Our Masters Program consists of approximately 20 swimmers with 1-5 swimmers showing up to workout on any given evening. We swim at the same time as the USA-S team, granted 1 lane, and a workout written on the white board. No formal or informal coaching provided. Now for the problem: Masters swimmers are treated like we are fortunate to have a lane to workout in at all. The coaches do not want to hang out at the pool any longer than required to coach their (5) swim groups. In order not to be considered infringing upon the practice time of the USA-S groups, does anyone have suggestions on how to "play nice" with the "kiddies"? The Masters swimmers would love to see the program grow but the coaches are not on board as the USA-S program dominates. How do other programs operate? How can we increase or even maintain our practice times? Is a certified coach on deck required? We would actually like to have some coaching but again, USA-S is their priority and we are lucky to even be acknowledged let alone accepted. :badday:
There are two teams in the Phoenix area that have robust Masters and USAS programs sharing the same pool -- Phoenix Swim Club (contact Mark Rankin) and Mesa Aquatics Club (contact Paul Smith). Looking from the outside in, I think what works with those programs are:
Integrated program / "one team" -- yes, there are separate workout sessions, but the Masters program is viewed as a logical extension and part of the entire program
Integrated financials -- I'm not 100% sure about this, but I believe the $$ are all rolled together
Cross-pollination of coaches between the USAS and USMS programs -- this fits with the "one team" approach, but maybe one way to get your USAS coaches engaged is to hire one of them as your primary coach
Active marketing of the Masters program to increase the size -- I think both MAC and PHX have in excess if 100 (maybe pushing 200 on the PHX team) Masters swimmers -- the size and financial impact (and benefit to) the USAS team becomes more tangible at scale
Cross-pollination of support across both USAS and USMS meets/events
Leadership at the top that supports an integrated program -- get the head coach and/or Board of Directors on the USAS team bought into the idea of an integrated program
There are two teams in the Phoenix area that have robust Masters and USAS programs sharing the same pool -- Phoenix Swim Club (contact Mark Rankin) and Mesa Aquatics Club (contact Paul Smith). Looking from the outside in, I think what works with those programs are:
Integrated program / "one team" -- yes, there are separate workout sessions, but the Masters program is viewed as a logical extension and part of the entire program
Integrated financials -- I'm not 100% sure about this, but I believe the $$ are all rolled together
Cross-pollination of coaches between the USAS and USMS programs -- this fits with the "one team" approach, but maybe one way to get your USAS coaches engaged is to hire one of them as your primary coach
Active marketing of the Masters program to increase the size -- I think both MAC and PHX have in excess if 100 (maybe pushing 200 on the PHX team) Masters swimmers -- the size and financial impact (and benefit to) the USAS team becomes more tangible at scale
Cross-pollination of support across both USAS and USMS meets/events
Leadership at the top that supports an integrated program -- get the head coach and/or Board of Directors on the USAS team bought into the idea of an integrated program
