How are local teams managed?

Coaches aren't related to USMS or your LMSC any differently that any swimmer is. Unless your coach is doing something to expose USMS or your LMSC to some sort of legal risk, they aren't going to be involved. Generally a coach is either 1) an entrepreneur coach (owns the program, works for himself), 2) hired by a swim club's board of directors or 3) hired by the management of the facility. In any of these cases the coach may be paid for his services or not - but responsibility for the services rendered still lies directly in the lap of whoever the coach works for (or whoever you write your monthly dues check out to). In many of the cases 2 & 3 the coach is autonomous enough (or powerful enough in the club organization) that it may seem more like case 1. In ANY event, I can't conceive of a situation where taking your concerns to the coach first wouldn't be the best course of action. Think of it this way, if your coach is not happy with the way you are swimming, or with how often you attend practice, would you expect your coach to take up the subject first with your employer (or spouse, or next door neighbor or lane partner)? Likely not. If your coach isn't willing to listen directly to your concerns, and then address them to your satisfaction (or explain why he can't or won't) then you should be shopping for another coach. If you are unwilling to bring your concerns directly to your coach's attention, don't be surprised if he is not very receptive to getting the complaint second hand from his employer. It would be a bit like you going above your immediate supervisor's head to a higher manager to complain about your supervisor - without ever having talked the problem out with your supervisor.

Coaches aren't related to USMS or your LMSC any differently that any swimmer is. Unless your coach is doing something to expose USMS or your LMSC to some sort of legal risk, they aren't going to be involved. Generally a coach is either 1) an entrepreneur coach (owns the program, works for himself), 2) hired by a swim club's board of directors or 3) hired by the management of the facility. In any of these cases the coach may be paid for his services or not - but responsibility for the services rendered still lies directly in the lap of whoever the coach works for (or whoever you write your monthly dues check out to). In many of the cases 2 & 3 the coach is autonomous enough (or powerful enough in the club organization) that it may seem more like case 1. In ANY event, I can't conceive of a situation where taking your concerns to the coach first wouldn't be the best course of action. Think of it this way, if your coach is not happy with the way you are swimming, or with how often you attend practice, would you expect your coach to take up the subject first with your employer (or spouse, or next door neighbor or lane partner)? Likely not. If your coach isn't willing to listen directly to your concerns, and then address them to your satisfaction (or explain why he can't or won't) then you should be shopping for another coach. If you are unwilling to bring your concerns directly to your coach's attention, don't be surprised if he is not very receptive to getting the complaint second hand from his employer. It would be a bit like you going above your immediate supervisor's head to a higher manager to complain about your supervisor - without ever having talked the problem out with your supervisor.