Hello - I'm new to this board. I recently took up swimming again (did it a lot (competitively) in my much, much younger days), and have dabbled here and there for the past 6 years or so, but I'm now doing more regular workouts at a local indoor pool. I started because I'm a runner currently off land with a stress fracture, so while doing pool running I noticed the masters workouts going on and decided to join in for the added crosstraining.
It turns out that this coach is great. The workouts generally have 3 to 8 people, and being new, I'm always in Lane 1 getting constant input on my stroke, which has already changed. He really pushes us pretty hard, doing all strokes, lots of drills and intervals - definitely good for lactate threshold workouts, endurance, and V02 max (things I relate to in running).
I was wondering, if you care to share, what you pay for masters workouts, and what you get for that (how many days per week, additional pool time at no extra cost, etc.).
And, a couple more questions if you don't mind: Any benefits to joining USMS if you are not planning on doing swim meets? (I'm planning on doing a triathlon here and there, hence the swimming.)
And, kickboards: cheap foam okay, or any difference in what's out there?
Thanks for any input!!
Former Member
Welcome, Pam!
I swim up at Sewickley, and there is no cost to join our Master's Team, though you must be a member of the Y we swim at. So, I guess you could say I spend $16/month (college rates, yay!). The obvious perks are that besides our thrice-weekly practices, there is use of the YMCA.
As far as joining USMS, if you don't plan to compete, I wouldn't worry about it, but you can still practice with your team. Several of our own swimmers are triathletes, and while some don't compete at meets, some do, and they get better and better triathlon times as a result of practicing with us.
As far as kickboards, I just use the Y's boards, but if you're looking to buy your own, almost anything speedo or aardvarkswim.com carries will do the trick. Some people even prefer to kick without boards (note: I am not one of those people)
Welcome to the melee, and good luck!
Steph
I used to pay $45.00 p/m for 3x a week and then $70.00 p/m for unlimited practices (there were 11 workouts a week).
I'm now going to be paying $45.00 p/m, for unlimited practices, 9 choices of workouts a week...
Hope this helps.
If the team you are practicing with is a USMS team, and you are not a member, you are not covered by insurance. This s generally true dispite what every one will tell you. Also, if it is a USMS team and you aren't a member, you are cheating out those who are paying for you to get the service. Many Y and city rec teams are USMS registered. Be sure to ask.
USMS is not just for competition. There will be shortly a new magazine that will, hopefully, have great articles about stroke, health, and fitness. Your dues also go to help maintain this site!
I hope every onenoticed the new home page!!! I hope it fortells of the magazine!
Wow, I won't complain anymore about the monthly fees that seem to go up weekly!
At Walnut Creek we pay $150/year and then pay per swim. There is a significant discount for masters- $49.50/month (pool fees through the city of WC)
I always considered the $150. an extreme bargain as Kerry is priceless!
In southern california, i pay $60.00 per month for three days a week. About 6 of us show up at 5:00am and work out at a private university with the school's team (separate lanes of course). We get little attention, unless we scream. I scream for attention every other day. The Master's work out is posted on a white board and we're on our own.
The real benefit is observing and possibly modeling the swimming behavior of the students.
It's worth it.
Thanks for the feedback.
Just recently I paid $70 for a monthly pass to the pool. This gives me masters workout priveleges, as well as unlimited visits at any time, which helps with the pool running I have to do.
Craig, thanks for your response. I certainly wasn't trying to cheat anyone or any organization, but with a limited budget I need to differentiate between wants and needs, so that was why I asked about benefits of USMS.
The masters team with which I'm doing the workouts is evidently not yet sanctioned or officially recognized, although the coach said he is working on that. It was recently started, so I think they're in the application process.
As far as the $70 I'm paying, I know that once I can run on land again, I won't be at the pool 5 or 6 days a week, although now that I've gotten the swimming bug I'd like to still try and fit in 2 or 3 days of swim workouts in the evening, with the coach as he helps so much with my stroke and is passionate about his workouts. He calls out every swimmer's time on intervals and gives feedback on everything from goggles to stroke. I can rarely do even three or four laps without seeing him on the deck arm outstretched, reminding me to reach, or both arms overhead, reminding me to work on the catch, so definitely a lot of personal attention.
I only pay $150 a year to be a member of the Y. There are no extra fees to be on the masters team. Of course we have no coach and we practice on our own.
The least expensive Y fee around me is about $400 for a single membership. (I pay $530 to get a kit locker) We don't currently have Master's at the Y I use, but there are others in the area that do. They typically charge anywhere from $50-$100 on top of the membership fee-they also do not allow members from other area YMCA's to join the Master's teams without paying a Y membership. There are 2 groups near enough for me to use as a once or twice a week workout, but the locations aren't convenient for daily use. So, because I can't afford two memberships-I chose the daily workout over being part of a team. I don't understand why the other local groups can't honor the Y card I have-I'd be willing to pay a higher fee for the Master's group than a member, but I think another $400-$500 is too much to ask.
$ 580.00 per year. (Less than $50.00 per month.)
We have 7 days a week coached workouts, 4 nights (Tue, Wed, Thur and Fri) and all mornings (including both weekend days).
What a deal.
