AI Coaching Wizard: Grant Application for Transforming Youth Swimming into a Community‑Driven Learning Lab

Episode #85 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide

See the proposal on the web at https://lap.red/moonshot-grant-2026/

Reimagining Pool Coaching: AI Connects, Learns, and Empowers Young Athletes

Welcome to episode 85 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, where we reveal a grant proposal to the Remake Learning Network to build an AI‑powered Coaching Wizard for youth swimming programs. We’ll explain the vision, the tech, the partnership model, the budget, and the roadmap to launch.

• The core concept: AI as a connector, not a director, to spark reflection and conversation.

• How the Coaching Wizard works: personalized prompts, voice/text reflections, and 3‑D avatar feedback.

• The ecosystem of partners: schools, nonprofits, tech developers, national coaching networks, and media.

• Funding breakdown: $92 K total, $50 K grant request, $42 K in‑kind partner contributions.

• 12‑month rollout plan: co‑design workshops, pilot launch, storytelling phase, and final evaluation.

Turning Pools into Learning Laboratories with AI‑Guided Reflection and 3D Avatars

If you love swimming, tech, or just the idea of turning a pool into a learning laboratory, this one’s for you.

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Key Takeaways

1. AI as a Connector, Not a Director
   We flip the usual AI‑fear script. The Coaching Wizard isn’t a boss—it sparks conversation, reflection, and real‑world connections between kids, coaches, and mentors.

2. See Learning in 3‑D
   Imagine a digital avatar that mirrors a swimmer’s stroke in real time. Those visual cues make progress tangible—no more “I feel I’m getting better” guesswork.

3. Co‑Design From Day One
   The project runs a summer co‑design workshop where middle‑schoolers actually help build the tool. Their voice shapes the AI, not the other way around.

4. Kids Become Teachers
   One of the biggest shifts? Youth teaching youth. The plan trains middle‑school swimmers to mentor younger kids, creating a confidence‑boosting feedback loop.

5. Tech That Serves People
   The Coaching Wizard is built for connection—it prompts reflection, guides dialogue, and fuels empathy, proving tech can be a bridge rather than a surveillance device.

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Fun Fact

The total first‑year budget is $92K, but $42K of that comes from in‑kind partner support.

Talk about a true “village” effort!

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Ready to Dive In?

Catch the full video in the link above and also on our YouTube channel, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
We’ve also dropped a quick link to the proposal on LAP.red if you want to see the grant application yourself.

Call‑to‑Action

• Spread the word: Forward this email to any coaches, teachers, or tech‑enthusiasts you think would love the vision.

• Join the conversation: Subscribe to the Heavy or Not mailing list for updates, behind‑the‑scenes content, and upcoming events.

• Reach out: Got ideas, feedback, or want to volunteer? Shoot me a note at mark@roderickus.com. I’m always happy to hear from fellow pool‑philosophers.

Thanks for being part of the community that turns pools into labs of growth, belonging, and purpose. Let’s make 2035 feel a little nearer—one AI‑powered splash at a time.

Catch you in the water (or on the podcast),

Mark Rauterkus
Host, Heavy or Not
mark@rauterkus.com