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
Welcome back to swimming! Let me see if I can address some of your questions. I am a USMS only registered swimmer but I practice with a USAS team. I am with their Senior program. They have a higher level - National Training Group- which are the olympic potential swimmers. Some are as young as 12 in that group. I swim with 12-18 year olds and can hold my own easily (I'm 36). My team was open to me joining them but each team will be different. Some might like having an adult there, others might not. There is a masters team that practices in the same pool but they are not as competitive and the practice times are better with the USAS team. I swim 4:30-6am and make it home in time for my husband to leave for work (I am home with our 2 year old). The USAS team has afternoon practices but they are for the 2nd practice of the day for NTG and for the younger kids. The senior practice works best for me. I have not joined USAS (your USMS membership will qualify you to practice with a USAS team and vise versa). I do plan on joining USAS next year and swimming in a meet or 2. I do qualify but not for all their meets. They have some fast times!
USMS is for 18 and over, USAS's highest age group is 15& over so you can do either as far as age. May I ask were you live? What teams are in the area?
Alison
Welcome back to swimming! Let me see if I can address some of your questions. I am a USMS only registered swimmer but I practice with a USAS team. I am with their Senior program. They have a higher level - National Training Group- which are the olympic potential swimmers. Some are as young as 12 in that group. I swim with 12-18 year olds and can hold my own easily (I'm 36). My team was open to me joining them but each team will be different. Some might like having an adult there, others might not. There is a masters team that practices in the same pool but they are not as competitive and the practice times are better with the USAS team. I swim 4:30-6am and make it home in time for my husband to leave for work (I am home with our 2 year old). The USAS team has afternoon practices but they are for the 2nd practice of the day for NTG and for the younger kids. The senior practice works best for me. I have not joined USAS (your USMS membership will qualify you to practice with a USAS team and vise versa). I do plan on joining USAS next year and swimming in a meet or 2. I do qualify but not for all their meets. They have some fast times!
USMS is for 18 and over, USAS's highest age group is 15& over so you can do either as far as age. May I ask were you live? What teams are in the area?
Alison
