can ANYONE join, really?

Originally posted by scyfreestyler Minimum of 200 yards huh? I would probably join anyhow and make the coach deal with it. Thanks for the thoughts. Is that alot for a first timer who hasn't swam in a few years? There's another masters in oakland whose requirement is that you can swim one length of the pool. If I pay the memberships dues, is that transferrable if I want to start with one and move to another as i improve? Ideally I'd like to do this close to home.

Originally posted by fetching Thanks for the thoughts. Is that alot for a first timer who hasn't swam in a few years? There's another masters in oakland whose requirement is that you can swim one length of the pool. If I pay the memberships dues, is that transferrable if I want to start with one and move to another as i improve? Ideally I'd like to do this close to home. I think swimming a 200 Free would be a bit much to ask for a first time swimmer. I can tell you that when I started I was happy that I could complete a 25! I then worked up to 50's, and then to 100's. As far as dues being transferrable, my guess would be no. I don't swim on a team, I am just a member for the purpose of competition, so you might want to ask somebody in the know.

Thanks Matt and Inner fish, I'll talk to her about it. I'm very motivated to go and work hard, so maybe that will be enough. At the very least I could ask to try for a week or so and see how I do. I'm really keen to get started. The pool isn't that far from my home and it would be perfect to walk there after work and then walk home afterwards, getting in a nice chunk of exercise. :)

Originally posted by fetching Thanks Matt and Inner fish, I'll talk to her about it. I'm very motivated to go and work hard, so maybe that will be enough. At the very least I could ask to try for a week or so and see how I do. I'm really keen to get started. The pool isn't that far from my home and it would be perfect to walk there after work and then walk home afterwards, getting in a nice chunk of exercise. :) Sounds like you have loads of ambition...that's great. At the very least, the coach may allow you to swim in one of their workouts one night as a trial run. You might be capable of more than you think. I suspect after seeing a great effort being put forth, she will be hard pressed to tell you no.

Originally posted by Brian Stack I don't recall you getting in touch with the Manatees in Oakland. We take 'em all and turn 'em into swimmers! Some clubs require a certain level of ability when the pool space is limited, others have lot's of room and are happy to welcome new members. Check out our schedule and team info on our web site : and drop in for a try out (you try us out!) sometime. We'll even recommend some times when you can have a coach almost all to yourself to speed up your progress!!! Now that's a genuinely welcoming invitation! That's the way these programs should be run. After all, there is no prize money involved here, we are in it to have fun.

zoeneige, I guess it depends on the club you want to join. Here's a sampling of the "who can join" policies of some of the clubs in my area: "You should be able to swim at least 1600 metres of freestyle in one hour, and have some ability in at least one other stroke. Please note that we limit the number of swimmers at our workouts. While unusual, there are times where we cannot accommodate all swimmers. Membership may be subject to a waitlist." "We will accept new members if there is room in the lane that matches your ability." "We have a variety of levels of swimmers ranging from serious competitive swimmers to others who are just learning and developing their strokes." I think your best bet is to try to join a club that has lots of free capacity, especially in the so-called slow lane. You'd be surprised how quickly you can improve if you're dedicated, even if you've never been on a swim team. For example, this one lady who joined our club 5 months ago could barely swim 3 or 4 lengths without having to take a long rest to catch her breath. Now she can swim non-stop for close to an hour with BEAUTIFUL stroke mechanics. She's still not extremely fast but she is very smooth. She's still in lane 1 but at least she's leading that lane now! Her goal is to swim a 10 K open water race this summer and I'm sure she can do it. As another example, I joined my club about 6 months ago after not swimming for 18 years. I started in lane 1. Now I'm in lane 4, leading about half the sets! I only have two more lanes to go.

Originally posted by Brian Stack I don't recall you getting in touch with the Manatees in Oakland. We take 'em all and turn 'em into swimmers! Some clubs require a certain level of ability when the pool space is limited, others have lot's of room and are happy to welcome new members. Check out our schedule and team info on our web site : and drop in for a try out (you try us out!) sometime. We'll even recommend some times when you can have a coach almost all to yourself to speed up your progress!!! thanks so much, i've sent you a PM. :)

I tell you this because I know it for sure: The best thing of being the rocky swimmer in a Master Team is that you are the one that improves your technique and times faster than anyone else, and that will keep your motivation for a long time, after that you will find so many other reasons to keep swimming with the team every day. :cool:

Fetching, I responded to this same topic (See first page). I wasn't sure either, and thru my post, one of the coaches in my area contacted me. She has been wonderful and supportive, as has the rest of the masters team. I'm probably the slowest one on the team, but that doesn't matter. I've been doing it a while now, and I can tell my swimming has improved. I'd encourage you to give it a try! JIM

thanks everyone for your encouragement! Today the coach from the team in Alameda called me and I went to swim tonight. I had fun, but it was hard work having not been in a pool in many many years and having never had any formal swim training. But the coach was great and helpful and pointed out things from the very start to work on which is just what I need. While I wasn't able to swim 200 yards without stopping I probably swam more than that in total tonight, so I didn't feel like a complete loser. How did I forget how to breathe? In other news, I had no idea that I had muscles in the back of my upper arms! ;) I wonder if I will be able to comb my hair in the morning or put on mascara! Brian, I am still going to come up and swim with the manatees. :)