In Episode 82 of Heavy or Not, Mark Rauterkus and Barry Healey break down how relegation and promotion work in European soccer and why these concepts could transform American sports. They dive into the mechanics, incentives, and how a U.S. version might look.

• How parachute payments soften the financial blow for relegated clubs

• The playoff system that lets teams 3‑6 fight for promotion

• Real‑world examples: Wolves beating Man U, Canadian owners climbing from the bottom

• Why a tiered "two‑tier" college football model could succeed in the U.S.

• Applying relegation concepts to MLB and other American leagues to curb public‑funded stadium builds and keep competition fierce.

Details of the college football reform structure elsewhere at the Substack and also with the Sports Reform web site, https://4Rs.org.

Also see:

• https://rauterkus.substack.com/p/fsb-regional-pods-explainer
• https://4Rs.org

College football needs a structural reset, and Mark Rauterkus lays out a clear, geography‑first plan for a top‑flight "pod" system.

In this episode we break down the proposed 80‑team tier, regional pods, and how promotion and relegation would work.

• The 80‑team "top tier" built on performance, not brand prestige.
• Eight regional pods (Gridiron, Trench, Tackle, Pressure, Block, Blitz, Huddle, Grandstand) and their member schools.
• Promotion/relegation: yearly movement of five teams between the top tier and sub‑tiers.
• Preserving traditional rivalries and reducing travel through geographic clustering.
• How the model controls spending, improves competitive balance, and gives every program a pathway forward.

Rethinking College Football: A Geographic Pod System for Competitive Balance and Tradition

"Imagine a season where every game matters, every rivalry lives, and the only thing that moves you up or down is what happens on the field—welcome to the pod‑powered future of college football."

In this episode you'll learn:

• The history of Cal Baptist's swim program from NAIA champs to Division I.

• How facility decisions and budgeting errors contributed to the cut.

• The impact of Title IX and NCAA rules on men's non‑revenue sports.

• Coach Friederang's perspective on recruiting, performance analytics, and athlete development.

• Community reactions and ideas for preserving swimming opportunities (club teams, alumni support, etc.).

We hit "publish" on an episode with newsworthy significance that covers the shocking cut of Cal Baptist University's men's swim & dive program. Hear from longtime CBU coaching helper, Steve Friederang, the episode unpacks the history, the politics, and the human stories behind a decision that's shaking the college‑swim world.

1. A Quick History Lesson

   • From NAIA champions to Division II glory and the bold leap to Division I—discover how CBU's rapid ascent set the stage for today's dilemma.

2. Why the Axe Fell on the Men's Team

   • Steve explains the "budget‑vs‑Title IX" crunch, the ripple effect of big‑sport revenue, and why the women's program survived while the men's didn't.

3. The Hidden Cost of Going Division I

   • Learn how NCAA rules forced CBU to treat all sports as Division I, inflating compliance costs and squeezing smaller programs.

4. What You Can Do About It

   • From sharing your own stories on our site to joining upcoming webinars, see concrete ways you can amplify the voice of "cut" programs and help protect future teams.

5. The Future of Swimming at CBU (and Beyond)

   • Hear about the club‑team proposal, alumni‑run training groups, and why some coaches argue the university should re‑evaluate its Division I status altogether.

We hate to report on this type of story again. It is more than just a single sports team. Here is another sad snapshot of how athletics, finances, and policy intersect in today's collegiate world. Enough is enough. Whether you're a swimmer, a coach, a parent, or just a curious fan, there's something in here for you. And, we're putting out a call to action with some webinars where you can share your comments.

Call to Action

1. Watch the episode now:

2. Join the conversation: Head over to HON.LAP.red, drop your name, email, and a comment. We'll add you to our mailing list and keep you in the loop for the next webinars.

3. Share your story: Got a personal experience with a program cut or a club team thriving? Submit it on the form—your voice could be featured in a future episode!

4. Spread the word: Forward this email to teammates, coaches, or anyone who cares about keeping swimming (and all sports) alive on campus.

Thanks for being part of the Heavy Or Not community. Your curiosity and passion keep the dialogue flowing.

Stay safe and buoyant,
Mark Rauterkus
Editor, Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide podcast
HON.LAP.red and this Substack!

She had a proposal to slash $600 K in sports programs and the comprehensive counter‑proposal helped keep those programs alive. It wasn't a victory, but it wasn't a defeat.

Coach Mark walks through the financial, strategic, and community arguments that turned a budget cut into a reform opportunity.

• The district's cut list (high‑school swimming, tennis, golf; middle‑school volleyball, wrestling; all intramurals) and the $600 K savings claim.

• Highlights from the 45‑page "Alternative to Fewer Sports" position paper that challenged the cuts.

• How the paper reframed athletics as a revenue source—e.g., the PPSH2O citywide aquatics model.

• The three‑step reform plan: community‑led task force, an Olympic‑sports incubator, and lobbying for flexible state rules.

• The broader value of sports: scholarship dollars, academic gains, attendance boosts, and community pride.

Sadly, the biggest blocks come from those at the top of the organizational chart — the superintendent of schools, the mayor, the athletic directors, the league administrators.

https://aforathlete.fandom.com/wiki/Fewer_Sports_Alternatives_(position_paper)

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8afb93c2-e0db-43be-92af-0c7c45a22211

What you'll learn in this episode, #78 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide:

• Coaching philosophy: discipline, patience, and individual attention as the foundation for swimmer development.

• Essential safety & pool‑management practices (pre‑session checks, shadowing, emergency preparedness).

• Setting clear parent‑coach boundaries and communication rules.

• Teaching fundamentals for 10‑and‑under swimmers: water confidence, breathing, kick drills, and fun‑based skill games.

• Sample 60‑minute session structure and effective motivation/ethics strategies for young athletes.

Tune into and download the two shorter Public Service Announcements at the Substack site.

Mastering Youth Swimming: Discipline, Fun, and Fundamentals with Coach Yash Daryanani

Building Confident Swimmers: Goldwater Coaching Philosophy, Safety, and Parent Boundaries

From Pool Deck to Olympics: Coach Yash's Blueprint for Developing Young Athletes

Discipline, Patience, Individual Attention: Core Values for Successful Swim Coaching

Essential Safety Checks and Pool Management Tips for Youth Swim Programs

Fun Games, Agility Drills, and Technique Fundamentals for Under‑10 Swimmers

Managing Parent‑Coach Boundaries and Maintaining Professional Ethics in Competitive Swimming

Effective Communication Strategies to Motivate and Protect Young Swimmers

Goldwater Level One Coaching: Structured Sessions, Technique Reviews, and Progress Tracking

Overcoming Common Beginner Mistakes: Kicking, Breathing, and Body Position Solutions

Barry Healey cares about the coaching profession and aims to improve sports

In this candid conversation, episode #77 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, coaches Barry Healey and Mark Rauterkus discuss the real‑world challenges of running a swim program. Wellness matters to those on the pool decks. Burnout to compliance…. They sharing practical tricks that actually work. Learn how small changes can protect coaches, calm parents, and boost program growth.

What you'll discover:

• The hidden costs of coach burnout and why many lack a support system.

• Proven strategies for managing young swimmers and easing parental stress on race day.

• How a simple "whistle‑and‑wait" routine cuts chaos and keeps kids on schedule.

• Designing bite‑sized, interactive coach training that fits busy lives.

• Using the LAP (Lifestyle Aquatics Programming) platform to turn swimmers into repeat, paying customers

1. What are the biggest hidden costs (time, emotional, financial) that coaches like Barry experience, and how can clubs help mitigate them?

2. Barry mentions that many coaches feel "stubborn" and resistant to change. What strategies could a swim program use to foster a culture of openness and continuous improvement among staff?

3. How does the lack of a formal support system (e.g., a "chaperone" or mental‑health resource) affect coaches, athletes, and parents, and what low‑cost solutions could fill that gap?

4. The story about the senior referee orchestrating a calm "first‑year" session demonstrates a simple yet powerful intervention. What other "small‑scale" practices could be replicated to reduce stress for young swimmers and their families?

5. Barry talks about coaches being sued for either bullying or "lack of attention." How can a swim club create clear policies and documentation that protect both coaches and athletes while still encouraging a supportive environment?

6. In what ways do mandatory requirements (CRB checks, first‑aid certification, etc.) serve as a quality‑control model for swim programs, and how might those standards be leveraged to market the program to parents?

7. The conversation touches on the need to break down online courses into bite‑size chunks for busy coaches. What are the most effective formats (micro‑learning, webinars, interactive PDFs, etc.) for delivering professional development in this context?

8. How can swim programs balance the tension between keeping fees affordable and maintaining high‑quality, "must‑have" resources that justify a premium price point?

9. Barry and Mark discuss the importance of "win‑win" outcomes for both coaches and the organization. What specific metrics or feedback loops could be implemented to measure and reinforce these mutually beneficial results?

10. Considering the moderator's "playbook" (capture swimmers → generate leads → convert → get reviews → reactivate), what role should community building and storytelling play in each stage, and how can clubs authentically integrate them into daily operations?

Nicole's heavy lift. A vision for data collection for swimming instruction.

She aims to fill the research gap and is planting seeds for scientific validation for all types of aquatic developmental benchmarks.

She also outlines the vision for a secure, comprehensive database to track developmental and adaptive outcomes.

In this episode, #76, of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, you'll hear from the ambitious instructor in Georgia and learn:

• Why current swim‑lesson reporting (e.g., Red Cross) misses critical information like caregiver involvement and birth order.

• How Joyful Waters combines trauma‑aware, developmentally‑informed methods for babies, kids, and adults.

• The plan to build a secure, national database that collects detailed learner and instructor data for IRB‑level research.

• Real‑world applications: adaptive swimming for children with special needs and preparation for Customs & Border Patrol swim tests.

• Steps instructors and parents can take today to start contributing data and improving aquatic education outcomes.

"Everyone says hard work is the key… but what if that's not enough? In this episode, we unpack a 30-day system that's turning water polo players into unstoppable athletes — and it might just change how you train forever."

In this episode of Heavy Or Not, we dive deep into Coach Ron Usher's 30-day growth system built for young water polo players but powerful for any athlete striving to improve.

From mindset to skill development to daily habits, this episode unpacks the core principles behind real athletic progress — consistency, clarity, and character.

Whether you're in the pool, on the field, or chasing personal goals, this playbook offers a step-by-step approach to getting better without burning out.

🧠 Discover how to:

• Take an honest self-assessment

• Turn vague dreams into actionable goals

• Build daily momentum through check-ins

• Make progress that actually sticks

SUBSCRIBE to the Heavy Or Not Podcast for more elite mindset and training insights
📤 Send this episode to a teammate or coach who needs to hear it
📘 Grab the journal Coach Usher created → Link in the show notes!

Buy the ebook on Gumroad.com.