Since my previous poll looks to be shut down reasonably soon (it appears to have attracted the evicted tenants from the dating/marriage thread), I thought I would try yet another one on the social component of masters swimming. I am pretty sure that when the sport was founded, socializing and camaraderie were key parts of the whole business.
As a former coach for a smallish team in my home town, plus a former college "continuing education" teacher of writing classes (i.e., non graded, non credit), it struck me very clearly that some people are very dedicated to the specific activity per se (be this swimming or learning how to write a magazine article), but the majority come together to participate only partly because of the ostensible reason, and partly (if not mainly) for the chance to be around and enjoy the company of folks they have something in common with.
My team goes to breakfast after Saturday morning practice and to a bar on Thursday nights. When I first joined the team in 1999 I was shocked that people actually went out every week, but as I got more and more comfortable getting to know my teammates, I actually looked forward to Thursday nights to go eat chips, burgers, have a beer or a chocolate waffle over a good conversation...mostly not even swimming related! Sometimes people show up and haven't even been to practice. Or me lately, I go to Fort's team's practice now on Thursday nights and then go over and meet my friends at the bar. We've all become really good friends over the years. Thursday night is "bar night."
We do breakfast on Friday's after morning practice. There are only a few true swimmers (2-3) the rest are Tri's, but they have accepted me farely well.
Occasionally I might do 1 or 2 of their night parties per year but for the most part those are Tri events and advertised as such.
Donna
I like to host a summer get together for the team so we can interact outside of a practice or competition but other than that its just the occasional meal after a meet or a weekend practice.
Even though I am associated with a team, They are 240 miles away and I've only swam a few workouts with them. I don't even know if they have any kind of social get togethers.
I have swam with the masters group in Salt Lake City, and a some of them go to breakfast after their Saturday workouts. I've joined them a few times. It's a great way to get to know each other.
Like 3degree, my team practices in the early mornings only (and only M-F). But whenever there is a holiday, we have breakfast after practice. We also do team dinners after meets, and people host a few other parties throughout the year. I definitely enjoy the combination of working out hard together and also becoming friends and supporters of one another.
We have early morning practices only (6am M-F, 7am Sat). Everyone is trying to get to work immediately after practice so there is little time for socializing after..... I guess they could go out for breakfast and carbo reloading on a Sat. morning.......
Remember - there is no 'i' in team.
But there is an 'i' in both 'drinking' and 'dinner'.
We go out all the time, at least once a week for breakfast on a Saturday morning and usually more.
We even sometimes socialise with swimmers from other teams.
And every world masters championships we crash the German national team party, drink their beer and eat their food. They're always so friendly it would be rude not to.
I think the social aspect is the best thing about masters swimming. I would find it difficult to do it without it.
