what goes on at a 'masters swim'?

It depends on the Masters group -- at my pool, they are mostly all ex Division 1 swimmers, and do things like: 5 x 200 on 3:00 minutes. At my friend's pool, it's more like a learn-to-swim program.

Generally it's a coached swim practice, but the ability of the swimmers differs from pool to pool !

...and lane to lane.

Also, lion to lion.

Edited by Slidell4life 2010-09-01 6:46 PM






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A great place to meet people if you're single.

Seriously though, I learned to swim through a masters program. Could only swim a length when I started.

Edited by peby 2010-09-01 6:53 PM

...and why is it called "masters"?

It simply means "older than college".

All different types on my team.  Everyone from former college swimmers to guys like me that just started swimming a year ago.  Every age too from 25 to 78 in my group.  Workouts are different each week and sometimes different for the caliber of swimmer.  There is always coaching from a former D1 swimmer and also a former world champion.  Plenty of drills and also plenty of intervals each week.   

Its sounding much less scary. If I just call it "older than college" instead of masters, I might be able to work up the guts to go!

Thanks y'all.

I just moved to an area that has Masters swim, and lots of opportunities for it.  There are several lanes at my pool and the super fasties are on one end in lanes, and I'm on the other, haha! The coaches have different workouts for the different speeds and swimmers of similar ability will be put in lanes with each other and work off a shared "base" pace.  It always amazes me how the fasties will have a MUCH larger set than those of us on "my end" of the pool, and yet still finish before me.    But it's good, and swimming with others seems to help me push harder.

My masters class is very mellow.  Some former HS swimmers, but nothing D1 caliber.  Lots of newbies that can't even swim 100 yards...which is exactly how I was when I started.

My class usually has 2 coaches.  One who works with the newer folks and gives more instruction and drills.  You may only swim 500-800 yards in one hour because you are getting so much coaching.  Then the rest of the group is led by the other coach and you just keep swimming what he tells you to.  Less coaching, more swimming.

I'm sure other pools or classes may vary...but given the people that show up to our class, it works for everyone.  I'm sure if it was all ex HS and college swimmers, they would run the class much differently.

I can't afford the fees right now (plus I go to school where the pool the program swims is at so I can swim for free) but I just had the discussion about the program with my fiancé. Wow! He was dead set against it. Didn't see the sense in paying for lessons when I already know how to swim. It really is a moot point since I can swim decently and I am going for my first sprint tri next summer (just want to finish for now) but if I decide I want to train to place I thought it might be good. Gonna be an interesting discussion if/when the time comes!

My masters classes are similar to above.  Coach puts out a workout for each lane.  Typically the workout is set up in 4 groups.  Everyone does the same time but different distances (faster groups do more distance for a set).   Coach doesnt worry too much about putting different speed swimmers in lanes unless we have to circle swim.  At first I couldn't finish sets let alone the entire workout.  Now when they do 12x25 on the :30 I can finish (albeit I am rolling in around 22 seconds and am usually the last person). 

Masters definitely pushes me harder then if I went on my own.  Not getting dropped during sets is a goal of mine that I finally have made.

the masters swim class i go to, everyone does the same workout, whether your slow or fast. Those that are faster just finish sooner and get out of the pool before those who are slower. Usually all workouts are like 3000-3500yds per workout and usually the slowest are done within around an hour or an hour 15min. there are different lanes for different speeds from 1:50/100 to less than 1:30/100 and even faster.  There are not many new people because I believe the coach who runs it makes sure you can keep up or you possibly cant join. I'm not totally sure. I dont see many new people sucking water or stopping every few hundred yds.  When i joined the coach watchs you to make sure you can keep up with everyone in your lane. The masters class is free and part of the gym membership which is nice. 

My masters is mostly divided up by lanes. Everyone does mostly the same workout just on different intervals. For instance 3x200 on 2:30/3:00/3:30/4:00/4:30 kind of thing.

Joining the masters swim group was the best athletic decision I've ever made.  When I was swimming on my own, I used to swim about 400 yards total with lots of rest.  On my first masters swim, I swam 1800 yards.  It's awesome!  My coach provides tips on stroke and gives me drills to do.  My swimming has improved dramatically in just a few weeks.  I'm not a great swimmer, but I'm not the worst in the group.  There are some really good swimmers and some not-so-good swimmers, like me

Mostly this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTFe9Et7B5w/>
with result in this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31LnzqYCWlA&feature=related

Edited by ex-buzz 2010-09-02 3:47 AM

i get the idea of different abilities in different lanes and having a workout posted.  do most coaches in these programs help the newer people with technique?  what i mean by technique is analze and correct flaws in the stroke/breathing or do they just provide drills?

X2.  My coach pushes me harder than I would ever do on my own.  He varies workouts so we can practice of stroke, speed and endurance.  An additional benefit is the group of people I have become friendly with.  It's how I got introduced to the triathlon world.

I think the coaching you get varies by masters group.  Our coaches will generally give you pointers here and there to correct stroke/breathing flaws, but no great attention to technique and analysis on an ongoing basis.  They have 20-40 people to watch on any given day, so I guess time can be limited.  On Wednesdays, we typically work on drills, which helps with technique.  The other days, we may or may not have a drill set.

I've thought about supplementing with a few in depth lessons and analysis of my technique in a few one on one lessons.

Also, I started not being able to swim 50 yards, and in the starter lane.  I've built up to 2500 - 3500 sets and moved up a couple of lanes.  I would always recommend the masters classes to people, as they can be a good training tool.  We have former div 1 swimmers to starters in our masters group and you can learn a lot just by watching the better swimmers.

 

'cause that sounds better than Geezer Swim?  ;-)

Like Pilot said (I swim at a different masters class in the same city).

We have lots of ex-D1 racers. Some are still studs. We have lots of folks who just like to swim. We have some folks who are learning to swim.

We have 5-6 lanes dedicated to masters. We have 2 coaches. One is an intensity coach, the other distance. So, we get a varying set of workouts.

Everyone does the same workouts, but the paces are different based on lanes and times. We have "timed events" every so often to make sure we're in the right lane, to make sure we're improving, and to see how everyone is doing.

Typical sets range from 3800-6000yrds. Depending on who's coaching and they all include warmups, pulls, kicks, drills, a main set, and a cool down. Swim what you can, leave when you have to, and try to get the most out of it. We go from 5-6:30. Some leave at 6, some stay till 7.

And yes, the slower lanes (#1-2) the coach does more technique work, and critique than the other lanes. If you ask him to watch something or keep an eye on something he will. Good learning tool and opportunity.

Brittany, didn't realize you moved out of Texas.  Enjoy Cali and the nicer weather!!