Fitness swimming

Originally posted by LindsayNB Actually, this is why I found it so surprising that it was decided to add a project that is described as requiring at least 500 man hours to the workload of the web developer.:( Well, it wasn't really decided to add it USMS has committed itself to supporting/helping Stanford organize FINA games a while ago, before Stanford went to bid hosting them. So they've been commited to diing that. It was more of an attempt to quantify time and effort that our current developers will need to accomplish what they've been comitted to doing. On the other hand, a lot of development that happens for this will be re-used in other aspects of the USMS website.

Originally posted by Fitswimmer04 As someone who has not ever been a competitive swimmer, I find even coached workouts with a group are pretty intimidating. I belong to the EWGA, a women's golf organization that puts a strong emphasis on getting women into the game. The members who play well volunteer their time to help out in the beginner leagues, walking the 9 holes with the "newbies" and helping them learn the rules. The association runs clinics for absolute beginners to teach them everything from the ground up. It's a supportive learning environment for what can be a really intimidating sport. USMS could develop a stronger membership by sponsoring beginner clinics-they could be weekend events that also revolved around some social activities. Maybe those beginners will evolve into competitive swimmers, maybe they won't, but what they will have gained is a bond with a swimming community. How far would you be willing to travel for such a clinic or an event? There are clinics offered now, lot of them for beginner. I think it's hard for people to find clinics offered in their area on their own. I see LMSC's and ones and even USMS website somewhat lacking in informing people about clinics. For example, our team offeres 2-3 clinincs a month. The challenge at the moment is getting the word out to people who would be interested in coming.

I have to preface this with the statement that I know how hard it is to apportion space on a home page but it may be symptomatic of the emphasis placed on different aspects of USMS activities that the home page has 14 major items in the main column and over 80 item links on the left, the virtual swims are reached via the "fitness events" link which is 51st in the list, you have to scroll the page to even see the fitness items in the list. Of the 14 major items in the center of the page only the workouts is of clear interest to the fitness swimmer. Some of the stuff under the 2004 Long Distance Championships heading might interest fitness swimmers (1hr postal etc) but the heading certainly doesn't pull in a fitness swimmer. Off the top of my head, one way to address this is to have more than one "home page", each one tailored to a different kind of user, starting with perhaps one page tailored to fitness swimmers and one tailored to swim meet oriented swimmers. The key idea being that USMS has different constituencies that have different interests and a one size fits all appoach (single home page) results in a lot of potentially unnecessary compromises and unnecessary competition for space on the home page. It seems like the virtual swims would be an ideal item to make interactive, i.e. have users input their progress daily or weekly instead of just sending it in at the end. Make it a kind of "virtual open water race". Looking at the web development timeline (minutes) 11/01/04 Records & Top Ten 11/01/04 Registration database specification draft for review 12/01/04 Content management 12/24/04 History & archives 12/24/04 Site redesign 1/01/05 Online entry updates for local use 3/01/05 National publication integration 3/15/05 Short course nationals support 7/15/05 Long course nationals support 9/15/05 2006 Worlds online entries 11/01/05 Online registration beta test including 500 hours (1/4 man year) of web developer time for Worlds online registration, I get the impression that there is an emphasis/priority on the meet-oriented swimmer being expressed here, there is no mention of any significant project specifically aimed at enhancing the fitness section of the site. I realize I don't know all the factors that went into the various things I mention, but I think the basic point is valid, the USMS site doesn't currently demonstrate a clear emphasis on/commitment to the non-meet-oriented fitness swimmer. With a site redesign coming up now is the time to ensure that the new design presents fitness swimmers with a face that makes it clear USMS has something to offer to them. I've presented one idea above, what other suggestions do people have?

Having promoted and run many clinics, my experience tells me that it takes 10 or more times the amount of effort/advertising to reach/attract fitness swimmers to a clinic than it does to get the same number of triathletes or Masters swimmers into a clinic (at least in this part of the country). There are a number of factors: 1) Reachability - Tris and Masters are more likely to already be on an existing swimming email distribution list or visit a swimming web site or read a local Tri or Swim newsletter or mag. You pretty much need to hit the deck and hunt for loner fitness swimmers where they water 2) for those used to swimming on their own, the intimidation factor of going to do ANY swimming activity in a group is higher than for those already used to swimming in groups 3) people who swim in groups are likely to bring their buddy(s) along, so for each person you sign up, there's likely one or two more he'll convince to sign up as well 4) those in groups are likely getting word of mouth input that increases the perceived value of paying for and attending a clinic. 5) where bike and swim shops have no problem with posting event promotions for outside events, pools seem particularly loathe to allow you to promote anything that will take place in another venue. I've had much greater success in selling private lesson services to fitness swimmers. Your typical loner fitness swimmer will gladly spend many times more money for individual attention than he will to be part of a group instruction situation. And, in a private situation you have a much better chance of building a relationship with the swimmer that will translate to greater comfort level for eventually giving a group practice a try. So, speaking strictly from the viewpoint of one who shamelessly seeks a healthy profit from almost every minute I spend coaching, marketing clinics to loner fitness swimmers is upside down - both from a short-term cash flow and a long term program building angle. Now, if I could figure out how to get loner fitness swimmers into clinics as easily as other swim-interested folks, I'd sing a different tune.

Originally posted by heydavis What?...I'm ranked #142!!...today I shoot for #140!!. Obvious problem is honesty and integrity. This type of feature would be paid members only. What other internet based incentives could we provide? Just a thought... One quick thing... Do you know about 'virtual swims'? www.usms.org/.../virtualswims.shtml they have them round various places in the country, and I think in 05 they may start a swim around the world... with international places. I volunteered to make a swim along the coast of my home country which has tons and tons of pictoresque little islands. I do have to say I'm yet to get little more familiar with how that particular feature works... I hear lot of people suggesting a 'member only' areas, not just here on the bulletin board but at the convention too.

The USMS Fitness Committee realizes that the two main reasons a "fitness" or non-competitive swimmer will join USMS is for required insurance coverage to join group practices, and for the social benefits of swimming with a group. We have been trying to provide more than that by attempting to create activities that appeal to the non-competitor no matter where they live or where they swim. Now I refer to the following comment on this forum. "Yes, there is a fitness comittee too. My impression is that it's somewhat missing the mark. It needs better demographic representation of USMS fitness swimmers." First of all, we have a great Fitness section of the USMS Website and the web is worldwide. It is designed so that a swimmer can sit at home and surf swimming information with new articles of the month, activities, and a new section starting up with ideas to make fitness swimming fun. Check out the contributors for articles. They are nationwide. We also have three events that fitness swimmers can enter on their own, anywhere, without any threat of competition. These include the 30 Minute Swim Challenge with results published without use of age groups but recognizing team participation. Then we have the Virtual Swim Series; a chance to log lap or practice yardage and virtually swim actual waterways, nationwide. Finally, the Check-Off Challenge, prompting a swimmer to try all the pool events either in private or in a meet. Participants last year were from all over the US, with a great number from YMCA's on the East Coast. So we are offering information and non-competitive participation for any fitness swimmer. Our efforts expand every year and we are now linking in with other committees to spread our coverage. The International Committee is now helping create Virtual Swims with hopes of worldwide participation. And there is even a new plan for a Virtual Swim to Mission Viejo in conjunction with LC Nationals! If we are "missing the mark", then tell us what "the mark" is. Anyone with ideas to further expand our efforts to serve the fitness swimmer can contact me or any Fitness Committee member at any time. This year we set our goal to grow the efforts we already have in place and that means getting more local workout groups to participate. You can help in that area too. You can also contribute any articles you have that could benefit the fitness swimmer. We want to hear from all of you on this posting as all of you have the fitness swimmer in mind. And please, encourage your fitness swimmers to check out the Fitness website and the activities available. Thanks, Pam Himstreet, Chair of the Fitness Committee

Connie (& all), I don't want to stray too far off the "original" topic ("Fitness swimming"), but I do want to reply to your questions about people who do triathlons. First, I want to emphasize what Coach Emmett Hines is saying...in short, it's all comes down to insurance. USMS has limited itself is what it supports, provides and allows to that which the association is protected by insurance. If USMS wants to stabilize its membership, it either needs (1) to continue to push the insurance envelope and provide more "stuff" (services, activities, etc...) that's covered under existing insurance coverage, and/or (2) it needs to get more comprehensive coverage. Now... I hear that the general concensus is that swimming is the weakest discipline of the three for triathletes? Would you say that is your experience as well? Do most triathletes feel somewhat at loss as to where to turn to to get good swimming advice and or coaching? I would venture a guess that this is true, or Terry Laughlin's Total Immersion wouldn't be as popular as it is. I wonder if USMS couldn't do a thing or two to address this groups needs and concerns. I don't believe there is any such concensus about swimming being the weakest link to a triathlete. That's a myth. Yes, some people will say that swimming is their toughest discipline of the three, but that is not concensus. What might be more generally true, and this was for me, was that swimming was the last discipline that I learned. Buy some sneakers and you're a runner. Buy a bike and you're a cyclist. But, not everybody lives near a pool or a beach. Athletes in any sport are hungry for knowledge and triathlon is no exception. With the Internet, published books, and word of mouth, one can learn much about swimming, or triathlon, or any sport. I have never attended a TI session, though I know many of the coaches who lead the sessions, many of whom are familiar names within USMS. I think that TI has enjoyed some success because they package their "product" in a manner that is attractive to the novice-intermediate level swimmer...information plus feedback in a condensed period of time. Certainly, USMS could do something similar...it's the same coaches leading your workout that are also teaching TI camps and leading clinics. It's just that all of those things are packaged and oriented differently and to different audiences. Then there is the dreaded discussion about the wetsuits... I know, I know, purist swimmer doesn't do wetsuits, but what's to prevent us from having a separate 'wetsuit' category (other than more administrative work for USMS.) Nothing. There are a couple of good USMS-sanctioned open water events in Washington state that couldn't exist without wetsuits. If you don't mind me throwing out a generality at you...I sense a perception within USMS that they discourage wetsuit use in part because it would attract more inexperienced swimmers and thus increase the risk of an accident. I see many 'new' people trying the triathlons, run/walking the run, putting along on a department store bike and slowly swimming their way across 800 meter swim just to get the sense of accomplishment of finishing a triathlon, but on the other hand you can ask some of the same people to enter a swim meet and do a 200m and a 100m relay, just so you'd have a relay, and they go, oh, no, that's too competitive for me! I swam Masters for two years before I could beat anybody in my age group at a meet. I suppose that I'd have a better sense of accomplishment simply finishing a 30-minute triathlon instead of being pummeled by peers in a 1-minute swim race. Lindsay Patten had a good reply to this. Tell you what, having been to swim meets, they're a piece of cake compared to triathlons! I think here I see a failure to popularize swim meets. They're still seen as competetive events, and not social events at all (when compared to the way triathlons are viewed). So, what's your take on this? I agree with your first statement...swim meets are a piece of cake compared to triathlons...as either a competitor, organizer or volunteer. I don't think that swimmers mind that. There is a virtue in the simplicity of a swim meet that I think many participants appreciate. All you need is a pool, a timing system, and some helpful people. Most people who go to USMS meets are foremost concerned about those things. That's why USMS exists...to provide uniform standards for competitions. They're concerned about the social aspects, too...but it's not at all Issue #1. In general, there are a lot of areas in which USMS needs 'new blood', and every single member of this organization has an opprtunity to be that 'new blood' I agree. I already tried that, but the 'old blood' withdrew their appreciation of my efforts.

Originally posted by Pam Himstreet .... If we are "missing the mark", then tell us what "the mark" is. Anyone with ideas to further expand our efforts to serve the fitness swimmer can contact me or any Fitness Committee member at any time. This year we set our goal to grow the efforts we already have in place and that means getting more local workout groups to participate. You can help in that area too. You can also contribute any articles you have that could benefit the fitness swimmer. We want to hear from all of you on this posting as all of you have the fitness swimmer in mind. And please, encourage your fitness swimmers to check out the Fitness website and the activities available. Thanks, Pam Himstreet, Chair of the Fitness Committee Actually, that's just what I'm hoping to do, make some input, but want to hear out people who are willing to share their experiences, and attempt to make input with a little broader information base than just my own experience. After that I can start formulating some ideas and suggestions to present. One thing that does concern me is that I hear people 'venting' about this and that (related to various aspects of USMS, definitely not just fitness swimming) but very few of them, for one, approaching people that may make some difference - people like you and members of various other committees. Also, what bothers me is that so many people end up not knowing about the efforts that you guys DO put in accommodating the fitness swimmer. Now, to be fair, this is not unique to the fitness aspect of the USMS, even though I started discussing fitness on this forum at this particular time. The reason I chose to discuss fitness swimming here is because it appears that there are fitness swimmers at large that come to this forum, and probably find this forum before they find and explore the 'fitness' section on our (USMS) website. Okay, here's a thought.... I wonder if making periodic announcements about fitness events in this forum (the bulletin board) wouldn't increase exposure. It's still on the website, and it doesn't require webmasters involvement, which will make it more immediate dissemination of information.

Am I the only one who has noticed that there is a regular stream of people who find the site, find the discussion boards, and ask the same question: I am a total newbie (or I haven't been swimming for years) how do I get started, and should I joint a USMS club? Shouldn't this be telling us that the home page needs a big whopping "Welcome to USMS Swimming! Here's how to get started, and here's why you shouldn't wait to join your local USMS club!" How many people come to the site with the same question for every one who makes it to the discussion board and posts? Even if you get down to item fifty something of eighty something items on the left, the getting started article tells you how to get started swimming on your own! USMS isn't mentioned until the very last paragraph! I know, I know, a site redesign is in progress. I'll sit down and shut up. I just want to mention this stuff before the new design comes out and still leaves the visitor with the impression that USMS is mostly about National Championships and World Championships and Top Ten and All Americans, only with better navigation. Really, go to the home page and see what impression you form about what USMS is all about.

Originally posted by emmett ....Now, if I could figure out how to get loner fitness swimmers into clinics as easily as other swim-interested folks, I'd sing a different tune. I hear ya, on all of the above. I'm relatively involved with helping my coach advertize the clinics, and our experience has been close to the same. I haven't taken advantage of bike and sports shops advertizing (mainly because I wind up putting making a flyer on a lower priority, and not getting around it) My quanadry of the moment is how to even reach the loner fitnss swimmer and lure him/her in. I'm thinking back on my experience, where I was interested in swimming long before I found out about masters. I remember myself using the USMS website's places to swim couple of years before even learning about teams and how it all works. And this is WITH one of my bestest friends being a pretty accomplished masters swimmer (several top tens and one or two masters all American). Granted, pushing and marketing swimming is not her strong suit. So, I hate to admit, I swam laps for about a year or so at a local highschool. There was some sort of a workout group there, kind of self-organized, but with someone that looked like they knew what they were doing, and few people whom I've since seen competing. It all looked pretty intimidating, and all Greek to me. I didn't even have a clue what to ask. I taught myself flip turns by watching the 'workout group' which was many times in a lane just next to me. I think where I swan there is a very small masters group starting up or something to that effect. Even though they swim in a lane next to me, they seemed pretty unapproachable. They looked like they knew what they were doing, and I didn't even know what to ask.. so I didn't. I think there are even some posts on this bulletin board from me from that time, about learning flip turns. Other than seeing people involved in swimming, I had no clue what this is all about. The USMS website itself, I looked at it. With USA Swimming and number of quality looking and functioning websites out there USMS website looked like some sort of a dying organization website... dead links, lot of text that sounded all greek to me, and other than places to swim I couldn't find anything useful within my attention span. The website didn't strike me as the first and foremost organization on adult swimming, so I moved on trying to find something else. I stuck around the bulletin board because it seemed relatively active, which surprised me considering my first impression of the website. So, I started swimming laps. A year later... I went through some major changes in my personal life.... My fiend, the swimmer had a swim meet that she wanted to go to in Santa Barbara. Fun place to visit. So I decided to go with her, watch her swim in the morning, and then we were going to go have a few margaritas etc... This is about the 4th or 5th time over maybe 4 years that I had gone to a swim meet to root for her. This time I actually got to meet the coach, started telling him how neat I thought was that my friend is competing and all that... Then I told him how I love swimming, and had been swimming laps last year and need to get back into it, and if he knew a good place near where we live. Well, he was the first one that finally took the time to explain to me the 'birds and the bees' of the masters swimming. I was completely surprised that I fit into the category of people who can be on the team. I thought you had to 'qualify' to be on a team or who knows what... The next morning I came to the workout. I wonder how common of a story this is. By feedback of some of the newer people on my team, I'm under the impression that it's not all that uncommon. At times even for the former USA swimmers. I think with 'former USA swimmers' mom and dad used to take care of the 'administrative' end, and they may not really realize how it all works, unless they swam late in highschool or college. So... I wonder, how can we improve on this… on all levels of the swimming community? In comparison, should I ever be sufficiently out of my mind to get the urge to want to run or do a triathlon, the resources are so readily available, I'd know exactly where to go. Sorry about such long posts... I tend to think out loud.