I want to sponsor some local seniors meets for non-elite senior swimmers. How would I do that?
Many seniors serious swimmers, but have just begun swimming in their elder years. We are still good swimmers, better than most teenage recreational swimmers, but do not have the decades of experience necessary to be included in Master's meets. I got denied to race because of my slow time, relative to the experienced seniors in the race. Former olympic and national collegiate swimmers lap me. Ok. But the seniors I swim with could still outswim many of the local highschool swimmers. There is no place for us in meets however due to administrative overload and lack of lanes. I would love to sponsor some fun races for seniors in my local area. It would give us motivation to:
• Train harder and more confidently
• Enjoy the shared experience of swimming together
And frankly… seniors love fins and snorkels so I would include those in some fun events.
How would I start a senior Master team in my area in order to provide an opportunity to pool our resources, support one another, and gain the confidence to participate in swim races—primarily for fun, and occasionally for ranking?
The Current Problem for Seniors at Master’s Meets?
Without a senior-focused local team, we currently have very limited opportunities for meaningful competitive swimming or spectator camaraderie at meets.
1. Masters Meets Are Not Truly Senior-Focused
USMS Masters meets technically include 55+ age groups on paper (55–59, 60–64, 65–69, etc.), but in practice:
• Heats are combined with swimmers of many different ages
• Men and women may swim together in the same heat
• Seniors often feel pushed to the side in huge events
• Fun events are often missing due to time constraints
This is administratively understandable, but seniors do not receive a true senior-centered racing experience. It seems that only seniors with decades of competition experience are included in meets.
2. Qualifying Standards Can Be Unrealistic
Qualifying times for many Masters meets are unrealistic for anyone but highly experienced competitors. Unexperienced local seniors would benefit tremendously from being able to compete at our own level, but opportunities are limited—especially without a team presence.
3. Competing Alone Is Intimidating
While individuals can attend Masters meets unattached, it is very intimidating to do so alone—especially if:
• You are not nationally ranked
• Your times are slower compared to senior swimmers with decades of competition experience
• Space and time constraints bump slower swimmers
I was not allowed to compete in the last meet I registered for a Masters race due to my relatively slow time. This was very discouraging, because I can swim a 100 IM without being disqualified at 67, and I have come back to swimming in my elder years, and have trained for 3 years. 1 minute 40 seconds is good for me right now, but I can get better if I am motivated by future racing. Right now, there are no opportunities. For the record, I am faster than some of the teens and college age people in the pool and many could never even make it through the 100 IM.
4. Seniors Cannot Compete Equally With Younger Athletes
We are good swimmers—often more fit than the general public—but seniors cannot realistically compete with younger swimmers due to age, especially octogenarians. Swimming is extremely beneficial for us, and a team would provide encouragement, fun, and motivation. Race training provides even more motivation and fun.
5. Senior Swimming Opportunities Are Limited in the U.S.
In England, there are more meet opportunities geared toward seniors. In the U.S., this type of senior-specific swimming is very limited. We want to race within our age group, not in mixed-age heats.
That’s fun.
What Novice Seniors Want
We want to:
• Race locally with swimmers in our appropriate age and gender group
• Have senior-accessible meets
• Include “fun events” using fins and snorkels
Am I wrong?
