The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or organizations in its efforts to develop a “Learn-to-Swim Index” (LTS Index) that tracks how many people have completed formal swim lessons in the United States.
Proposals describing the experience and methodology a principal researcher will use to create the index that represents the number of individuals who learn to swim from formal lessons are due Aug. 31.
Currently, there is no index that measures the effectiveness of the aquatic industry’s combined efforts to create more swimmers. Numerous organizations would benefit from an LTS Index; swimming schools will be able to better gauge their program’s growth versus the national or regional index, companies can compare product and service growth rates, and learn-to-swim supporters will be able to gauge if the investment is yielding a positive result. In addition, the LTS index could be compared to other economic indicators that can forecast future growth or contraction trends.
Measuring the number of new swimmers created each year benefits everyone—from the swimmer to those that provide equipment and services. Swimming and water association can help people of all ages live healthier and happier lives. Further, learning how to swim in a formal lesson can reduce the chance of childhood drownings by 88 per cent. Water participation also builds demand for aquatic facilities and residential pools and hot tubs, which results in greater economic strength for a health-focused industry.
“Market research presented at the 2015 World Aquatic Health™ Conference (WAHC) shows that a person who is proficient in the water is two-times more likely to become a member at an aquatic facility or purchase a pool or hot tub compared to someone who is not proficient,” says NSPF CEO, Thomas M. Lachocki, Ph.D. “It is about time we started measuring to what degree we are helping more people onto the path to water proficiency.”
For further information or to submit a proposal, visit www.nspf.org.
