I'm curious how much everyone pays to swim on a monthly basis. The team I used to swim with had to stop due to the University of Washington swim team being cut. We were getting both our pool time and coaches from them. However, the pool is still operating, but now under the intramural department. We're trying to regroup and rent the pool from them, but may need to revise the fee structure.
I'll put up a poll in case anyone wishes to remain anonymous, but I'd really like to know how much you pay per month and how many practice sessions per week that amount gives you access to. Also, please mention if there are any one-time or annual fees to be a member of the team, etc. Another useful piece of info would be how much your pool rental is, if you know. Thanks for your help!
I don't think an hour is long enough, but this is certainly an option if that's the only way to make the $ numbers work, I suppose.
I agree with what you said about membership. In the past the number of swimmers we've had in the pool can vary widely from day-to-day. On Mondays we'd sometimes have six to a lane, then later in the week it could be two per lane. If people are paying a flat rate per month this variation doesn't matter.
In our discussions someone suggested having a punch card option where you pay, say, $50 for a ten workout card. I think this is a good idea to get some people who might not attend enough workouts per month to want to pony up the full membership amount, but, on the other hand, the punch card should be expensive enough to discourage the regulars from choosing this option.
Thanks for all the responses so far, everyone. This is good info!
Kirk, you are trying to save your masters swim club.
Your swimmers need to understand they are supporting this effort and unite to make it happen. Perhaps once you establish the club again and start building the numbers, you can offer something back to these original members for their initial investment.
Lots of clubs rely on and are profitable due to what we call "sponsor swimmers" - they pay dues but don't swim much or at all. Similar to most health club memberships.
Personally, I am against this practice and remind a swimmer of their sponsor status when I see them on deck!
The coaches swim with us, but are pretty attentive to technique especially with the less experienced swimmers.(Tim L)
It does seem that this is an arrangement by necessity for some clubs but it is not ideal for safety, actual coaching or team building.
Questionaires, feedback, and actual experience show that the efforts of the coach and namely the coach on deck drives the energy and success of the program.
Get creative and try to keep an enthusiastic coach on deck if at all possible.
I don't think an hour is long enough, but this is certainly an option if that's the only way to make the $ numbers work, I suppose.
I agree with what you said about membership. In the past the number of swimmers we've had in the pool can vary widely from day-to-day. On Mondays we'd sometimes have six to a lane, then later in the week it could be two per lane. If people are paying a flat rate per month this variation doesn't matter.
In our discussions someone suggested having a punch card option where you pay, say, $50 for a ten workout card. I think this is a good idea to get some people who might not attend enough workouts per month to want to pony up the full membership amount, but, on the other hand, the punch card should be expensive enough to discourage the regulars from choosing this option.
Thanks for all the responses so far, everyone. This is good info!
Kirk, you are trying to save your masters swim club.
Your swimmers need to understand they are supporting this effort and unite to make it happen. Perhaps once you establish the club again and start building the numbers, you can offer something back to these original members for their initial investment.
Lots of clubs rely on and are profitable due to what we call "sponsor swimmers" - they pay dues but don't swim much or at all. Similar to most health club memberships.
Personally, I am against this practice and remind a swimmer of their sponsor status when I see them on deck!
The coaches swim with us, but are pretty attentive to technique especially with the less experienced swimmers.(Tim L)
It does seem that this is an arrangement by necessity for some clubs but it is not ideal for safety, actual coaching or team building.
Questionaires, feedback, and actual experience show that the efforts of the coach and namely the coach on deck drives the energy and success of the program.
Get creative and try to keep an enthusiastic coach on deck if at all possible.
