The State of Master Swimming.

Most programs already allow a "free" tryout period of a week, give or take. And, USMS allows 30 days "free" membership to start out with so I am having difficulty understanding why they aren't flocking to the existing programs already. So... what exactly is happening in those first free days training at the club? In general that is. Not asking about the great clubs with motivated coaches who send welcome material, offer 101 Clinics and have open welcoming swimmers in the lanes. What if the new swimmer shows up to a club where swimmers split lanes and they get angry they now have to circle swim because of the new guy? What if the coach or coaches never ask the new swimmer about their reason for swimming or goals set in joining the club? The only way for a program offering Free USMS Membership to work is if masters coaches who want to build their clubs, step up their game - A LOT. This is a small piece of an email I received from my friend laying out his idea: "THE LAP SWIMMERS - FREE USMS membership! We go after every adult possible. They get weekly swim newsletters on tips from coaches across the USA. Coaches and USMS experts should fall all over themselves to do this. This new data base would be 500k lap swimmers in half a year if marketed well. You ask me how: Go after USMS clubs to do the work (they benefit!!!) Groups and Associations: Every USA Tri FREE! Every USA-S alumni FREE! Every USA-S Parent FREE! Every former USMS FREE! Every Cyclist/Runner in their associations FREE! Every Parks & Rec person in the Nat association FREE (and they get literature to get it to their pools) Offer it to AARP FREE! College Coaches Assoc. and their Alumni FREE. USA High Schools coaches and their alumni FREE! City Colleges FREE! YMCA swimmers FREE! Jewish Community Centers (one former swimmer is CEO – now in NY). Give each and every Masters team and swimmers the means to market and spread the word that it is FREE!!! FREE workouts, tips and swimming news." I still say free is good, especially for 1st year members.

Most programs already allow a "free" tryout period of a week, give or take. And, USMS allows 30 days "free" membership to start out with so I am having difficulty understanding why they aren't flocking to the existing programs already. So... what exactly is happening in those first free days training at the club? In general that is. Not asking about the great clubs with motivated coaches who send welcome material, offer 101 Clinics and have open welcoming swimmers in the lanes. What if the new swimmer shows up to a club where swimmers split lanes and they get angry they now have to circle swim because of the new guy? What if the coach or coaches never ask the new swimmer about their reason for swimming or goals set in joining the club? The only way for a program offering Free USMS Membership to work is if masters coaches who want to build their clubs, step up their game - A LOT. This is a small piece of an email I received from my friend laying out his idea: "THE LAP SWIMMERS - FREE USMS membership! We go after every adult possible. They get weekly swim newsletters on tips from coaches across the USA. Coaches and USMS experts should fall all over themselves to do this. This new data base would be 500k lap swimmers in half a year if marketed well. You ask me how: Go after USMS clubs to do the work (they benefit!!!) Groups and Associations: Every USA Tri FREE! Every USA-S alumni FREE! Every USA-S Parent FREE! Every former USMS FREE! Every Cyclist/Runner in their associations FREE! Every Parks & Rec person in the Nat association FREE (and they get literature to get it to their pools) Offer it to AARP FREE! College Coaches Assoc. and their Alumni FREE. USA High Schools coaches and their alumni FREE! City Colleges FREE! YMCA swimmers FREE! Jewish Community Centers (one former swimmer is CEO – now in NY). Give each and every Masters team and swimmers the means to market and spread the word that it is FREE!!! FREE workouts, tips and swimming news." I still say free is good, especially for 1st year members.