In the early '70s, before the fitness craze of the '80s, a small group of older swimmers had a dream of fostering lifelong health through organized workouts and competition. At the time, it was considered outlandish.

        Why would adults want to compete like students? Could they withstand the rigors of training? Who would participate in such activities?

        Fortunately, the pioneers never lost site of their vision. Because as more and more adults became fitness-conscious, they looked to these “masters” swimming groups as an excellent exercise option.

MASTERS PRACTICES

The following is a list of area masters groups practicing on a regular basis with their workout times:   • Anderson Barracuda Masters: 8-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10-11 a.m. Friday; noon-2 p.m. Sunday, M.E. Lyons YMCA, 8108 Clough Pike, Anderson Township. 474-1400.   • Blue Ash YMCA Masters: 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday; 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-1:30 p.m. Sunday, 5000 YMCA Drive, Blue Ash. 791-5000.   • Cincinnati Marlins Masters: 8:30-9:45 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-1:15 p.m. Sunday, Keating Natatorium at St. Xavier High School, 616 W. North Bend Road, Finneytown. 761-7946.   • Cincinnati Sports Mall: 6-7:15 a.m. Monday-Friday, 3960 Red Bank Road, Fairfax. 527-4000.   • Gamble Nippert YMCA Masters: 9:30-10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday; 2:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday; 5-6 p.m. Sunday, 3159 Montana Ave., Westwood. 459-8472.   • Miami Valley Masters: 8-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Recreational Sports Center, Miami University, Oxford. (513) 529-8152.   • Silverlake Recreation Center Masters: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday; 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday; 6-7 a.m. Friday; 7:30-8:30 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-noon Sunday, 301 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger. (859) 426-5253.   • Tri-Health Fitness Pavilion: 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday; 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, 6200 Pfeiffer Road, Montgomery. 985-0900.   • Xavier University Masters: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday; 6-7 p.m. Friday, O'Connor Sports Center, Xavier University, Evanston. 745-3208.   Most groups require membership at the pool to participate. Some also require membership with United States Masters Swimming ($24 a year; www.usms.org).

        These folks know about the studies that say swimming is an ideal form of exercise — great for aerobic health, an enhancer of coordination. All with little wear and tear on the body.

        In addition, the discipline and motivation a team setting provides can help a person improve swimming ability and keep sight of goals. No wonder there are now more than 40,000 registered masters swimmers in the United States.

Wide-ranging appeal

        In Cincinnati alone, there are nine groups practicing on a regular basis with new ones forming regularly. All kinds of swimmers participate — from young adults fresh from college swimming programs to middle-aged men and women just starting their regimen.

        Groups differ in approach, too. Some are highly structured with set workouts and on-deck coaching. Others are very informal with the leader/coach swimming with the group.

        All are united in their mission to provide adults with a forum to improve their swimming and pursue a healthy lifestyle.

        One of the main benefits of swimming with a masters swim group is the opportunity to improve one's form. As any beginner swimmer knows, without good technique, swimming laps can be an exhausting and excruciating struggle.

        The advice a coach or peer provides can dramatically enhance a swimmer's ability and enjoyment. For example, learning the correct placement of the head on the freestyle stroke can help one breathe more easily. Stroke drills teach arm motions, which not only help one move more quickly, but reduce muscle pulls and friction on rotator cuffs.

        Even swimmers from competitive backgrounds find improvement at masters swim groups. With coaches and other experienced swimmers watching, it's easy to locate trouble spots which hold swimmers back.

        “We believe every member of the group is responsible for watching the other swimmers,” says Tom Sicking, who coaches the Xavier University Masters. “And team members give great feedback. Sometimes they see another swimmer's hand entering the water at a bad angle or a person not reaching far enough on their strokes.”

        A few masters groups even go as far as bringing in national experts for clinics. There are a host of talented individuals who travel the country bringing very effective programs to swimming organizations.

        Normally, done in a half-day, these intensive workshops provide video analysis and help swimmers master everything from the basics of freestyle to the nuances of the advanced butterfly.

        For about one of every three masters swimmers, membership is all about the competition. They watch the clock working to improve their times, practice techniques to make their racing more streamlined and participate in meets held year-round.

        There are about six local masters meets a year. Many swimmers also travel to Columbus, Indianapolis and Louisville for regional championships.

        The meets are conducted much like student swim meets with events in all four strokes. Races are organized by age groups of five-year increments (19-24, 25-29, etc.). Plus there are relays for men, women and mixed teams.

        To many, competition is a major motivating factor to stay with and excel in a swimming program. The meets are also a major source of camaraderie. Kindred spirits meet at these events and a lot of good-natured rivalries develop, making the competition even more exciting.

Marking 30 years

        Masters swimming recently celebrated thirty years of recognition by the American Athletic Union. In its short history, the organization has dramatically enhanced thousands of lives by giving adults a chance to participate in the exciting sport of swimming.

        Not only are older swimmers able to enjoy the thrill of team and competition, they are getting and staying fit in a safe and fun environment.

        And more and more people are discovering the sport. As the new mega-health plexes are making more full-size pools available to the public, in addition to sponsoring adult swim programs, one is seeing an explosion in participation. In the last year alone, three area clubs have begun masters swim programs based on member demand and are showing brisk participation.

        With this added accessibility, people from an increasingly broad range of backgrounds are finding an invigorating way to make waves in their lives and in the pool.

        Jason Nebel, Enquirer listings writer, began swimming competitively at age 6 and has practiced with masters swim groups for four years.

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