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I've been trying to start a Master's Program here at the local pool though I'm a little short with idea's. Is there any advice you folks can give me on how to start a successful master's program? What measures do I need to take? Any hoops that I need to go through? Any helpful information would definately help.
Thanks for reading.
By that do you mean you want someone to start a program *for you*? Are you trying to convince the admistrators of the pool to hire a coach and start a program?
Or are you the aquatics director and want to start one.
If you are the swimmer and want to get a a masters program started you may want to start with a flier that says. Masters swimming meet Joe Blow 5 pm on thursdays for a workout. Have a workout printed up and do it with the folks who show up, no need for you to coach it just yet. Once you get a handful of folks doing this, you can approach the administration and tell them that the 6 of you would be happy to pay $20 a month if they hire a masters coach.
If you are the administrator of the pool and want to start a masters program to make money; then if you build it they will come. A large local pool I go to has three types of workouts per week. Intro to masters - which goes over basics of all the strokes, 4 stroke masters, and freestyle only masters.
These three types of workouts cover much of the masters swim market. You'll find lots of folks willing to learn if the class is set up in a non threatening manner. The freestyle only class can draw a bunch of triathletes - and there are lots of us. The four stroke workouts will appeal to former age group, high school and college swimmers - New England masters has apparently had lots of success appealing to this group.
You can try the different types of workouts for a while and see how response is at first.
For more on administration and stuff liek that there is the building a successful masters program link here
www.usms.org/.../building.pdf
It goes into lots of things you might not need right now but it is all good information.
Thank you Kevin for some great help. Yes, I'm an Aquatic Coordinator for the local city pool here and I've been trying to think of different ways or ideas to make this new program workout and be a successful addition to our program. Any other starting out advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Most likely times I have seen are 6 am and anywhere from 6 pm to 7 pm for start time.
Very busy programs in certain areas have a lunch time workout.
Workouts are usually one hour. If you go past thast it is often an optional 30 minute warm up or kick session. Or maybe a 30 minute pull session at the end.
Distances are usually up to ability.
Even if you have a novice session the abilities will vary. You organize it by splitting the lanes. Fast folks in this lane, then the next fastest, etc etc.
How many lanes you need depends on skill level and the width of your lanes. Health club standard 5 or 6 foot wide lanes get full with 5 people in them particularly novices. They don't do as well with pacing, turning and staying on their side of the line. 9 foot wide lanes can hold 6 or 7 before it starts to seem really full.
In the workouts I coach a technique day for a novice will be 100 yards and technique day for the good swimmers is usually closer to 1800 yards.
Conditioning days get up to 14 or 1500 for novices and close to 3000 for the good swimmers. These are one hour sessions.
Don't forget the coach. Lots of different people like different things in a coach. But whatever you do make sure that the market you want to serve A. Can be served by your coach. And B IS being served by your coach.
For question A. The skill set required to coach novices technique is different from that required to work with former USS swimmers, you can go in either direction and to soem degree can serve both groups in one workout. But you can't advertise one thing and try to deliver another. If the class is aimed at newbies make sure the coach knows it. If it is aimed at expereienced swimmers, same thing.
At what times are your master programs usually held? Early Mornings, Late Evenings... and many times a week? Lastly, how long are practice times? 1-2 hours, etc... and whats a good starting out distance to start with? 1000yds, 1500yds, More, Less, etc.. What's the average practice workout distance? As usual, thanks for the input!
