Hi all! Apologies in advance for this likely-stupid question from a newbie.
I'm a 21 year old, post-college swimmer who wishes to return to competitive swimming after a years-long hiatus. I did not swim competitively in high school or college. Thus, my only experience is with USS age-group swimming.
I've spent the past two months training on my own (6-7 days per week/2 hours at a time). Although I have a demanding job, I want to push myself to swim at the highest level I can; my goals are purely competitive, not recreation or fitness oriented. I want to join a team of like-minded people.
So, my first question is basic: USS or USMS? I've heard that USS is 18 and under; USMS is 19+ - USS also seems to administer the national competitions. Does this mean that the sole option for a swimmer 19 or over is to join a USMS team, compete in Masters meets only, and (if/when) they make national cuts, switch over to USS somehow? Or, do the USS teams also take swimmers over 18? If so, what would be the pros and cons to joining a masters team versus a USS team?
Also - I'm assuming this is true, but are USMS times automatically valid for USS purposes and vice versa?
Any help is appreciated. I'm sorry for how obvious the answers to these questions might be for someone who's been swimming for a while, but I've been trying to bend the powers of Google to my will for two weeks and yet haven't found the answers yet. Thanks. RH
Parents
Former Member
You can do both USAS & USMS if you want, or pick one.
In my LSC any USAS meet that offers in-season events for 15-18 actually offers them as 15&Over. The time standards used are the national 15-16 age group cuts and you are categorized either as "A" or faster, or "BB" and slower as far as which USAS meets you can attend. However, for older swimmers there is an expectation that you will have "A" times.
For USMS the meets are not split up by times as the meets are smaller and USMS is participation-oriented. Even at USMS Nationals you can swim 3 events without meeting qualifying cuts.
My team has several post-graduate students who are very serious about their swimming and this seems to be more common each year. Some are fast enough for sponsorships. Some of our guys are working on Olympic cuts who are in their mid-twenties and also a guy in his late 40's who swims at Sectionals.
We also have had some young 20-year-olds who have limited competitive experience and don't have "A" times. They swim USMS.
The training decision will be more which group of swimmers will provide the best TRAINING environment, not how fast you can go in a meet. There is a world of difference between popping out a fast 50 compared to being able to keep up with a set of repeats that a Seniors group is grinding out without your getting in the way or getting injured or picking up what you need. Our coach pretty much expects that his Senior swimmers will be training twice a day through most of the year, about 20 hours a week.
Your area will have regional websites for both USAS and USMS that will list the teams in your area (LSC's and LMSC's). There is also a registrar that can assist you in finding a team if you aren't familiar. You will want to have a frank talk with a coach to see what "fits" before signup.
The competitions for USAS and USMS are separate although you can get your times "observed" in advance to report them as usable in the other organization if it's worth the effort for a championship. Both have their own calendar of national, zone, and local meets that you must be a registered member of that organization to participate in. Much of this is easier if you are a member of a team that can explain things.
Good luck!
You can do both USAS & USMS if you want, or pick one.
In my LSC any USAS meet that offers in-season events for 15-18 actually offers them as 15&Over. The time standards used are the national 15-16 age group cuts and you are categorized either as "A" or faster, or "BB" and slower as far as which USAS meets you can attend. However, for older swimmers there is an expectation that you will have "A" times.
For USMS the meets are not split up by times as the meets are smaller and USMS is participation-oriented. Even at USMS Nationals you can swim 3 events without meeting qualifying cuts.
My team has several post-graduate students who are very serious about their swimming and this seems to be more common each year. Some are fast enough for sponsorships. Some of our guys are working on Olympic cuts who are in their mid-twenties and also a guy in his late 40's who swims at Sectionals.
We also have had some young 20-year-olds who have limited competitive experience and don't have "A" times. They swim USMS.
The training decision will be more which group of swimmers will provide the best TRAINING environment, not how fast you can go in a meet. There is a world of difference between popping out a fast 50 compared to being able to keep up with a set of repeats that a Seniors group is grinding out without your getting in the way or getting injured or picking up what you need. Our coach pretty much expects that his Senior swimmers will be training twice a day through most of the year, about 20 hours a week.
Your area will have regional websites for both USAS and USMS that will list the teams in your area (LSC's and LMSC's). There is also a registrar that can assist you in finding a team if you aren't familiar. You will want to have a frank talk with a coach to see what "fits" before signup.
The competitions for USAS and USMS are separate although you can get your times "observed" in advance to report them as usable in the other organization if it's worth the effort for a championship. Both have their own calendar of national, zone, and local meets that you must be a registered member of that organization to participate in. Much of this is easier if you are a member of a team that can explain things.
Good luck!
