United States Masters Swimming

Masters swimming is an organized program of swimming for adults. U.S. Masters Swimming, founded in 1970, is a nonprofit membership national governing body. The program began when the first National Masters Swimming Championships were held on May 2, 1970 at the Amarillo Aquatic Club pool. Captain Ransom J. Arthur, M.D., a San Diego Navy doctor, had persuaded John Spannuth, President of American Swimming Coaches Association, that the event would give older swimmers (ex-competitors and beginners) a goal for keeping physically fit. Arthur's mission of encouraging adults to improve fitness through swimming has grown over the years into a nationwide organization that currently includes more than 60,000 adult swimmers.^[1]

Members participate in a variety of ways ranging from lap swimming to international competition. The program is organized by USMS, which provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics, and workshops for adults aged 18 and over. Programs are open to all adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, noncompetitive) who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming. In order for swimmers to be eligible for USMS competition, they must sign up with USMS and obtain a membership card for a fee, which is dependent upon location.^[1]

Competition

Although there are more than 500 local and regional competitions around the country that are available for Masters swimmers to participate in, less than half of the members compete in these meets. However, for those that do, there are a variety of events to choose from including pool meets, ePostal swims, and open water swims. Two national championship pool meets are held each year, which help to determine the USMS Top 10—the top 10 fastest times in the nation in pool meets that are sanctioned or recognized by USMS during the current season and is organized by age, sex and course. The swimmer with the fastest time in the USMS Top 10 in each age group, event, and course, plus the age group winners of the long distance events are further named to the All-American list. In each age group, the swimmer with the most All-American titles is named an All-Star. All of the results from the competitions, as well as a record of the USMS Top 10, All-Americans and the All-Stars are recorded and maintained on the web in the USMS Archives.^[1]

Training

Training is a large aspect of USMS, which is fortunate enough to have a variety of coaches with experience and expertise on swimming. However, not all USMS members train with a Masters swim team or have a USMS organization in their area. With this in mind, USMS.org created an archive of tools on their website to give their members all of the information they need to train on their own. The website includes training tips, stroke technique tips, nutrition tips, motivation techniques, and many other bits of information that are useful for the competitive swimming community.

Core objectives

In 2003, the USMS created their Core Objectives of Educate, Serve and Build the membership. To stand by these core objectives, the USMS SWIMMER magazine was created and provides education about the sport through featured stories, training and technique tips, health advice and equipment reviews.^[2] Another way the organization lives by these objectives is by serving their members through the Oral History project. Oral History provides a chance for any one to give honor to a Masters Swimmer who has in some significant way made an impact on the sport, on a local team, or on a particular person. This is not necessarily one of our elite swimmers - in fact, it is geared more to those who have "labored in the fields" and changed some aspect of Masters Swimming for the better.^[3] " Lastly, they build their membership by creating a growing national presence as seen from a plethora of News Releases found on USMS.org/news/.

See also

• June Krauser, "mother" of U.S. Masters Swimming
• Masters swimming
• Swimming pool#Competition pools
• United States Aquatic Sports

Notes

External links

• USMS Home Page

Swimming in the United States General USA Swimming US Masters Swimming Records Swimmers Coaches Venues Meets Championships Nationals Spring Nationals Short Course Nationals U.S. Open Trials Olympic Trials College Men's NCAA Women's NCAA Women's AIAW