Joining Masters "Unattached"

Former Member
Former Member
The pool where I swim in NYC does not have a Masters program, but I'd like to be able to enter upcoming meets. Is there any disadvantage to joining Masters as an "Unattached" swimmer? Would i be better off joining a team in the city instead? Do i actually have to swim at/belong to that pool to join? Finally what is "All Star" eligibility? i'm a little confused, and the metroswim website isn't answering a lot of questions.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    If you register as Unattached, then you can't swim on any relays or earn team points at a sanctioned meet. It is up to each team to define their own policy of whether you should join their team and pay fees and train with them if you register with them. USMS rules don't require it. Each team is free to set their own policy. Some teams do not want to train people who could go off and earn points for another team. Some teams do not want to have somebody representing them who is outside their control (and could cause problems for the team with no recourse) It is also easier to know what's going on if you are affiliated with a team. Teams might be notified of late-breaking news that individuals would not.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    "All-Stars eligibility" in Metro LMSC refers to a kind of "virtual team" called "Metro Masters All-Stars." If you choose to register with All-Stars eligibility, you're actually registering as a member of that club. It's made up of some (but not all) local teams, who have combined to register with USMS under a single name, as well individual swimmers who aren't members of any specific team (the website refers to this as "unattached" within Metro Masters All-Stars). Since USMS recognizes Metro Masters All-Stars as a single club, as a member of that club you would be eligible for relays with with other Metro Masters All-Stars swimmers, including members of those local groups that are part of it. (However, several NYC area clubs, e.g., Red Tide and Badger, are not part of this combined team and you couldn't be on relays with their members.) This is different from registering as "Unattached" with USMS, not as a member of Metro Master All-Stars ("without All-Stars eligibility"). If you do this, as the last post said, you are not eligible for relays. The membership dues is the same.
  • Another thing… If you plan on attending the FINA Worlds in Stanford, you need to be attached to a club.
  • Originally posted by Damage Inc That FIMA rule, that said I must be a team member and not unattached to be able to swim at Worlds had me worried as I have always swam unattached. I did find a team though to join, SlowTwitch.com. Its a virtual team of people who frequent the Triathlon web site slowtwitch.com. The team is sanctioned through Southern Pacific Masters Swimming. See you at Stanford in Aug. Join our new small club - SHYM - South Hampton Y Masters. What the H*ll why not? I don't think we'll have any one out there.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    That FIMA rule, that said I must be a team member and not unattached to be able to swim at Worlds had me worried as I have always swam unattached. I did find a team though to join, SlowTwitch.com. Its a virtual team of people who frequent the Triathlon web site slowtwitch.com. The team is sanctioned through Southern Pacific Masters Swimming. See you at Stanford in Aug.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    This is all helpful. Thanks. Appreciate it.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Ken, my USMS registration card reads : Metro Masters Swim Club and has these initials on the lower right, UNAM. can i swim relays at Coral Springs with swimmers from other zones? thanks :)
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Originally posted by gebbadine Ken, my USMS registration card reads : Metro Masters Swim Club and has these initials on the lower right, UNAM. can i swim relays at Coral Springs with swimmers from other zones? thanks :) You can never enter a relay with swimmers from other zones, LMSC's or USMS clubs; all relay swimmers must be members of the same club. "UNAM" means that you're "unattached" within the Metro Masters "super team," i.e., not a member of one of the local teams/workout groups that are part of Metro Masters. You would be able to enter relays with other Metro Masters swimmers, including team/workout group members (e.g., Asphalt Green or Aquafit), since Metro Masters is registered as a USMS club. (Some New York area teams, like Red Tide, Badger and Westchester are separately registered as USMS clubs and aren't part of Metro Masters, so you can't join their relays.)