Intentional inclusion is a great way to get everyone in the pool
Coaches and staff of pools should understand the history of Black communities and swimming in order to support different swimmers and families, writes Shireen Ahmed.
![Intentional inclusion is a great way to get everyone in the pool](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7129714.1709230831!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/soul-cap-swimming.jpg)
![FILE - Alice Dearing, of Britain, exits the water after finishing the women's marathon swimming event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. The Soul Cap has gotten the green light from swimming's top governing body, which figures to be a huge step toward bringing more diversity to a largely white sport. The oversized cap, which is designed to make it more comfortable for Black swimmers to hit the water with natural hair, will likely have its biggest influence at the grassroots level. That, in turn, could lead to more swimmers of color reaching the sport's highest echelons in the generations to come.(AP Photo/David Goldman) A female swimmer exits the water.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7129714.1709230831!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/soul-cap-swimming.jpg)
Coaches and staff of pools should understand the history of Black communities and swimming in order to support different swimmers and families, writes Shireen Ahmed.