How many people are actually USMS members?

I, like a few others I've seen replying to this post, have recently started back in the pool. I swam on a team for ~7 years, quit to take to land and run. I'm currently in the buildup for my first full marathon (I've run ~8 halves) and started having some foot problems. I decided to back down on my miles and get my rear back in the pool. And I realized how much I've missed it and how much I love swimming. However, that did not answer your question....:p 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. I'm working on my mileage :confused: , yardage? and then possibly join later. I enjoy reading here to get information in what seems to be a supportive network. Thanks!

I am going to agree with the above. You don't have to be swimming 4000 yds in a practice to join and swim in meets. I only swim 2000- 2700 in a practice. I am not a fast swimmer at all. I have found masters to be a great experience. You meet a lot of great people who are willing to help and encourage you no matter what team you are on or who you are. The sportsmenship in masters is just awesome. I could never imagine not being a part of a masters team. I find it a great motivator to get out there and swim. Its to easy to use excuses to skip out on workouts, but if you know you have a meet to work for you go and do it.

On the old Forums, Matt S wrote an excellent thread about everyone being "good enough" for USMS. Perhaps our respected webmaster could delve into his deep depths and find it or maybe Matt could conjure up his memory and repost it. It was worth reading.

I LOVE MY MASTERS TEAM! It is sooo much more fun to swim with my teammates than to try to workout on my own! I'm able to challenge myself much more in workouts. Meets are a blast! We encourage and support each other in and out of the pool!

Hi! I'm originally from Berkeley California where I swam competively from jr high thru UCB. I've been living in Italy for 20 years, I'm a happy masters swimmer with a team in Florence, Italy, Nuoto Club Firenze . We're a fantastic team of over 150 athletes. The Masters movement is live and kicking here in Italy, and we often have several meets each weekend in various locations of the peninsula, with 600-800 participants. We also have an extremely lively forum QuelliCheilNuoto where we tend to get a little rowdy, but also talk about serious swim stuff. I come and read this forum to read about swimming in English, to check out the competition ;) for the upcoming World Championships, get training tips, and just plain stay in touch! Ciao from Florence! Mary

I think the stats are that only one third of the USMS members actually compete in events - that's a lot of people who join just for the shared practices and access to a coach. For those waiting to be fully prepared - stop waiting! Jump in there - the journey IS the destination. Masters swimming is about whatever goals you want to make for yourself. I have found I very much need solid training goals and affiliation with a team to get the most out of my swimming, other people are happy with different aspects of masters.

howdy! I am not a USMS swimmer YET. I am looking for a team here in NYC to join. I would rather join a team and have someone watch my technique and such, instead of training alone. I am a competitive person and love to race, so swimming against others is always fun. Plus its a great social activity.:)

I've read several posts here about several USMS members who hesitated to join, and I'm no exception. I discovered USMS in early May and mustered enough courage to call my LMSC for information about joining. After receiving a membership application via E-Mail, I didn't hesitate to fill out the form... However, I hesitated to send it right away, since I was afraid of entering an organization full of die-hard competitive swimmers who have been competing all their lives. Needless to say, my LMSC's Registrar and Team Coach told me that as long as I knew how to swim (Since age 3; now I'm 25) that anyone is eligible to join USMS (no matter what level you're in) either unattatched or in my LMSC's team. On June 20, I joined my LMSC and have been receiving weekly e-newsletters about updates, workout times and upcoming meets. Although I'm still relatively new to Masters, I'm looking forward to making new friendships and competing in my first meet.

Member (Colorado). Unattached. re: Good enough? That's what my wife used to say until she accompanied me at a meet and saw people of all shapes and sizes and ages -- even a blind guy -- swimming in events. All swam with gusto and with pride and with support from everyone there. Look up a meet in your area. Sit in the stands and just watch. After 2 or 3 events and after you've seen a 200-pound 60-year-old lady in a frilly beach suit get out of the pool beaming with pride and a sense of accomplishment after completing a 100-yd backstroke in 4:55 and her friend greets her at the ladder with a towel and a big hug of congratulations, you'll know you can do it too! Your participation is about you and achieving your personal goals on the road to better fitness. Hiding your success in your own bubble limits your potential. Once you attend a meet and realize what you actually CAN do, you will be motivated to reach further. There are few things as sweet as beating your goals. And with swimming it is easy to measure growth (in time, and in distance, for example.) With so many different events, strokes and distances at meets, there are countless ways to accumulate little successes. Just my 2 cents.

Originally posted by Guvnah Member (Colorado). Unattached. re: Good enough? That's what my wife used to say until she accompanied me at a meet and saw people of all shapes and sizes and ages -- even a blind guy -- swimming in events. All swam with gusto and with pride and with support from everyone there. Wow, a blind guy?? I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only visiually impaired Masters Swimmer out there! It comes to show that Masters Swimming welcomes all types. I'm proud to be a Masters Swimmer!!