Getting back in the game

You don't have to be under 18 to train with a club team. I train with the local club team here (no masters team here). The kids & coach there are very happy that I train with them. The kids even get a little ticked off at me when I miss a practice.

Thanks for all the advice so far, guys! I had a day off work today, so I've been trying to get in touch with the YMCA a block from my home in Ohio to see if I can join for about three months, until I leave for Pittsburgh. *Crosses fingers* let's see if this works at all. I'm also going to call my old high school coach and see if she'd be willing to work with me until I leave. My latest question is what different types of organizations, besides Masters, are out there, like USA swimming, stuff like that. I remember in school we had USS, but I'm pretty sure that's out of the cards once you're 18. Also, if y'all know about these organizations, how do you join them? Thanks again!

Where in Pittsburgh are you moving to? We have lots of masters swim teams around.

I'm attending the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, so I'll be right downtown most of the time....I know a little about the YMCA downtown branch, but I wasn't sure if they had Masters or not. Is there somebody specifically there, coach-wise or something, that I could call?

There is a "TEAM PITTSBURGH" that is a masters team that practices at Trees Pool on the Pitt Campus. The JCCs (south hills and squirrel hill) both have masters teams BUT you do have to join the JCC. There are a number of YMCAs in the area (depending on where in Pittsburgh you set down roots) that also have Masters Teams. Some of the high school coaches have put in masters level practices (peters twp, mt lebo, char valley) that are VERY early in the AM. I don't know if you swim with the kids (which I think you might) but you do get a coached workout. Check out the where to swim section on the first page of the USMS.org and go down to Pennsylvania. And Welcome--you'll like Pgh. PM me if you need names of ortho docs to do any followups on your knee

There is always PAT busing that can eaisly take you to Oakland were the PITT campus is or anywhere you might want to go. There are a lot of bus routes that go from downtown through Oakland. You can catch a bus and be at PITT within a half hour at the most. That is with wiating to catch a bus, too.

Stephanie, Go, go, go to USA-swimming. It's USS by a different name -- and age has nothing to do with it. Many "older" swimmers swim both USMS and USA-Swimming, there is, obviously, very high level competition available with in both systems. If you wish to swim in Nationals you must be a member of USA-Swimming. The web site is: www.usaswimming.org and there are all sort of resources available on the site. YMCA (not YMCA masters) swimming, on the other hand, is an AAU sport, and that is governed by age. I don't think (but don't know for sure) that swimmers older than 18 can compete in YMCA National competitions, but they can do the YMCA Master's. Find a place where you can do your workouts, register with both USA-Swimming and USMS -- and you can compete at both levels -- and find a coach you can work with, I'm am sure there are many in Pittsburgh. Check out the University team, they are often associated with a club team (much like "Club Wolverine" is an off-shoot of the the University of Michigan Team), and those coaches may be in the perfect position to help you out. Good luck!

The Downtown Pittsburgh YMCA does have a Masters Team that swims with YMCA masters. Their "home" pool is a 25 meter (yes meter) pool. Only problem is that they are a little pricey. It is a full-service club including workout areas (free weights, machines, cardio). Don't know if they have student rates. It IS one of the nicer YMCA pools but meets aren't held there--no pool side seating and parking costs. The league is called Allegheny Mountain Masters and the meets are about every 2 weeks in the areas near Pittsburgh (Up to Erie and down to Frostburg WVA) If you're on the North Shore (where most of the students dorm for CIA) you COULD walk to the club (across a bridge and into the downtown area). As a female--I'd go directly from class and then take a bus back to the dorm/apt. Safety, while good, can't be taken to seriously. Getting to the U of Pitt Trees Pool isn't going to work well for you. Getting out to the University area (especially at the time the practices are) doesn't have alot of public transportation and I doubt you're gonna want to drive and park. You won't be parking for your classes at CIA--they're in the downtown area and parking is VERY expensive.

Shannan--that only holds true during school hours at Pitt (it's called the U-Bus). If you're trying for the very early swim at Trees--there IS a transportation problem. ** Alot of the workers at UPMC (especially those in Shadyside and Oakland) have trouble because of this--if they've got a very early shift--trouble getting to work. I think the early workouts are at 5:45 am. Do you think you want to be standing in downtown pittsburgh at that hour waiting for a bus? went on the www.portauthority.org site.** There is a 54C bus that leaves from the NORTH SIDE (near where alot of students live near Allegheny Center). Bus leaves at 5:22 am and goes through a couple of neighborhoods (including the north side at AGH (hospital) and arrives at the Pitt campus at 5:51am.

If the downtown Y has a master team it does not swim in AMYMSa meets, unless they swim for the South Hills team. I have been swimming for AMYMSA five years now and don't recall ever seeing the downtown Pittsburgh Y ever swim in a meet. Any local Y can easily join AMYMSA if that Y is willing to do it. It really doesn't take much and you can swim for your Y even if you are the only one on your team. Stephanie- I sent you a private message concerning options you might have for swimming in masters. Did you receive it?