Anyone can join in. You can practice individually at your local pool but to swim in masters competitions there are some further things to be done:
To join a registered club, you need to find a club that is registered with the ASA. There are many masters clubs that you can join. Most clubs have a joining fee and/or a fee to cover the use of a pool. Good clubs will have a coach and regular training sessions. They organise club relay teams for competitions and have other social events.
To become a registered swimmer with the A.S.A., get your club secretary to register you. There is a modest registration fee.
Individuals are usually responsible for entering their own individual events at competitions so you need to know about future competitions well in advance and you will need to use the entry forms the organisers provide. Details of competitions and photo-images of entry forms are to be found among these pages. The entry fees (typically £2 to £3 per event) cover the costs of pool hire, administration, officials, etc. Before the closing date send off:
You will be sent "cards", blue for men, pink for ladies, for each event entered.
Pack your cards, swimming costume, towel and bottle of water (not forgetting your goggles, flip flops, swim hat, ear plugs, nose clip, shampoo, saucy T shirt, food, sticky things and any other clobber). Take your cards to the pool and post them in the box provided, at least one hour before the competition starts. This means getting up and getting there an hour earlier (sorry about that). Before your race collect your card from the designated "table". It will tell you which heat and lane you are to swim in. Keep a close eye on the progress of the heats. When yours is about to start give your card to the timekeeper in your lane. Thats it. One more thing. Don't forget to collect your medal afterwards (see the medals on these pages).
Further useful information can be obtained from the following non-profit making organisations:
Swimming Times Master Swimmer Newsletter Swimming Times Ltd. Geoff Stokes 18 Derby Square 6 Mulroy Drive Loughborough Camberley Leics. LE11 5AL Surrey GU15 1LX (Monthly) (6 issues/year) Annual UK subscription rate: £20.00 Annual UK subscription: £7.00 for 10 issues. Club rate (minimun 3 copies): £16.00 Overseas rates on application Republic of Ireland/overseas an.: £26.00 Further details and subscription form Single copy: £2.00 inc. p&p