Clubs/Drop In Fees

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:53:10 GMT

In Fresno there are 24 Masters workouts per week between Clovis East, Clovis North, Kastner and Fig Garden where visitors will be welcomed and not asked to pay.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

lynawash — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:30:17 GMT

My team charges $ 7.00 for drop in. First night is free. We raised it from $5.00 as our team needs money to pay the bills. A lot of people did not like the raise. I can't imagine charging $10.00 or more. Our team should be happy with what they get.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:22:16 GMT

There's an outdoor 50 meter pool in Maryville that offers an hour of uncoached lap swimming on Saturday mornings in the summer. I swam there this summer & really liked it. The pool is nearly empty; maybe 4-6 people show up. There are no lane ropes or backstroke flags, so for backstroke it's awful, but it's fine for free, fly, and ***. I bring my own pace clock. They charge $4 per session. I know that pool but I am not driving to Maryville for a 1 hour lap swim with no lane lines or backstroke flags.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Swimosaur — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:53:17 GMT

... I am not driving to Maryville for a 1 hour lap swim with no lane lines or backstroke flags. Best I can do. The only other option is a fifteen dollar :afraid: drop-in fee.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Kevin in MD — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:58:23 GMT

Your thread seems to have gotten off track, you are asking about local folks coming to try out the program I take it. Our club is pay as you go. You buy a punch card for workouts and they get punched every time they come. So for us, you get one free visit to see if you like it. If you come back, you need to have the punch card with you.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:35:33 GMT

Best I can do. The only other option is a fifteen dollar :afraid: drop-in fee. I may just try to swim with the club team in the summer for long course practices next year.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

orca1946 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 01:13:32 GMT

The pool charges $ 3 per drop in fee.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Rnovitske — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:03:53 GMT

We each pay to swim in our own workouts. So, our belief is that we should all be able to continue swimming in workouts while out of town. Since other swimmers have paid to swim in their workouts, we do not charge those visiting swimmers when at our workouts, and hope other clubs will reciprocate. At a past convention, one famous coach when asked if his club charges visiting swimmers, would respond with, "What does your club charge visiting swimmers? We charge double that."

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:24:49 GMT

I train alone and race unattached because $47 a month for practicing with a masters team doesn't fit my budget at all Same here, but on top of that even if it was cheap, the night time swim schedule doesn't fit me either.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:27:04 GMT

I don't mind paying $5-$15(esp. if the facility is really nice) fee. The teams don't have to allow visitors and if charging a small fee is what they ask to take-up a spot in the pool, I see nothing wrong there. Now, if I visit Swimmac in Charlotte, they can be a hassle. After a meet there last Dec., I was told that for any future visits that I would have to shave my fur as it clogged their pumps.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Swimosaur — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:13:32 GMT

I've travelled to Ann Arbor several times this year & have practiced with the Ann Arbor Masters. They've been very welcoming! The drop-in fee is $6.50 for a 1.5 hour coached workout. I'm happy with that. In the meantime, my local club, in addition to charging an outrageous monthly fee for workouts offered on a completely ridiculous schedule, charges $15 for drop-ins. Yes, the facility is magnificent, but IMHO the costs are out of line and push people away rather than drawing them in. A $15 drop-in fee says to me, "We really don't want you here."

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

magick17 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:51:17 GMT

We don't offer a drop in fee but we do have a 1 week trial for $20.. That's four sessions and we offer full masters( four days a week) and a Saturday only option. Drop ins are available for out of town swimmers.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Celestial — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:55:38 GMT

I wish I could pay $47/month. Since we don't have a masters team in our city, I swim with the age-groupers & the coach does give me a sort of discount, as I usually swim with them only 4 out of 11 possible workouts/week - I pay the "pre-senior" rate ($70/mo) vs. the "seniors" rate ($125/mo), PLUS if I opt to swim at a time when the team isn't practicing, I must pay the $3.25 entry fee (per visit). HOWEVER, visitors to our team swim for free, as long as it is for no longer than a week or two - and I have had the privilege of swimming with a couple of other teams around the country and have NEVER been charged a fee by the team. The YMCA's charge a $10 facility fee, but the teams, nothing. I just flash them my USMS card & we're good to go. I think the general feeling is that they offer free workouts for out of town visitors & know that other coaches will do the same for our swimmers. Kind of like a professional courtesy.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

__steve__ — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:10:24 GMT

I train alone and race unattached because $47 a month for practicing with a masters team doesn't fit my budget at all

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

jaadams1 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:15:23 GMT

In my experience, You don't happen to have any documented proof that you've had experiences at different club or teams, do you? :D

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 06:00:58 GMT

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Swimosaur — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:30:20 GMT

I wouldn't mind driving to Knoxville to be able to swim long course on the weekends. There's an outdoor 50 meter pool in Maryville that offers an hour of uncoached lap swimming on Saturday mornings in the summer. I swam there this summer & really liked it. The pool is nearly empty; maybe 4-6 people show up. There are no lane ropes or backstroke flags, so for backstroke it's awful, but it's fine for free, fly, and ***. I bring my own pace clock. They charge $4 per session.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

aquageek — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 04:20:50 GMT

If you are member of USMS, that means you are paying fees to your club and any visit to another USMS club will be covered by their liability insurance. Another club asking you to pay for a visit is rude. I have traveled a lot and swum with other USMS teams. I have only been asked to pay once (and that fee went directly in the coach's pocket). Bottom line, if you are on a USMS team, almost every other team will welcome you as a visitor without any fee. This is not correct. Most clubs actually do have drop in fees, although many don't charge. I am fine with $5-$10 but cringe over that amount. Drop in fees have nothing to do with liability insurance. It's not like USMS subsidizes the club you are visiting and takes away from your home club when you aren't there. It is a courtesy to pay for coaching at another club and utilize their services.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Elaine Krugman — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:59:39 GMT

Now, if I visit Swimmac in Charlotte, they can be a hassle. After a meet there last Dec., I was told that for any future visits that I would have to shave my fur as it clogged their pumps. :lmao: Make 'Geek do it! :afraid:

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Patrick W. Brundage — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:12:04 GMT

If you are member of USMS, that means you are paying fees to your club and any visit to another USMS club will be covered by their liability insurance. Another club asking you to pay for a visit is rude.I love it when I get in a free workout, but it's not rude: the clubs have to pay for many things beyond liability, not the least of which are for pool space and paying the coaches! Bottom line, if you are on a USMS team, almost every other team will welcome you as a visitor without any fee.In my experience, many clubs will not make you pay a drop-in fee, but most clubs will.

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:37:17 GMT

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:19:30 GMT

... I've dropped into pools for open lap swimming in Alberta and fees have ranged from ~$8 down in Lethbridge to ~$15 (I think) at University of Calgary and Talisman. Now, there was no coach in each case, but these were very nice and uncrowded 25M or 50M courses where I had my own lane... Most of the city owned pools in Calgary have lane swim times, and a drop-in fee of $5.25 for adults. www.calgary.ca/.../Home.aspx

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:15:15 GMT

Thanx folks, Part of my frustration(s) as there are many Head Coach - Financials are not disclosed - have no real idea of operating costs other than very high Facility - very expensive for what we get - 6 lane 25m 6' wide lanes - very very crowded - club is 150+ Very inflexible city/aquatics manager. Times - practice schedule 6/10 (moreso because our city caters to public heavily) lane swim pool is empty - can't rent (city says its full) Fund raising - not much - hence the idea of drop in fee Additional income resources for Coach - very limited (see Times); camps; also own a brand new start up that i am trying to get off the ground..

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Patrick W. Brundage — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:44:10 GMT

bambamclint: I drop-in A LOT on my personal and business travels and have a few thoughts on this topic: Drop-in rates have ranged from $0 to $15. I love zero, don't mind paying something, but will ask myself, "Do I really need this workout at this pool for $15?" I think the upper-end should be at $10, in part, because I think most Masters' monthly fees range from about $50 to, maybe, $100 ... $15 for one workout seems too high. I've seen lots of clubs use either the trial week or a certain number of trial workouts. I've seen some apply that only to "locals" and others apply it to anyone. I've dropped into pools for open lap swimming in Alberta and fees have ranged from ~$8 down in Lethbridge to ~$15 (I think) at University of Calgary and Talisman. Now, there was no coach in each case, but these were very nice and uncrowded 25M or 50M courses where I had my own lane. If it was up to me, I'd use a combination of some of the ideas above: If the swimmer is there from out-of-town, set a reasonable $5 fee (e.g., something for the swimmer to demonstrate they appreciate the value and something for the club) For swimmers in town, use the Raleigh approach of a certain number of free trial workouts. And/or offer a sliding scale of packages (e.g., 1 workout is $10, but a pack of 10 workout slips is $80, a pack of 50 workouts is $300, etc.)

RE: Clubs/Drop In Fees

Former Member — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 07:44:23 GMT

Our club currently does not ask people to pay a drop in fee if they want to come out and see if masters is a good fit for them. Curious what would be fair ($10-$20 is my idea) and if you feel it is a good idea or not. I think a dropin at a local club here is 10 bux per session. They've been kind to me though. Each time I've come in just to get on the blocks they haven't charged me since I use a lane that they never use for practice. That seems like a fair price depending what the session cost is. You at least want to price it so its advantageous to join with full membership. If the cost eded up less than the sessions added up, no one would sign up for the full. The alternative is... offer someone a free week or 3-5 free sessions to try it out without investing money. That way you have a chance to show them how cool your team is. But then afterwards be strict about it. No freebees once you went through your free sessions.