The 'LIFE. BE IN IT theme for the NRPA 1980 Congress in Phoenix and the planned five-year fitness program by the NRPA through the TV media is an ideal time to investigate programming that will attract persons to new leisure interests. In fact, the first phase of the 'LIFE. BE IN IT campaign will concentrate on "getting people moving," while the second involves bringing activity to the people and the third is based on the concept of having people taught skills in specific activities. Over the long term, the aim is to get people to develop an ongoing interest and involvement in activities of their own choice. This would include not only "traditional" sports when freely chosen, but hopefully, a wide range of active leisure pursuits in the arts, music, drama and other areas.

Park and Recreation agencies across the country are rapidly discovering a new recreational activity which can be offered to that difficult-to-program age group: men and women 20 years and older. Although many people may visualize a competitive swimmer as a sleek and muscular teen-ager, more and more people are beginning to see the sport of competitive swimming as a healthful and enjoyable activity for persons past the tender years of adolescence. The A.A.U. has coined the term "Masters Swimming" as the name for the A.A.U. endorsed age-group swimming program for adults. Park districts with swimming facilities would do well to consider including a Masters swimming team in their aquatic programs for a number of good reasons.

First, the program has proven to be very enjoyable for the participants, a factor which is obviously a prerequisite for the success of any activity or sport. Because the Masters are usually combined into a team (which may be quite small) there quickly develops a camaraderie which many swimmers relish as much as the swimming itself. Also, teams compete among themselves at practice sessions and against other teams at regularly scheduled Masters swimming meets which adds greatly to the enthusiasm of the participants. Trophies, medals and ribbons enhance the personal satisfaction derived from individual hard work and team effort.

In addition to the pleasurable aspects of competitive swimming, the health benefits of a regulated swimming program have been repeatedly demonstrated. Obviously, swimming is vigorous physical exercise, but it is more than just that. Swimming is an ideal form of exercise because it involves all of the muscles of the body. In addition swimmers are typically not subject to the injuries and numerous ailments which plague participants in other sports, such as running, tennis, gymnastics, or football.

Perhaps more importantly, swimming has been proven to be a serious deterrent to the great killer of the middle-aged, coronary disease! Evidence has been documented which demonstrates that competitive swimming, among adults, actually delays the aging process. All of the criteria which doctors use to measure the physiological age of the body demonstrated that the typical 49-year-old Masters swimmer was significantly younger healthwise than the typical non-swimmer of the same age. So, besides keeping the body trim and firm, this activity can actually lengthen one's life.

Setting up a Masters swim program can really be as simple or as involved as the participants care to make it. The number of swimmers need not be large, and if no regular coach is available, perhaps a knowledgeable member of the group could serve as a combination coach/swimmer. If the group is very large, then of course, it would be useful to make the entire pool available to them on a regular basis. For a small team (about fifteen or less), simply roping off two lanes of the pool for Masters swimmers will probably suffice. Work-out times should be left up to the swimmers as much as possible. Usually participants will opt for early morning or noon work-out times, or some other arrangement which does not interfere with normal working hours.

Masters competition is open to anyone possessing a regular or Masters A.A.U. card which are available from A.A.U. district registration chairmen. Age groups for competition are divided into five-year categories beginning with 20 and continuing to 80 years and older. Men and women always compete separately.

It should be noted that the enthusiasm of starting a training program must be buffered with caution. Progress in both distance and speed should always be achieved gradually. The swimmer starts at his own endurance level and should never press himself to exhaustion. For most people progress occurs at a pleasingly rapid rate. Swimmers should be encouraged to secure a physician's consent before embarking upon the competitive swimming course, just as should be done by anyone considering starting any strenuous physical exercise.

The Masters swim team can be a great asset for any aquatic program. Adults become actively involved in swimming, instead of being spectators or merely parents of young swimmers. This can be an asset to the park district in many ways. Support for bond issues or citizens action groups generated by active participants plus increased revenues from swimming meets are just a few of the ways. Physical exercise is vital to good health, and Masters swimming ensures that opportunities for this type of exercise won't stop after high school or college. For a successful, enjoyable, and healthful form of adult recreation. Masters Swimming can't be beat.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 September/October 1980