How many people are actually USMS members?

I feel the US emphasizes Freestyle,toomuch-just joking. I'm a breaststroker and its nice to hear about breaststroke being more valued in Europe. That's why the US has never dominated the *** events like they have freestyle. My first coach had a little swim school and she was a top breaststroker during the 1940's from the Netherlands and taught me the glide for *** kick. If I started on the second team I join I might have not been as good at breaststroke and might have quit swimming earlier since I wasn't a natural freestyler.

This is an interesting discussion about use of the USMS website and how valuable it may be to non-USMS members, especially those outside the US. An item that received little discussion at the USMS convention, but was passed by the Coaching Committee and the House of Delegates was to restrict the Workouts Forums to USMS members only. I don't know when or how that will come about, but I can see that this might not be fair to our non-US forum fans.

Cherie! Join, and join NOW! I contemplated for couple years before joining, and the only thing I regret now, is tahat I haven't joined 2 years ago, when I first thought of it. You don't need to do 4000 to join. Our team has varied workouts, starting with 1500... up to some people doing double 3000 y workouts. There is a huge difference between swimming alone, and swimming on a masters team. Swimming with a team is at least 10 time better and more fun, and in my case, I progress much much faster on a team then alone. Don't be intimidated by the few on the team that are at the top level. You'll find that there are a lot more people close to your level then there are at the top.

I haven't joined yet because I feel that I haven't gotten to the "level" of practice that Masters teams in my area practice at. I have JUST started swimming again after being out of the pool for 10 years. I think that once I get to the level where I can do a 4000 yard practice I'll join. Cherie

Hey- congrat.s on getting back to the pool! IMHO, you don't have to wait till you get to 4000m to join a Ma. team- I joined when I was doing around 2000 m, and it took me 3.5 months to get up to 3500-4000 m practices. As someone else on this forum once said, 'joining is the hardest part'- let the coach take it from there! peace...

Masters is cool. I encouraged anyone out there to join. I swim a few meets as an middle age woman and its fun. As a kid it was kind of my dad's idea to start novice and summer swimming at age 12 years old.

Yes, I too waited before joining and now I kick myself for it. A friend told me about Masters because I was complaining about the Gym. The last swim meet I had been in was 18 years ago so I was worried, like you Cherie, that I wasn't prepared. When I finally did join all of the worry disappeared after one practice. Now, two years later I can't get enough. I was recently elected to our team's board and I encourage anyone thinking of joining to do so and not worry about their swimming "level." Join the Fun!

This is my first time posting a message. My question is: When compluting swim spit times for indoor triathlons, when does the clock stop? 1. When the participants feet hit the deck of the pool as they get out? 2. When the particpant touches the wall with fingers at the end of the swim? Thanks in advance for your input. Gwen

this is a really friendly site with more info than u can shake a stick at!!!!!if you have any...and i mean any question no matter how small...how insignificant u may think it is..jus post it..you will be that particul;ar items expert after the response...thanx USMS for an advancement in human technology..also thanks to all on here for honest truthful answers..

Originally posted by sunwater the answer is, I'm not a member, and I don't plan on joining for awhile, because I am simply not good enough yet. What? Check some of the other recent threads; you are good enough right now. USMS is about having a healthy adult aquatic lifestyle. You can do that, you can join USMS. :D If you mean that you do not intend to join a team, swim a meet or other USMS competition, then okay. But don't get caught up in "being the best", just use USMS to be the best you can be. :cool: Joining a team will provide the support net in order to improve your swimming, whether for exercise or speed.