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Unique Fit
Club is a program for people who are interested in
maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The UFC program is designed for people
who want to train with a motivated, fun team to keep fit and
increase energy during the year, as well as for new and experienced
Swimmers and Triathletes who want to improve their performance,
learn new techniques, build endurance, and increase speed for
individual competitions.
The UFC
training sessions combine challenging weekly swim workouts designed
to help you become comfortable in the aquatics environment with
dry-land core and functional training, indoor cycling, running, and
other cross training including Pilates and Yoga. You will improve
your core strength and flexibility while increasing speed and
building endurance.
Professional Coach Marc Rios will add variety, education, and
fun to your workouts. The UFC program includes stroke
evaluations and base testing at the beginning of the season, as
well as re-testing prior to as well as post competition. Training
plans are designed for each individually athlete at the conclusion
of a goal meeting with Coach Marc Rios.
Additionally, UFC members can take part
in underwater stroke analysis. This will allow UFC members to receive optimal
feedback to improve your swimming performance. All UFC team members will
receive mid-week workouts as well as personalized attention from
the Unique Swimming coaching staff throughout the season.
Train with the Unique Fit
Club!
Registration Fee (yearly
fee) = $175
Includes United States
Masters Swimming yearly membership/Virginia Masters Swimming
yearly membership/2 - Unique Swimming T-Shirts/1 - Unique Swimming
Long Sleeve Shirt/2 - Unique Swimming Caps/Pool Rental
Fees/Administration Fees
12 Week Training Program
(3 sessions per week) = $360
12 Week Training Program
(2 sessions per week) = $290
12 Week Training Program (1 sessions
per week) = $170
Single Class Drop In =
$35
United States Masters Swimming (USMS) is a national organization
that provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics and
workshops for adults aged 18 and over. Programs are open to all
adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, non-competitive)
who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming.
Founded in 1970, the non-profit corporation is organized with
over 500 clubs in 52 regions throughout the United States.
Membership numbers more than 48,000, with individual members
ranging in age from 18 to over 100.
Within the clubs, structured workouts, often with a coach, offer
well-thought-out training assistance. Pool and open-water races
provide opportunities to compete and measure individual progress at
the local, state, national and international levels. USMS programs
also offer stroke and technique clinics, workshops, and
instruction, as well as social functions.
All USMS programs are designed to help swimmers improve fitness
and/or train for specific goals, and offer active support for a
healthy lifestyle through friendship, and camaraderie.
What is Masters swimming?
Masters swimming is an organized program of swimming for adults.
Members participate in a variety of ways ranging from lap swimming
to international competition.
Who are the members?
Anyone 18 or over can join Masters swimming. U. S. Masters
Swimming has over 50,000 members, a few of whom are in their
90’s and even 100’s.
Where is Masters swimming located?
Everywhere! There are over 450 local Masters Swim Clubs
throughout the country and more forming every day. There’s
probably a group accessible to you regardless of where you live.
How is US Masters Swimming organized?
United States Masters Swimming, Inc. provides the administrative
structure for Masters swimming. However, Masters swimming is very
much a grass roots organization. The country is divided into
smaller groups called Local Masters Swimming Committees (LMSC).
LMSC’s in turn are composed of smaller groups (clubs or teams
and unaffiliated swimmers). As an individual, you may choose to
join a team or club and enjoy the camaraderie and structure of the
group or you may choose to remain unattached. Unattached swimmers
enjoy all of the benefits of U.S. Masters Swimming membership,
except they cannot compete on relays.
What are the benefits of membership?
There are many benefits of membership in U.S. Masters Swimming
including access to coached workouts, opportunities to participate
in fitness and competitive programs, exclusive member services,
content and discounts, volunteer opportunities, insurance coverage
for activities, and many more. See a more detailed list here.
Do I have to compete?
Everyone has his or her own reason for belonging - health,
fitness, camaraderie, fun, the thrill of competition, travel and
coaching are but a few. About 30% of Masters swimmers compete in
swimming meets on a regular basis. For those who are serious
competitors, there are an incredible number of opportunities to
test your skill and conditioning. Short Course (25 yard and 25
meter) and Long Course (50 meter) pool meets, lake and ocean open
water swims, postal meets, special events and international
championships are all part of an ambitious program of Masters
swimming. A recent Masters World Championship meet at Stanford drew
over 7,000 participants. It was the largest swimming meet ever held
in North America. But if competing isn’t your style,
there’s no need to feel pressured. Many Masters swimmers are
simply interested in the regular routine of working out with
friends.
Are workouts always organized?
One of the greatest benefits of Masters swimming is to be able
to practice with an organized group. Each club or team has its own
program. Some are highly structured with set workouts and on-deck
coaching, while others are very informal. There’s no question
that the motivation and instruction a coach provides is a powerful
advantage. Research has shown that interval training, an approach
favored by most coaches, has innumerable benefits over simple lap
swimming so most Masters swimmers prefer structured workouts. The
facilities of each group vary greatly, but many of the teams and
clubs have access to weight rooms with exercise equipment and make
this a part of their training. It is important to remember that
you’re in charge of your own program. From the most
rudimentary of lap swimming routines to training for competitions
or special events, U.S. Masters Swimming is structured to support
you.
What does it cost?
An annual membership in USMS is obtained for a modest fee
through Local Masters Swimming Committee and includes insurance
benefits and USMS SWIMMER magazine. LMSC’s have their own
minimal membership fees to cover their administrative and
organizational expenses. In addition, clubs or teams can have their
own membership fees to pay for pools, coaching, administrative,
social and other costs.
Tell me a little more about the
competition.
Competitions are organized by age groups of five-year increments
(19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, etc. to 95 and over). Events include
50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle (400, 800 and 1500 in
meters) 50, 100 and 200 backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly and
100, 200 and 400 individual medleys. There are also freestyle and
medley relays for men, women and/or mixed teams. Open water swims
are held in most locales during the summer and can range in
distance from one to ten miles. Special events such as seeing how
far you can swim in one hour are contested through the mail. USMS
hosts two national championship meets a year. A short course (25
yard pool) championship is held in May and a long course (50 meter
pool) championship is held in August. These four-day events rotate
to different locations around the country. International
championships are conducted periodically by Masters swim
organizations in countries throughout the world. While health and
physical fitness are the biggest rewards, proficient competitions
can garner a host of awards and recognition. World and U.S.
records, Top Ten and All America rankings, All Star status and
national champion are accomplishments recognized by USMS. Medals,
ribbons and trophies are a part of many competitions and are
awarded to all age groups.
Is it healthy to exercise that hard as you get
older?
It’s true that the thrill of competition can produce some
anxiety in the form of "butterflies," but study after study has
proven that regular exercise can significantly contribute to your
health. Swimming has continually been identified as the best way to
exercise. Stress reduction, weight control, cardiovascular fitness,
reduced cholesterol, muscle tone and endurance are all positively
influenced by exercise. Masters swimmers swear by it.
I’m convinced, how do I join?
Joining U.S. Masters Swimming is quick and easy with our online
registration system. Start here to dive right in to the world of
Masters Swimming. The National Office can answer any further
questions you may have and put you in touch with local Masters swim
clubs. You can also determine your LMSC contacts by checking the
LMSC Information section of this web site.
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