FAQ

1. What is a FAQ?
   FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions.
2. Do I have to join the El Camino YMCA to be a member of the El Camino YMCA Masters?
   No. The El Camino YMCA Masters is free to any member of the El Camino YMCA. Non-members may join the team for a fee. Please see a coach for more information.
3. What does it cost?
   Other than your YMCA memberships dues, there are no separate fees to participate in the El Camino YMCA Masters workouts.
4. How good a swimmer do I need to be?
   Our Masters program is mainly for fitness and fun, not competition. You probably need to be able to swim freestyle (the crawl stroke) at least 200 yards without stopping. Workouts last from one to two hours, so you should expect to swim for much of that time. If you're not sure, talk to one of the YMCA representatives.
5. Do I need to be able to swim different strokes?
   Workouts may include swimming crawl (freestyle), breaststroke, backstroke, and fly. However, if you don't know how to do those, or can't do them, you are still welcome to join the workouts. The coaches will help you learn.
6. What equipment do I need?
   You need very little besides a swim suit. Swim googles are strongly recommended to protect your eyes and to allow you to see under water better. Swim suits should be reasonably snug for easier swimming. Many of the swim suit manufacturers may swim suits that are appropriate without being too skimpy. Swim caps are optional. The YMCA provides kick boards and pull buoys. You may choose to get flippers (such as Zoomers, not scuba-style fins) but wait until you know you want them.
7. Doesn't it get cold?
   Summer or winter, the lap pool temperature will be about 82 degrees. Most people find this to be comfortably warm, especially with the energy expended during workout. If you are concerned about the temperature, you might choose to wear a swim cap (both men and women) and a t-shirt.
8. Do I have to attend all the workouts?
   No. Everyone's schedule is different and we all have other responsibilities. Some people can only come on Saturday morning. You will find that if you attend more workouts, you will be able to do more in each workout. It is best to find a schedule and try to stick to it.
9. What about competition?
   The El Camino YMCA Masters team is primarily about fitness and fun. But if competition is fun for you, then go for it! We have some swimmers that compete in local or national meets. If you get very serious, you may want more workouts than we provide. You can supplement the scheduled workouts with individual lap swimming or workouts with other Masters programs in the area.
10. Why don't I just join some other Masters team?
    If you like the other activities at the YMCA -- the exercise room, the group activities, the basketball court, etc. -- or if you just like to help others through supporting the YMCA and its programs, then you may want to be a member of the Y anyway. We're not aware of any other Masters teams in the area that offer the benefits of a YMCA membership.
11. What is the relation between the USMS and El Camino YMCA Masters?
    The El Camino YMCA Masters team is registered with the Pacific LMSC (Pacific Masters Swimming (PMS), the regional branch of the USMS). If you are registered with the USMS, then you can swim in their meets and represent the El Camino YMCA Masters.
12. Do I have to join the USMS?
    No. You do not have to join the USMS to swim at the workouts of the El Camino YMCA Masters or to participate in the YMCA meets. However, if you choose to participate in USMS events such as open-water swims, swim meets, or clinics, you will need to be a member of the USMS. To join, please visit the Pacific Masters Swimming site for an application.
13. If I don't plan to compete, why would I want to join the USMS?
    Besides the competition, membership in the USMS includes a subscription to SWIM magazine which covers all aspects of swimming for adults, including technique, fitness, and health. You can subscribe separately to the magazine, but the cost is about the same as a USMS membership.

Terminology

Swimming has a language of its own that may be confusing. We'll add our own terms here, but for now please see this collection of swimming lingo.