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SCAQ FAQThe Site:Q - What is Swim.net? Q - What is SCAQ? Q - Why Swim? Q - Where can I go to swim? Q - What is the Swimmer Network? Becoming a Swimmer: Q - I want to become a swimmer, how do I begin? Q - How do I know a good program? Q - I don't have a lot of time, how do I get in a good workout? Q - What should I look for in a swim instructor or coach? Q - Am I too old to swim? Improving my Swimming: Q - How can I improve my strokes? Q - What can I do to maximize my time in the water? Q - What does it take to get fast? Q - Can I still swim if I've been injured? Q - What if I want to swim in Open Water Races? What about my Kids?: Q - Where can I find great learn to swim programs for my kids? The Site: Q - What is Swim.net? A - Swim.net is your on-line resource for swimming information. The site is designed to give you relevant, up-to-date information about technique, training, sports medicine, and competitions. Q - What is SCAQ? A - SCAQ stands for Southern California Aquatic Masters Swim Club, the largest Masters swimming team in the U.S. SCAQ was started in 1978 by three-time Olympian Clay Evans and former American Record holder Bonnie Adair. SCAQ offers 65 workouts at 7 different facilities each week throughout the Los Angeles area. Q - Why Swim? A - Swimming is the ideal, all-around exercise for all ages. Swimming builds aerobic capacity as effectively as any sport with less risk of injury. The body's natural buoyancy in the water frees it from weight-bearing stress that accounts for the low injury rate among swimmers. It's a therapeutic exercise for people with injuries, arthritis, weight, or back problems. Aerobic conditioning in the water tends to stabilize blood pressure and improve arterial circulation. The pressure of the surrounding water further improves peripheral circulation. Water temperature keeps the body cooled, which is safer for exercising. Swimming is a balanced exercise that utilizes all the body's major muscle groups and improves general muscle tone without producing tightness. And lets face it, as we get older, keeping flexibility, slowing the inevitable decline of muscle mass, and just plain using it so we don't lose it, is key to being a healthy, happy 80 year old. Q - Where can I go to swim? A - There are many adult programs in pools all across the U.S. The easiest way to find these programs is to call your "Local Masters Swim Club (LMSC)" office. They will have all the information you need to find the right program for your needs. To find your local LMSC check out our Where to Swim page. This portal will provide you with many different resources to help you find the program that is right for you. Q - What is the Swimmer Network? A - The Swimmer Network is a listing of fellow swimmers who offer products or services that may be of interest to other swimmers. Each listing is designed to give you an idea of their business and any contact information you may need. Through the Swimmer Network you can not only receive a trustworthy referral for what ever you may need, but you will also be supporting one of your friends in the swimming community. Becoming a Swimmer: Q - I want to become a swimmer, how do I begin? A - Becoming a swimmer is more than just learning how to swim. It is learning to enjoy swimming as a fitness activity. Your goal should not just be to get across the pool a few time; it's to start down a lifelong path to overall fitness. Becoming a swimmer as an adult is a very basic process, but it is not something that happens in just one or two sessions. The most important thing is to find a swimming program that is right for you. If you need help finding that program, visit our Where to Swim page or if you live in the Los Angeles Area, call the SCAQ office at (310) 390-5700 and our friendly swimming advisors will be happy to help you locate the right program. Q - How do I know a good program? A - A good program is one you will stick with. Choose a swim program that is close to your home or work. You won't go if it's a hassle. Make sure there are people in the program with similar ability and workouts designed for your level. Finally, make sure you believe in your coach. If you don't trust his experience then you won't want to do the work. For a listing of programs in your area visit the Where to Swim page at Swim.net or call your LMSC Office. Q - I don't have a lot of time, how do I get in a good workout? A - If you're on the go, swimming can be an easy and fast stress reliever during a busy day. In as little as half an hour you can get in a good workout, toning muscles, increasing metabolism, and burning calories. All you need is a 10-minute warm up, one main set, and a 5-minute warm down. Check out the Swim.net site for various sets and workouts to help you get in shape and keep improving even when you are in a hurry. Q - What should I look for in a swim instructor or coach? A - Any swim instructor or coach should hold your trust in their ability and confidence in their knowledge base. An instructor/coach should explain the benefits of each drill and demonstrate how to do each one correctly. It is not enough to just give you a workout. He/she must ensure that you learn proper technique as well as training methods for each stroke to avoid injury and other harmful side effects. Hopefully the instructor/coach will ask you about medical conditions and previous injuries that may affect your swim program. If not, tell him or her. Their knowledge of your history is vitally important to your well-being. Your instructor should move you smoothly from one type of activity to the next. A workout should be well organized and an instructor shouldn't need to stop and think between sections. The session should also start with a warm up and end with cool-down. Finally, feel free to ask the instructor/coach questions before, during or after a session. A qualified instructor/coach will be happy to explain moves you don't understand. He/she should be eager to share health and fitness knowledge with you and provide advice on how you can improve your fitness level. Q - Am I too old to swim? A - You are never too old to start swimming. Swimming can be a lifelong activity that anyone can participate in and become successful at. Anyone can learn how to swim, anyone can learn to swim well, and anyone can learn to swim fast. No matter how old you start, the rewards of health, mobility, and fun far out weigh the small amount of effort that it takes to just get started. Check out Swim.net for more information on the benefits of swimming and how to get started. Improving my Swimming: Q - How can I improve my strokes? A - It's a fact! You have to swim slowly correctly before you can swim fast. The best way to hone your strokes is to have an instructor/coach scrutinize your swimming on a one-on-one basis. Most programs offer private lessons regardless of your level. Video clinics are also usually available depending on the facility. Viewing your strokes from both above and below the surface of the water can improve your swimming tremendously. By actually seeing how you swim, as opposed to feeling it, you may gain a greater understanding of what you need to do to go faster. Short of these options, the best way to improve your strokes is: a) to perform stroke drills on a regular basis and b) learn the correct form and practice it with every stroke. Swim.net is a great resource for various drills and stroke sets used by elite level swimmers and their coaches. By referring back to swim.net regularly, you will be able to keep up with the newest training methods and find quality drills to perfect your form as well as increase your strength and power. Q - What can I do to maximize my time in the water? A - Any good training regimen is founded on one thing: Consistency. Once you have committed to a regular training schedule maximizing your workout benefits is the next step. Swim.net has a considerable archive of 1-hour workouts designed to provide a full season of training. The workouts are categorized into distance freestyle, middle-distance freestyle, speed work, IM, and stroke. Keep checking Swim.net for training tips, new workouts, and world-class sets used by National and World Record holders to reach their maximum peak performance. Q - What does it take to get fast? A - There are two rules to fast swimming. First, you cannot swim fast before you learn to swim correctly at a slow speed. Second, you have to swim fast to swim fast. This means you must constantly focus on great technique and consistently push yourself during your interval training. To activate your fast twitch muscle fibers you must use them on a regular basis. Pushing yourself during interval training, as well as any lactate quality sets you may do, will train your body to cope will the greater effort, therefore increasing your ability to hold greater speeds. Q - Can I still swim if I've been injured? A - Swimming is a fabulous low impact activity and is highly recommended as a rehabilitative exercise. While you should always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program, swimming can help you recover from almost any physical injury over time with the right supervision. Just remember to inform the coach of any injuries before you enter the water or begin any program. Start slow and be careful not to overextend yourself, and continue any regular therapy as advised by your physician. Q - What if I want to swim in Open Water Races? A - Whether you have just started or if you have been swimming your entire life, open water swimming is a totally new aquatic experience. One fact remains, however: You must lay your foundation in the pool. If you are just starting to swim regularly check out Swim.net's "Where to Swim" section to find a program near you. If you've been swimming regularly for a while, then click through Swim.net's "Open Water" section for a schedule of competitions, events, and open water clinic information. What about my Kids?: Q - Where can I find great learn to swim programs for my kids? A - Quality Learn-to-Swim programs exist all over the Country and the Certifications for instructors are well structured by the Red Cross and American Heart Association. The main difference in quality is the instructor's age and experience and the participant to instructor ratio. Learning to swim is important for any child's safety. Swim lessons should be a critical part of any child's spring and summer activities. If you live in the L.A. area, check out Swim.net's Aqua Pro Section to find quality instructors and Learn-to-Swim Programs near you. |
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Los Angeles, CA 90066 Phone: (310) 390-5700 |
Fax: (310) 390-2917 Email: scaq@swim.net |