I know that you're there... and you have something to say.
Lets' hear it.
But seriously. Do Fitness and Lap Swimmers really read this Forum?
I wish they did, but I doubt they see the potential.
Fitness and Lap Swimmers, I'm a masters swim coach.
I watch your lanes - oh maybe 15-20% of the time I coach the masters lanes.
I see those of you lurking on the side lanes listening to the sets - and to the stroke instruction...
Watching swimmers underwater for stroke demonstrations.
Its' ok - and a really good thing.
A decent masters swim coach knows how to recruit right out of those lap swimming lanes.
Ahelee
P.S. I loved reading the thread, "As an outsider to harcore swimming..."
Finally some swimmers after my own heart.
Except that I like to recruit lap swimmers to our program!
HEY - I'm so stoked... swimmers actually responded to my thread in the forum!
I posted this thread for a few reasons.
#1 - Are there USMS swimmers who swim in the lap swim lanes when there is a masters team training in their home town or even their aquatic center? And why do they choose to go it alone?
#2 - We know there lap swimmers training on their own, who are not USMS members. Are they reading this forum? Do they even know about it?
#3 - Are masters coaches and swimmers scouring the lap swim lanes looking for potential new members and team mates?
Do these US Masters representatives know how to "pitch masters swimming"?
#4 - Do the masters teams have at least one coach on staff who is patient enough and enthusiastic about coaching novice swimmers?
#5 - The SPMA Registrar pointed out to me recently that "UNATTACHED" is often one of the largest teams entered in swim meets.
Do these unattached swimmers know about this Discussion Forum as one of the best resources for coaching, swim practices, and various swim advice?
When I used to work for Swimmer Magazine and various other sports publications, all the big swim companies were my clients.
These companies were pretty confident that they had us sold (the hardcore training swimmers) already.
What they were most interested in, was how to reach all the elusive Fitness & Lap Swimmers!
As publishers, we had all the stats. We knew (do you know?) that swimming is the #2 sport in the nation next to walking.
But the fitness and lap swimmers are next to invisible because they are swimming in public & private lap-swim lanes, back yard & community pools - and buying their swim suits at generic Big 5 type sporting goods. They are not members of USMS, yet.
At the moment, our USMS numbers are relatively puny when one considers the huge numbers of adult fitness swimmers in the USA. Looks like we have an opportunity to help make that change with our new Exec. Dir. and USMS committees newly energized.
I'm always on the watch for a potential new USMS member - no matter how fast or novice.
I do especially like and appreciate the fast ones...
But how am I going to help change the look of America (and my own NOVA team) if I don't keep an eye out for and recruit adults who need us even more than they know?
Swimming like we do is a real priviledge. I'm pretty sure we are meant to share the "health".
Thanks for writing on the thread.
Ahelee
HEY - I'm so stoked... swimmers actually responded to my thread in the forum!
I posted this thread for a few reasons.
#1 - Are there USMS swimmers who swim in the lap swim lanes when there is a masters team training in their home town or even their aquatic center? And why do they choose to go it alone?
#2 - We know there lap swimmers training on their own, who are not USMS members. Are they reading this forum? Do they even know about it?
#3 - Are masters coaches and swimmers scouring the lap swim lanes looking for potential new members and team mates?
Do these US Masters representatives know how to "pitch masters swimming"?
#4 - Do the masters teams have at least one coach on staff who is patient enough and enthusiastic about coaching novice swimmers?
#5 - The SPMA Registrar pointed out to me recently that "UNATTACHED" is often one of the largest teams entered in swim meets.
Do these unattached swimmers know about this Discussion Forum as one of the best resources for coaching, swim practices, and various swim advice?
When I used to work for Swimmer Magazine and various other sports publications, all the big swim companies were my clients.
These companies were pretty confident that they had us sold (the hardcore training swimmers) already.
What they were most interested in, was how to reach all the elusive Fitness & Lap Swimmers!
As publishers, we had all the stats. We knew (do you know?) that swimming is the #2 sport in the nation next to walking.
But the fitness and lap swimmers are next to invisible because they are swimming in public & private lap-swim lanes, back yard & community pools - and buying their swim suits at generic Big 5 type sporting goods. They are not members of USMS, yet.
At the moment, our USMS numbers are relatively puny when one considers the huge numbers of adult fitness swimmers in the USA. Looks like we have an opportunity to help make that change with our new Exec. Dir. and USMS committees newly energized.
I'm always on the watch for a potential new USMS member - no matter how fast or novice.
I do especially like and appreciate the fast ones...
But how am I going to help change the look of America (and my own NOVA team) if I don't keep an eye out for and recruit adults who need us even more than they know?
Swimming like we do is a real priviledge. I'm pretty sure we are meant to share the "health".
Thanks for writing on the thread.
Ahelee
