What to Expect
Macalester Masters Swimming (SCOTS) is a coached workout group for intermediate to experienced swimmers who are looking to improve their stroke technique and endurance with challenging and engaging workouts. Folks on our team swim for physical and mental health benefits, triathlon training, open water training, or pool competition, or...simply because swimming is fun. The role of the coach is to design a program that will allow all members to reach individual goals within the pool. Though we welcome swimmers of any age and a wide range of abilities, our team is not intended for those who need a learn-to-swim experience.
We practice year round at Macalester College in the Leonard Center. We practice from 6:00-7:30am, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and from 6:00-7:00 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Our pool is ten 25-yard lanes for most of the year; in the spring (roughly March-May), we're set up in eight 25-meter lanes.
Mac Masters is a workout group under Minnesota Masters, part of United States Masters Swimming. All Macalester Masters swimmers must have an active USMS membership, which provides individuals and the team with liability insurance coverage. USMS sanctions swimming competitions at the zone, region, and national levels, but not all of our members swim to compete.
The south doors of the Leonard Center will open ten minutes before the start of the workout (5:50) and stay open for 2-3 minutes. This should allow everyone time to change and get on deck by 6:00.
Men's, women's, and ungendered locker rooms are available directly connected to the pool deck.
We will provide some equipment for folks to use during workouts, including kickboards, fins, buoys, and paddles. Please bring your own suit, goggles, and towel!
Lanes will be sorted roughly by speed / pace. If you aren't sure where you belong—ask a coach! And please be prepared to shift lanes as needed for balance.
Often, there will be more than two swimmers in a lane. When this is the case, expect to circle swim—staying on the right side of the lane—and to communicate with lanemates about intervals, sets, and expectations.
You are always welcome to adapt workouts to better fit your needs...if and only if doing so does not interrupt or impede another swimmer.
Everything we do has a purpose. Don't hesitate to ask questions about terms, goals of drills, or the method behind the madness!
Coaches have a lot of lanes to monitor throughout a workout. If you would like particular feedback on a stroke or drill, please just flag us down!