Poplar Ave.) pool. The event is designed to provide community lifeguards with additional training in responding to real aquatic and medical emergencies. The event is part of an on-going effort by the Make a Splash Mid-South coalition to ensure that children are safe in and around water.

Teams of four guards each will earn points for completing a relay which involves swimming 25 yards carrying an unresponsive victim, recovering a 10 pound diving brick, performing CPR and accurately tossing a ring buoy. Slots are still available for additional teams. Competitors must be American Red Cross, YMCA or BSA certified lifeguards. For more information contact event organizer Danny Fadgen at (901) 761-0810 or dfadgen@jccmemphis.org.

Make a Splash Mid-South was formed by Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children’s, in June 2008 following the deaths of two teens in swimming pools.  The group is comprised of concerned community organizations with special interest in swimming, children’s health and safety issues. Active members include individuals representing City of Bartlett Aquatics, City of Memphis Parks Service Aquatics, Le Bonheur Children’s, Memphis Jewish Community Center Aquatics, Memphis Tiger Swimming, Mid-South Chapter of American Red Cross, Safe Kids Mid-South, Swim and Tri, Tunica County Recreation Commission Aquatics, University of Memphis, YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South and the Pool School.

In March, Make a Splash Mid-South along with Memphis Tiger Swimming hosted a diversity swimming meet and developmental clinic at the University of Memphis. Also, Make a Splash Mid-South is partnering with the City of Memphis to provide a limited number of free swimming lessons. Applications are currently being accepted for lessons in August and September at the Hickory Hill and Bickford aquatics centers. Applications are available by contacting David Han at David.Han@memphistn.gov or 566-9685.