Why swim?

Swimming is an activity which provides a full body workout and is an excellent way of getting all-round exercise. It benefits the upper body, mid-section and legs. It is a good way to improve strength, stamina and cardiovascular fitness, and it can boost your mood. Since water supports the body swimming, unlike running or weights, it is a low impact sport reducing the likelihood of injuries. Providing a number of health benefits for people of all ages.

Swimming is a lifelong skill that could save a life.

We all have different reasons for swimming for some it is about training to compete, for others it’s about improving their strokes and keeping fit, and enjoying it.

Most importantly, however, it is fun.

What is Masters Swimming?

Masters swimming, a worldwide sport, is for adults (aged 25 and upward), and it encompasses a wide range of ability from casual fitness swimming to competitive swimming, with the objectives better health, fitness and friendship between swimmers across the world. It started in the USA in the 1970s when some retired “elite swimmers” organised a competition for adult swimmers.

Advice on Competing

After you feel you have mastered the strokes and want to put your skills to the test, you may wish to consider entering some competitions that are suitable for a new-comer to the sport. It is good practice to seek guidance from your coaches or fellow swimmers who will be able to advise you on whether you are ready for competitions and which events are the best to enter.

There are opportunities to enter postal competitions, which are swum in your own pool, like the ASA half hour swim, and the BLDSA one-hour swim. These events are good training since they demand good technique and help to develop stamina. Members of your own club supervise and help, so the atmosphere is not intimidating, but there is a challenge, and there is also a list of the results, country wide, so one gets an idea of one’s place in the scheme of things.

The next step is to enter a local meet with other club members, where you can be a member of a relay team, or take part in a short race, 50 or 100 metres, and begin to learn the rules of the sport with the support of the rest of the team.

There are rules for strokes, turns, starts and competing, and most clubs have some officials among their members who can assist with queries concerning disqualifications, legal turns, starts etc. We can also advise on planning your training year, setting targets and how schedules are structured to help you achieve your aims. Our training resources page has  sessions to download and stroke hints and tips.