How much do you pay to swim?

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

knelson — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:22:39 GMT

This is very similar to what the Seattle Parks pools do. For lap swims the cost is $4 per session. For masters and other fitness classes, $5. You can pay cash or buy a swipe card where the per session cost is slightly discounted (I think you pay $45 for 10 swims). You can also get an unlimited monthly pass for $50. These pools can also be rented for $65/hour. Of course all the prime hours are already taken.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Muppet — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:36:23 GMT

Kirk, Our team, also at a university (Maryland-College Park), has a glorified punch-card system - we use magnetic swipe cards linked into the facility's entry system. We purchase 15 swims at a time, and one swim is debited every time you walk through the turnstiles and have your card swiped. $5.25 per swim for a non-student/non-member of the facility. We are run as somewhat a joint venture between the team and Campus Recreation Services, who runs the recreation facilities at Maryland... we pay our swipe card fees to CRS and they hire coaches, work out pool space, etc., and then we manage our own meets, gear, website, etc. For the record, our membership probably averages 2-3 workouts per week, so between $40 and $60 per month. Personally, I'm usually renewing my swipe card on a monthly basis.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Former Member — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:04:49 GMT

Yearly pool fee of $180.00 Monthly fee $55 (receive a discount if paid 6 mos in advance/bigger discount if paid a year in advance) 4 pools available with coached workouts workouts offered Mon thru Fri mornings for 90 minutes and an hour on Sat and Sun mornings also one hour evening workouts available twice a week during summer, coached open water swimming workouts also must have current USMS membership

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

swimcat — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:10:28 GMT

i pay $75. a month coached. lap swim is 50 i think unlimited. we have no evening workout, no gym and limited morning practice. 2 or 3 week. if he wasnt worth it, i would have walked by now:)

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

loree — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:41:00 GMT

Is $80/hr for pool rental the going rate in your area? And how many swimmers do you/did you have before the unfortunate dropping of the UW team (is there enough base to sustain the higher fees)? And what is the rate of the masters teams in your area? I think you really need to look at all of these things too -- you don't want to price yourself out of the market. I agree w/ pp that said maybe you'll need to rebuild the team using volunteer coaches/team members for awhile to save on costs. And maybe only start w/ 2-3 days/week and build from there. Oh -- and I know pool space/time in your area is like gold -- but is there anywhere else that may give you a better rate for pool rental??? Or can you join forces w/ another team temporarily & share coaching & pool time???? So sorry that you are in this situation -- I'm very familiar with your old pool!!! I swam w/ Husky Masters a *very* long time ago and am a UW swimming alum.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

knelson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:33:46 GMT

BTW, KNelson - Go Green! (I thought I read on here you went to MSU). You are correct, sir!

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Former Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:10:18 GMT

I recently joined a top notch health club for $150/month family membership, almost twice what I was paying at the Y, but it's a dream. No more 85 degree water, noodlers and all the crap I put up with for years. I've got multiple pools, indoors, outdoors, always a free lane plus all the other facilties. Hopefully I don't get laid off soon. There are Masters workouts with coach 4 nights a week (free with membership) but I haven't been able to fit it in much with my schedule. BTW, KNelson - Go Green! (I thought I read on here you went to MSU).

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Tim L — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:04:39 GMT

Since your group does not require USMS registration, it is perhaps a semi-organized group lap swimmers? Maybe some even compete in meets and so are registered with USMS. Demonstrating that this model or arrangement can also be quite successful since it answers the needs of the members. No,we are a team and fairly organized. Probably 25% of the swimmers are registered with USMS to swim meets or open water swims. We are no MVN, but our model is probably the only one that would work in our location. Tim

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

orca1946 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:53:45 GMT

Depending on the # of coaches, time with each swimmer at every practice will be limited.I work at trying to talk with each , but know there is always someone I miss.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Former Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:20:09 GMT

Here 150 a year, swim as much as you want if there is room... Not the best pool though but it does fine.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Former Member — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:27:13 GMT

Were at $48 per month, $460 annually. We have 10 coached workouts and 3 non coached workout times per week. This price has been steady for around 9 or 10 years however we have been reduced from 15 to 10 coached workouts per week. And recently the varsity swim team went to closed practices, in the past there were always a couple of lap lanes available even during there workouts which allowed a extended warm down etc., which for many workouts we can no longer do. We do have a professional paid coaching staff. recreation.du.edu/.../

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:48:35 GMT

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.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

knelson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:44:28 GMT

The swim facility is only about 7 or 8 years old. Ours is 70 years old!

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

knelson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:22:14 GMT

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Tim L — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:59:14 GMT

Annual masters swim pass is $375. One workout per day 7 days a week (mornings only). The coaches swim with us, but are pretty attentive to technique especially with the less experienced swimmers. I think you can also get a annual pass to the recreation centers for our district for $350 per year and then pay another $100 on top of that and get masters too. The swim facility is only about 7 or 8 years old. Pretty good deal for $375 or $450 per year and we never or very rarely have more than 2 or 3 swimmers to a lane. USMS membership is not required since facility has insurance and it is a facility sponsored team. We have lots of triathletes and open water swimmers. Tim

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

jessicafk11 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:56:56 GMT

I currently pay about $50 a month for a full membership to the pool that I swim at. It's a bit higher because I don't live in the town it is in. I am looking to start practicing with a team as well and the one I am going to check out first charges $200 for a semester, $60 for 4 weeks, or $10 for drop in and they offer 5 practices a week.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

knelson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:54:09 GMT

You might be surprised to hear that there are many masters swim clubs out there - and very large clubs, who do not pay a cent for pool or lane rental. I am surprised, especially in this economic climate. Pool are just giving away time? In this area we are struggling to even keep the pools open due to budget crunches. Municipalities are definitely doing everything they can to bring cashflow in to run the pools. It must be a difficult balance. Pools need money to run, but they have to charge a price that groups are willing to pay. The pool sitting there with the pumps and heater running, but no one swimming, isn't doing anyone any good.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

knelson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:50:02 GMT

First - I think you need to cut it to 60 min workouts. Will not add any members by offering a 90 min workout and it's obviously cheaper. 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!

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

jgale — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:27:26 GMT

I have experience with two different masters groups in our area. One is run by the municipalitycosts $4.50 per session inclusive of pool time. During the indoor season, we have three coached sessions per week on Tues/Thurs/Sat. In the summer, we have access to an outdoor pool and have 5 coached sessions (Mon-Fri). I have also swum with group in the area. Total fees are $6.00 with $3 going to the municipality for the pool and $3 to the coach. We have three coached sessions per week (Tues/Thurs/Sat). Lap swimming runs between $3 and $5 dollars at local municipal pools. The Y runs about $54 per month with two facilities in the area and pretty good hours Mon - Sunday.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

swimshark — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:47:28 GMT

Yeah, MVN is a great deal and it's a nice pool. Maybe I should just move to Orange County :) We're looking at paying around $80/hour just to rent the pool then we'll need to pay a coach on top of that. So for a 90 minute workout the total cost will be somewhere around $150. It's a six-lane pool, so with four to a lane that's $6.25 per person. Based on this I'm concluding that many teams must pay much, much less to rent their pools! Kirk, I know our main pool a few years ago charged $14 per hour per lane. I'm sure it's gone up to at least $18 now. So My team rents 5 lanes for 90 min $135 per morning session (based on $18 guess). That's just for the pool. Then we have 2 coaches on deck. This is for my age group team but would apply to the masters team that practices there as well.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

fatboy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:15:13 GMT

We must join the park district for $ 195 / yr ,then it's $35 for the team. Our coach does not take any pay. I collect from the team for a gift at the end of the season. Same team as OZ. We have three coached workouts of 90 minutes each week - Mon & Wed Night and Sun Morning. There is sometimes an additional informal workout on Friday mornings coached by one of the team members. Since we have a membership we can also swim on our own anytime there is lap swimming.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:47:56 GMT

You might be right about the energy and success from coaching on deck, but our group is small and probably not going to grow significantly no matter how much horsepower and enthusiasm you put on deck. Such an investment would make no sense for the facility. I have swam with a few other masters clubs on occasion with deck coaches who were a whole lot less involved than our in-water coaches so I will take our arrangement any day. I don't understand the safety issue because there is a lifeguard on duty. Tim Its always a shame when a paid masters coach is not attentive during workouts lowering the level of respect for coaches in general. But this is discussed on many other forum threads and unfortunately continues in all size clubs. I believe the arrangement that you are describing is referred to by USMS as a "Workout Group" rather than a Masters Swim Club. Since your group does not require USMS registration, it is perhaps a semi-organized group lap swimmers? Maybe some even compete in meets and so are registered with USMS. Demonstrating that this model or arrangement can also be quite successful since it answers the needs of the members.

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Former Member — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:08:25 GMT

So for a 90 minute workout the total cost will be somewhere around $150. It's a six-lane pool, so with four to a lane that's $6.25 per person. Based on this I'm concluding that many teams must pay much, much less to rent their pools! First - I think you need to cut it to 60 min workouts. Will not add any members by offering a 90 min workout and it's obviously cheaper. Then - you need to look at it based on membership, not per workout. $100 per workout - let's say 60 workouts a month (2 per day) - you need at least 100 members to make it work. SCAQ (So Cal Aquatics) - I think dues are $65 / 8 pools / 64 workouts per week

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

Tim L — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:10:47 GMT

The coaches swim with us, but are pretty attentive to technique especially with the less experienced swimmers. 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. You might be right about the energy and success from coaching on deck, but our group is small and probably not going to grow significantly no matter how much horsepower and enthusiasm you put on deck. Such an investment would make no sense for the facility. I have swam with a few other masters clubs on occasion with deck coaches who were a whole lot less involved than our in-water coaches so I will take our arrangement any day. I don't understand the safety issue because there is a lifeguard on duty. Kirk, I swam in a really old facility in college (water coming into the pool was often rust colored) and an old hotel pool in high school so I completely understand. Our current underutilized pleasure palace is almost too good to be true for me and close to the house too. Thank you taxpayers! Tim

RE: How much do you pay to swim?

knelson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:29:28 GMT

For a lot of people, 90 min. is more time than they can or want to commit to a swim practice. True. Typically the numbers started dwindling after the hour mark. Sometimes by the end of practice just the fastest couple lanes would still be well populated. But, IMO anyway, this works well. People know they are free to get out when they need to or have had enough, but those who wish to stay in can. I guess the question now is whether the additional 30 minutes is worth the extra money.