https://community.usms.org/swimming/f/general/11612/23-y-o-male-completely-new-to-lap-swimming-please-helpSo I am currently in college and have always wanted to swim laps in a fitness capacity. Unfortunately for me my high school did not offer a swim team and I was never really exposed to lap swimming. I can swim and have run cross country in high schoolen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/thread/189019?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 31 Dec 2013 10:38:09 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:e3c9ed20-d7ea-4774-8428-b5420e86129dSwimspireHey, thanks for all the input everyone. I bought both a jammer and brief. I&#39;m laughing at myself now because everyone could care less as to what I was wearing. Glad that&#39;s over. So this was my first workout. It wasn&#39;t crazy long, but I worked on stoke form and stride length. Do you think I&#39;m on the right track? 8 x 100 with 45-60 second rests 3 x 200 Welcome to the swimming world! Glad to see such an interest on your part :) Your workout looks like a good start - I would encourage you to also incorporate some drills into your pool sessions so that you can develop your technique and prevent injuries.<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/189032?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 31 Dec 2013 02:45:59 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:92c50cbe-567a-4244-a3bd-7f9b1e9f7fad__steve__develop your technique and prevent injuries. Yes:)<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/188951?ContentTypeID=1Sat, 28 Dec 2013 11:23:28 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:561c1100-7228-4836-93ba-eda87c2b4350orca1946What you wear to get you from the deck to the pool is not as important as getting you IN THE WATER!<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/188968?ContentTypeID=1Sat, 28 Dec 2013 06:22:51 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:e9f1f688-cec8-4156-b150-0d7f9634b3a2Former MemberHey, thanks for all the input everyone. I bought both a jammer and brief. I&#39;m laughing at myself now because everyone could care less as to what I was wearing. Glad that&#39;s over. So this was my first workout. It wasn&#39;t crazy long, but I worked on stoke form and stride length. Do you think I&#39;m on the right track? 8 x 100 with 45-60 second rests 3 x 200<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/188888?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 27 Dec 2013 13:17:04 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:56e60db2-b04c-4b3a-9220-bf3a8335659eFormer MemberSince you&#39;re in State College, PA, I found this masters team in town: <a href="http://www.athletics.psu.edu/rec/nat/masters_swimming.asp">www.athletics.psu.edu/.../masters_swimming.asp</a> I&#39;d contact them and see if you can drop in and test it out. Most teams are pretty open to that. As to what to wear when you swim...whatever you&#39;re comfortable with. On my team some guys were jammers, some briefs, many wear a mesh drag suit. Heck even among women you&#39;ll see some who wear bikinis, some full things, etc. That&#39;s a good idea. Thanks for the advice. I&#39;m now shopping for suits and I&#39;m going to buy both a jammer and a brief to see what I prefer. Do you all have any preferred brands and/or styles which you feel are best? Thanks for the assistance!<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/188832?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 27 Dec 2013 13:13:36 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:53a0ca51-632e-4cf6-ac04-be984cfe3846Former MemberHi J_Duff, Have you checked out our Frequently Asked Questions section or our Masters Swimming 101 series? Both of these portions of our website were designed to help you feel more comfortable with beginning your swimming routine. Frequently Asked Questions: <a href="http://www.usms.org/gettingstarted/faq.php">www.usms.org/.../faq.php</a> Masters Swimming 101 series: <a href="http://www.usms.org/articles/articlesearch.php?series=1">www.usms.org/.../articlesearch.php</a> -- T. Luke Shaheen Web Developer | U.S. Masters Swimming W: 941-556-6275 | TLShaheen@usms.org www.usms.org/admin/natoffice.php?mid=06WUS | FB: www.facebook.com/usmastersswimmingfanpage<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/188819?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 27 Dec 2013 08:12:34 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:d26ee94d-ae79-4cd4-890c-2c9535523a5crtoddIf the practices are not closed, go watch the team practice and just see how they circle, stop at the wall, space out from one another, adjust their stroke so they don&#39;t hit each other. Get a practice jammer or brief made of 100% polyester. Have fun with it. There have been lane manners articles written here, just search for them. They are good.<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/188878?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 27 Dec 2013 02:55:31 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:f3df75bc-6f63-446e-9462-296f755cdf4faztimm-Solo or in a group: I have rights to a 25 yd pool within my college gym, but we do not have a masters team or college club which also uses this pool. Should I try to make a friend at the pool so we can each push ourselves? Since you&#39;re in State College, PA, I found this masters team in town: <a href="http://www.athletics.psu.edu/rec/nat/masters_swimming.asp">www.athletics.psu.edu/.../masters_swimming.asp</a> I&#39;d contact them and see if you can drop in and test it out. Most teams are pretty open to that. As to what to wear when you swim...whatever you&#39;re comfortable with. On my team some guys were jammers, some briefs, many wear a mesh drag suit. Heck even among women you&#39;ll see some who wear bikinis, some full things, etc.<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/188863?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 27 Dec 2013 01:51:11 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:f50bd0b7-67da-48c8-aa04-0391491961dcorca1946Hi welcome. If after swimming on your own for a while, find a masters r\team to join. It will make learning more fun .<div style="clear:both;"></div>