For the first 5 years of our program our team was very competitive. I really think this was due to the fact that most of us were competitive swimmers in high school and college. Realizing that we needed to enhance our program by getting the more recreational/fitness swimmer involved, we have now become a team of "tile counters" that rarely if ever test themselves at our masters swim meets or postal events. I realize that every doesn't need to compete, nor do I want to force anyone to compete. I'm just looking for some creative ideas or examples of how any of you were able to get people to participate in masters competitions. I would appreciate any help...
Former Member
Don't worry that seems alright progress in a short time. You might do 1:30 in freestyle next year in 100 meters. I did a 1:34 in the first 100 meter and a 1:40 in the second 100 meter. In breaststroke last year I did 1:53.10 and 1:43.31 in long course this year. Started training again for about a year after 25 years off on a regular basis. Good Luck Connie. There's a lot of swimmers like you.
I've been thinking about your original question and another idea from a team I swam on was to have a newsletter. The results of the swimming meet would be inlcuded as well as the coaches comments on why the swimming meet was fun and why everyone should come to the next meet. Also, the coach would highlight everyone who had done a personal best or a Masters best. Another way to encourage more people to come is to encourage the "slower" swimmers who maybe have never competed before. On our team, the "slowest" lane is always the fullest; more people are in the slowest lane than the fast lane. Usually, when the coach was able to convince these swimmers to come, they had so much fun that they convinced others to come and our meets began increasing in terms of numbers of swimmers. On our team the fast swimmers didn't want to compete anymore because they knew they could never achieve their college times. So, our coach focused more on the "slower" swimmers. Also, prizes would be given out at the end of the year for the swimmers who made the most improvement or attended the most meets or swam the most events or whatever.
I 'm glad that you're having such a positive experience with Master's swimming... I think that it's great that you've started competing already! Regarding your times, I wish I could do those times without fins... I also wish I was taller, too- I'm only 4'11" (actually, 4'11 and 3/4" :) ) as I think that makes a big difference in times...
I used to do distance swimming by myself before I joined- now, however, a 300m set is a LONNNG way for me!! I guess that it is all psychological, though...
Good luck with your upcoming meets and have fun!!
peace...
I was at my peak at 18 years old which was common in the 1970's since women swimmers had few college programs to swim on then. And women tend to peak earlier than men on the average anyway. I don't vision swimming under 1:20 in the 100 yard breaststroke like I did then on a regular basis when I was much younger. My body has changed and I'm 46 years old. True, there a few swimmers out that that are a lot closer in the 100 yard to their age group or college times than me that took a big break but everyone is different. I have to lived with new goals. I think if I swim on a regular basis I could peak at 48 years old in my masters career.
