Is this the face of Masters Swimming?

19 I believe. Actually, it's age 18 now. That changed a few years ago. The lowest USMS age group is now 18-24. Anna Lea

Training for running and biking tends to be easier, at least for me. I can start and end at my house. Especially in the summer, when it is light nice and early, I can be up, working out, and back in the house before anyone is even aware that I was gone(sniff, no one misses me). Swimming takes more effort because the pool is in another town. So I pair that up with work breaks, or after work. Just a bit more difficult, so I can see why running and biking are more attractive to train for(that and I love, love, love to bike). I have the same problem (pool in different town) but I applied a different solution: bike to the pool, swim, then bike to work or wherever I'm going next. I can run anywhere, anytime, so that's the discipline that I squeeze in when I can. If my day is packed then I end up running late at night.

I don't like biking in the dark, and since it is dark when I leave, and starting to get dark when I get home, that is a problem. The pool is 15 miles, work is 5 miles from the pool, home is 12 miles from work. Man, my legs would look darn good from all that biking. I did bike to work this summer a couple times a week, good exercise, but now am frustrated that the morning is too dark. Meeting combines in the dark is a bit scary on these country roads, and that is in a car!

Wow, I get the feeling Paul Smith wants people like ME out of Master's swimming. I think the renewal numbers reflect people who join to try a swim meet, find it is not their cup of tea, or that it is not worth the time, long drive, and money and don't renew. There is a running race 15 minutes from my home every weekend around here. To compete in swimming the average is a 2 hour drive. And pools are closing, which makes training hard as well. The lap swimmers are getting very annoyed on Tuesday and thursdays when Masters takes over the one open lane that is assigned to us at 6.

Just a note from a sort-of-outsider: I've been a card-carrying Masters swimmer for over twenty years and whether I've been competing like a whirling dervish (my late 30's), training consistently but not competing much (40's) or hardly training and not competing (now), I've always considered my basic registration each year as necessary as breathing. The insurance aspect is of course important, but the basic belonging to a larger community of swimmers motivates me. Now, I am a Canadian and do not belong to USMS, but right from the get go I have been impressed by your organisation and the tremendous volunteer efforts of those who work in the background and this has continued to progress and improve over the years. Nothing is broken, nobody is excluded, the debate is healthy. One observation though: the challenges are different in each region of your country, whether lack of facilities, distances to meets, overcrowding, resistance by local bureaucrats etc., your regional bodies should be addressing the concerns that are burning in your area (perhaps with backing or expertise from the national body). Otherwise 'one size fits all' proposals can be terribly devisive as reading back through some of threads from the past will show. All Paul really wants is a free case of wine for each world record he sets.

In cycling, you can buy a "one day license" to participate in some races. Maybe we could do the same for local meets in order for the newbies to give it a try without a commitment - maybe $5 for a one time only temporary membership. Just a thought. Could generate new interest in competition and a little moolah for the greater good at the same time. (Prize pool?:D)

While reading your posts, I was doing some self-analysis (as a new "swimmer") to what kept me from joining before. In running, if I want to check my fitness or just run for fun or because of other people doing it, I just sign up for an easy race and cruise it so I finish in the Middle of the pack and enjoy the post race party. As a Triathlete I can do the same thing.:groovy: Since I never swam competitively I have no idea if I could do it. Besides there is no "pack" so if (when) I get lapped its all me in the lane. Why would I want to do that to myself. Most adults didn't like to be :blush:. My fears of what could go wrong range from falling backward off the blocks, to losing my suit diving in, to losing count of laps (I could go on but I think you get the idea). Plus the idea of wasting a weekend at a meet to swim 3 races for a total time of less than 10 minutes doesn't seem a good use of my limited time. Making my family watch me at a meet is probably grounds for divorce, but a beach vacation for a Tri or visit a major city (Boston, NY, DC) for a marathon are very appealing. Look at how many marathoners take 4-6 hours to finish and they have a blast. Lap swimming just doesn't have that appeal. No one brags about swimming 50 meters (no matter how fast) except to other competitive swimmers. :2cents: The only real group USMS can draw from are competitive swimmers. They are comfortable with competing and as time goes on miss it. I think Tris offer an opportunity to catch more swimmers who (like me) started late and can be seduced in to racing. The "pool" to draw from just isn't that big.:2cents:

Many meets do offer single day/meet membership for $10 or so.

What if we started doing "newbie" clinics for swimmers new to meets? Get them used to the technology, the starts, etc. I know the meets I go to I see so many not following the whistle commands (first one is for the heat ahead to clear the pool, 2nd is to get on the block). I think having clinics for those wanting to start competing but are too afraid might bring some people back to USMS for a 2nd year. I did my first tri this Aug and they had a clinic the day before. Since I come from a tri family, most was new new tome but I learned some techniques that were totally new and helpful. This same company puts on clinics all through the year. Alison

Pool racing can certainly be intimidating to the novice swimmer, and with the shorter races they seem to get less of that sense of accomplishment. I believe that if we could get a LOT more open water swims available, we could grow significantly. I agree. Much of the commentary on this thread has had to do with what is possible. Open water swimming is not "better" than pool racing but it is distinctly more possible, especially for older "young" swimmers (like me), and for building community participation in swimming. Spending a summer afternoon at the ol' swimming hole ("Race you to that big rock!") is part of the American imaginary. Increasing OW swim opportunities -- gatherings, if not races -- would seem a natural way to attract new USMS members. But I don't think I understand the membership/retention problem. a) If each year 30% (say) of members don't renew but are replaced, for a generally constant membership, is there a problem? b) If overall membership declines, are there real-life consequences? Seems to me local variation, such as insufficient no. of ppl to support a Masters Swim program at a given facility, is a problem isolable from overall membership problem (which might turn out not to be a problem). Second thing I don't understand: Is organized swimming only about times? Regards, VB