Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

How do I register with Santa Clara Swim Club (SCSC)?

Access our online registration system by clicking on the "Register with Masters Using Team Unify" link on our home page http://masters.santaclaraswimclub.org/. If at any point during your membershihp you wish to take a leave of absence or terminate your membership please notify Steve Hurko so your account can be closed and unnecessar charges avoided.

What are the fee structures and what is the method of payment?

The online registration system (Team Unify) is set up to collect payments automatically on the 1st of month. This will only occur on the appropriate months corresponding to the time structure selected (monthly, semi-annual, or annual). This is the simplest and most structured method of handling the payments for the over 300 member program and is the preferred method by the club. This requires a credit card number and permission to draft without warning. If this method is not feasible, checks are accepted and can be handed to the coach on deck. Cash payments are not accepted unless it is a special circumstance.
Please see our fees and policy webpage at http://masters.santaclaraswimclub.org/fees.htm for more details. If at any point during your membershihp you wish to take a leave of absence or terminate your membership please notify Steve Hurko so your account can be closed and unnecessar charges avoided.

Are there any discounts?

Yes, we offer discounts to triathletes associated with affiliated clubs (see fees and policy webpage), for parents or guardians of swimmers in the competitive or pre-comp programs, for staff at Harker High School, and more. Please see our fees and policy website at http://masters.santaclaraswimclub.org/fees.htm.

Do I need to register with United States Masters Swimming (USMS)?

Yes, every swimmer must have a valid USMS card for insurance and liability purposes. You can go to http://www.usms.org/reg/ to sign up.

Can I try a free class befor registering?

Yes. Try out 2 free trial classes before registering. Attend any 2 classes from our schedule and bring your swimming gear and a signed Release and Indemnification Agreement form.

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What makes SCSC programs special?

Santa Clara Swim Club has a long history of producing the highest quality swimmers. We have now expanded our Masters program to include swimmers at all levels. At each workout, coaches work to develop skills and techniques that improves the quality of each swimmers ability.

How much instruction/feedback can I expect?

This will vary depending on your group. Group 3 will have intense coaching and feedback for our newest swimmers. Group 2 coaching will refine form and technique for our intermediate swimmers and for our advanced swimmers in Group 1, we focus on a quality workout.

How many workouts per week are there for each group?

Group 1 has 12 workouts per week including the morning, evenings, and weekends. Group 2 and 3 both have 14 workouts per week including morning, noon, and evenings. You can attend as many workouts per week as you like!

What are the workouts like? How many yards per workout?

Group 1 workouts are 1.25 - 1.50 hours long. Group 2 and 3 workouts are 1 hour each (don't worry if you can't finish the whole hour initially). The coach gives the "sets," which vary in distance per lane. Group 1 will cover slightly over 4,000 yards per workout, Group 2 will swim more than 2000 yards and Group 3 will vary, depending on the skill of the group.

I am a triathlete or open water swimmer and want to work on my swimming. What are my options?

A large percentage of our members are triathletes and open water swimmers. Many triathletes and open water swimmers say, "I only want to work on my Freestyle, as that's what I will be using." At SCSC we mix in all four of the competitive strokes (Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, and Breaststroke). We believe (as do triathlon and open water swim coaches) that working on all strokes is important to becoming a better open water swimmer and triathlete.

What does "swim repeat 100 freestyle intervals between 1:40 and 2:10" mean?

You should be able to swim freestyle 100's repeatedly (3-5 times) with a total time between 1:40 and 2:20. Your total time includes swim and rest time.

What if I do not know my swim interval time?

The coach can assess you at your first visit to the club. Regardless of your time, in Group 2, it is most important that you can swim that time repeatedly for each 100 yards.

What if I am not sure if Group 2 or Group 3 is better for me?

If you are unsure about your time interval or which group you should start with, the best way to determine this is to try it. We offer 2 free trial classes for new swimmers to attend for two groups to assess which one best suits you. To do this you will need the Release and Indemnification Agreement form.

I'm not a very fast swimmer, can't swim all the strokes, and am not sure I can finish an hour workout; how good a swimmer must I be to join?

SCSC has a program for swimmers of all abilities - from Competitive swimmers to novice swimmers. If you can swim 2 lengths of the pool, our coaching staff can help you improve your skills and endurance. You don't need to be able to swim all the strokes to join! The coaches will work with you on all your strokes. Workouts within each group are tailored to the swimmer's ability.

What if I am too slow for the others in my lane? Will I be grouped with others my own speed?

At SCSC, you will be with similar swimmers not only in your group, but within each lane in the group.

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