Q. Do I need to know how to swim?
A. While you will be taught drills and be provided with feedback to improve and perfect efficient stroke technique (as well as starts and turns) in our program, you should be comfortable with the four competitive strokes (free, back, breast, fly).
Q. Am I expected to attend meets?
A. As we are a competitive swim club, we expect everyone to attend at least 1-2 meets each season. Meets are fun!! and help you gauge your progress as well as introduce you to the wonderful world of Masters swimming. Most meets are very low-key and you compete in heats against swimmers of similar ability. Socials after the meets are common where swimmers get to meet members from other clubs and enjoy light food & refreshments courtesy of the hosting club.
There are several sprint meets with races of only 25 and 50 metres. These are a great introduction to Masters swimming for those who are new to competitive swimming.
Most meets last about four hours and start mid-morning and many of our swimmers carpool to the meets. One of the best parts of being on a team is the camaraderie that develops when traveling to meets and socializing afterwards. It's also great fun to be on relays with teammates! The more people who come to meets, the more relays we can enter! And everyone makes points!
Participating in a meet also qualifies you for priority registration for the next session and/or to be placed at the top of the list for changing your workout schedule.
Q. Do you have a workout for triathletes?
A. We do not plan special workouts for triathletes. As all swimmers need stroke work and as an all-stroke swim program, our training regime will benefit triathletes to gain strength and efficiency that will benefit performance in their sport. In the summer, our workouts do tend to include more long distance sets which many triathletes will find useful. You'll also find a group of swimmers who train in the open water in preparation for lake and ocean races.
Q. What age do you allow to swim with your group?
A. Swimmers MUST turn 18 years old before the end of the current year to join Masters.
Q. What equipment is necessary?
A. We encourage all members to wear a form-fitting suit designed for swim training. You should plan to bring your own equipment as well. Please bring a kickboard, pullbuoy, fins, and paddles as they are often used in workout sets.
Q. What is the registration procedure?
A. To join the team, please complete the brief form found here. For returning members, please follow the instructions found in team update emails and the current Registration Form. Briefly, registration is for 4-month sessions; priority registration is given to competing swimmers; priority is then given in the order in which members complete the online registration request and availability in a lane of suitable speed. Please address all lane assignment questions to the Head Coach. Please also see our Registration and Lane Allocation Policy and Procedures document.
Q. What is your policy regarding illness or injury?
A. Please do not come to practice if you are feeling sick. If you have a recent injury, please consult with a medical professional and our Head Coach. In many cases, it is contraindicated to swim an intense workout with a new injury. It may be best to attend recreational swim and do gentle exercises using water as a resistance (ideally under the guidance of a physiotherapist). If you have a chronic condition, you may want to disclose this to the Head Coach. Often, modifications can be made to allow you to safely train and compete. In other cases, a competitive swim program may not be advisable.
There is no credit provided for missed days. In general, it is not possible to accommodate make-up sessions as all lanes on each training day are full. In some cases of long-term illness or disability, the board will grant a reimbursement or credit for the next session (please direct your request to a board member or send a message to whiterockwave@gmail.com).