The State of Master Swimming.

I've been told that there are very few USMS members who actually take part in this forum. Reading and or posting. That might be true, but I think it is still a pretty good sampling of our USMS membership. Haggling over swim meet fees and rules doesn't address bringing a lot of new USMS members. The issue of whether or not the cost is free or $40.+ comes up in my friend's proposal only because there are potential members who have no understanding yet of all the terrific value and benefits USMS has to offer. And in some cases, they will never know or listen to a pitch until they join and see for themselves. Many have spent years: - in lap swim lanes - training on their own for triathlons - thinking about getting into a swim program - trying to recover from an injury - lonely and looking for active companionship - considering coming back to a sport left years ago - without motivation or self-esteem to begin alone ETC... I think a lot of masters coaches will understand what we're talking about here. Some of us swim or have swum in masters programs as members of USMS for years. I've been here for nearly 30 years. We can't see the big deal about any cost or fee because we have experienced the good stuff. Maybe you were one of those swimmers who were forced to join USMS to swim on your club. Or maybe you just thought "oh what the heck, $40. bucks is no big deal" and just signed up. GREAT! But it is not the case for all. Think outside the box - outside of your own situation. Consider a swimmer in the lap lanes who is perfectly happy there, but isn't all that comfortable swimming. He would like to attend a clinic to learn how to smooth out his stroke and breathe easier but has no idea such a thing even exists. With a free USMS membership, he receives a regular swim information email. He is invited to attend a paid swim clinic one weekend. His stroke is transformed. He can breathe and swim further without stopping so often. Suddenly swimming with that masters club on the other side of the pool seems possible like never before. I think there are thousands of lap swimmers out there like this guy. And I am surprised every day that USMS isn't over at least 100,000 members. For me, it's the beyond the best coached fitness opportunity available. But I sell it every day as a coach and a swimmer, so I know what we're dealing with recruiting new members. My friend thinks this idea would give USMS not 100,000 members, but 500,000. That would sure make me happy.

I've been told that there are very few USMS members who actually take part in this forum. Reading and or posting. That might be true, but I think it is still a pretty good sampling of our USMS membership. Haggling over swim meet fees and rules doesn't address bringing a lot of new USMS members. The issue of whether or not the cost is free or $40.+ comes up in my friend's proposal only because there are potential members who have no understanding yet of all the terrific value and benefits USMS has to offer. And in some cases, they will never know or listen to a pitch until they join and see for themselves. Many have spent years: - in lap swim lanes - training on their own for triathlons - thinking about getting into a swim program - trying to recover from an injury - lonely and looking for active companionship - considering coming back to a sport left years ago - without motivation or self-esteem to begin alone ETC... I think a lot of masters coaches will understand what we're talking about here. Some of us swim or have swum in masters programs as members of USMS for years. I've been here for nearly 30 years. We can't see the big deal about any cost or fee because we have experienced the good stuff. Maybe you were one of those swimmers who were forced to join USMS to swim on your club. Or maybe you just thought "oh what the heck, $40. bucks is no big deal" and just signed up. GREAT! But it is not the case for all. Think outside the box - outside of your own situation. Consider a swimmer in the lap lanes who is perfectly happy there, but isn't all that comfortable swimming. He would like to attend a clinic to learn how to smooth out his stroke and breathe easier but has no idea such a thing even exists. With a free USMS membership, he receives a regular swim information email. He is invited to attend a paid swim clinic one weekend. His stroke is transformed. He can breathe and swim further without stopping so often. Suddenly swimming with that masters club on the other side of the pool seems possible like never before. I think there are thousands of lap swimmers out there like this guy. And I am surprised every day that USMS isn't over at least 100,000 members. For me, it's the beyond the best coached fitness opportunity available. But I sell it every day as a coach and a swimmer, so I know what we're dealing with recruiting new members. My friend thinks this idea would give USMS not 100,000 members, but 500,000. That would sure make me happy.