I'm always interested in hearing about the USMS demographics, but I couldn't find any information on USMS and college swimming. I was wondering roughly what percentage of US Masters swimmers swam in college and at what level. I also wanted to hear from you where you went, when, and what you loved / hated most about college swimming.
As a new master's swimmer who has never competed, I am a bit surprised at the poll also (poll would indicate that I'm really in the minority). The day I visited the local Master's workout group & met the coach, literally the first words out of his mouth were "only about a quarter of members ever competed, many people who swam when young got burned out, and now do something else"
I don't recall being asked when joining USMS my swimming experience, so I wonder what the real numbers are. I think the members on the USMS blogs take it seriously (that's why they're on it :)) and therefore much more likely to have swam HS, college, or age group than perhaps the general USMS membership. Just my :2cents:.
Exactly why I was curious. I figured alot of the regulars on this board were college swimmers or at least pretty good high schoolers or age groupers. However, I am a bit surprised that people are saying that such small percentages of their masters team members have ever competed at any level. Out of the roughly 40 or so swimmers that we have, I would guess 1 or 2 have never swam competitively at any level. Perhaps some of these teams are made up largely of triathletes that do not consider themselves as competitive swimmers?
As a new master's swimmer who has never competed, I am a bit surprised at the poll also (poll would indicate that I'm really in the minority). The day I visited the local Master's workout group & met the coach, literally the first words out of his mouth were "only about a quarter of members ever competed, many people who swam when young got burned out, and now do something else"
I don't recall being asked when joining USMS my swimming experience, so I wonder what the real numbers are. I think the members on the USMS blogs take it seriously (that's why they're on it :)) and therefore much more likely to have swam HS, college, or age group than perhaps the general USMS membership. Just my :2cents:.
Exactly why I was curious. I figured alot of the regulars on this board were college swimmers or at least pretty good high schoolers or age groupers. However, I am a bit surprised that people are saying that such small percentages of their masters team members have ever competed at any level. Out of the roughly 40 or so swimmers that we have, I would guess 1 or 2 have never swam competitively at any level. Perhaps some of these teams are made up largely of triathletes that do not consider themselves as competitive swimmers?
