The following are a few questions we frequently receive via e-mail.  Hopefully, the answers will save you a bit of time.

Q:  I am interested in competing with Tsunami at IGLA, this summer.  How can I get in the loop?
A:  We would love to have you join us! Swimmers from both the Synchro and Swim team will be competing this summer. Please make sure you satisfy the following requirements:

• Your United States Masters Swimming (USMS) membership must be associated with our team.  The request must be made at least 60 days prior to the competition.
• Join our email distribution list to stay up to date on the latest travel and competition information.  Click here to join.

Q:  I am visiting the Bay Area and swim with another Masters team back home.  Can I swim with you?
A:  Yes. For liability reasons you will need to have your Masters Swim membership.  Then, you just have to pay a $12 Drop-In fee.  Click here to pay online or you can pay cash directly to the coach on deck.  Please remember to provide us with a copy of your USMS membership.

Q:  I don't know any synchronized swimming.  Can I still join Tsunami Synchro?
A:  Yes.  Once a year there is an eight-week introductory training program for synchro on Saturday mornings.  Typically it starts in November.  For more information contact the coach Suzanne via email at Suzanne@sftsunami.org.

Q:  I don't know how to swim anything other than freestyle. Can I still join Tsunami?
A:  It certainly helps if you know all the strokes, but is not required. We offer clinics several times a year geared towards different levels to help you improve your stroke.

Q:  Can I come by and try out the team without joining?
A:  You can. You will need to complete an application for Pacific Masters membership, for liability reasons. You can then swim with us twice before deciding if you'd like to join the team.

Q:  I'm not gay or lesbian, can I join the team?
A:  Of course. Tsunami membership is open to anyone.

Q:  I don't know how to swim, can you teach me?
A:  Unfortunately, we're not equipped to provide swim lessons, but the YMCA and city pools offer adult swim lessons.

Q:  I'm looking to join a team for fitmess reasons but am not really interested in competing. Do I have to compete if I join Tsunami?
A:  Absoultely not. People join the team for a wide variety of reasons. You don't have to compete if you don't wish to.

Q:  I'm interested in your team but can’t afford the Dues and Fees. Do you have any financial aid?
A:  Yes. If you are interested in learning about our financial aid for qualified individuals, please contact our Treasurer about how to apply:  treasurer@sftsunami.org.

Q:  I can’t always make it right on time to your practice times. Is it ok if I show up late?
A:  Unfortunately not. The city of San Francisco is in a budget crisis and does not have enough money to staff the front door and keep lifeguards on the pool deck while we swim.

Q:  What can I expect if I come to one of the practices?
A:  Below are a few points that may help you get a sense of what to expect when attending one of our masters swim practices (many of these points will be familiar to you if you've previously participated in a masters swim practice).  More information is available on our web-site: 

• Masters swimmers of all levels are welcome to join our team or participate in one of our workouts on a drop-in basis. 
• Drop in's are certainly welcome -- daily or monthly visitor swim passes are available (click on the link: http://www.sftsunami.org/Store.aspx).  Alternately you can pay the coach on deck the daily fee ($12 cash) prior to practice.
• For liability reasons, all swimmers who join us for practice (drop in's included) must be US Masters Swim (USMS) members and have their current USMS membership card to show the coach. 
• We also offer a 1-day pass to anyone who is interested in joining the team but does not yet have a USMS membership.  Thsi 1-day pass requires your signature on a form indicating your intent to join Pacific Masters - the Masters swimming organization to which our club belongs.  This signed form provides coverage for SF Tsumani from a liability standpoint and is required for you to swim with for our team that day.
• Speak to the coach on deck at the practice and indicate your interest in a 1-day pass and you will receive the form allowing you to swim at that practice.

• All practices are coached.  On deck, an experience masters coach will lead the workout for that practice.  
• The workout is geared to the lane in which you swim.  At our workouts - the designated lane 1 has the fast paced swimmers, lane 6 - slowest paced swimmers.
• Workouts vary in length based the lane - but are all include at least 2000 total yards of swimming.
• Since this is a masters team swimming program and not a general lap swim, swimmers need to be able to swim at least 8 lengths of the pool non-stop in under 5 minutes.  (note: this is on a pace of 2min 30sec per 100yards).  This is typically a slower pace than what you might anticipate in one of our workouts.  However, it provides a general indication of the minimum pace that we expect our swimmers of similar ability to maintain in order to complete the workout as designed by the coach on deck.
• Swim practices have a focus, typically geared toward preparing for a swim meet. I mention meets - because as a masters team, many (not all) swimmers, will participate in swim meets we enter through the year.  This year, our main focus was on the IGLA swim meet in Hawaii back in July (International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics).
• Depending on the focus, the the coach will design the swim practice to emphasize conditioning for distance or for sprints, and often includes some variety of strokes and/or drills. 
• The coach designs the workout identifying sets of swim distances, interval times, and varying strokes, and drills.
• Each workout requires that swimmers pace their sets of swims based on a timed interval. Intervals times will vary based on distances and lane in which you swim.  For example, 3 x 100 at 1:30,  requires you swim 100 yards, 3 times in succession.  The pace of each 100yards is on the 1min 30 second interval.  If you complete the 100yards before the interval time, you may rest before starting the next 100 yard swim, however, you are expected to stay on the interval as set by the coach.
• Each lane will have anywhere from a few swimmers up to six per lane.  We always swim in a counter clockwise circle pattern. 
• The team offers starts and turns clinics periodically throughout the year.  As such, to start swimming with us you do not have to know how to flip turn.  As well, we do not dive off the blocks at every practice although coaches will have sets that encourage swimmers to start off the blocks.  Instruction for that can be provided at practice and is something the coach may focus on for a particular practice as we approach the date for an upcoming swim meet.
• The coach can give you some feedback on your stroke mechanics.  However, with 30+ swimmers in the water, they can't always attend to each and every swimmer's form.  If you're looking for specific feedback on a particular area of your stroke, it's best to mention to the coach before practice what guidance you're looking for so they can watch you during the workout.
• We schedule stroke clinics periodically throughout the year to help swimmers focus on their swim mechanics.  These scheduled events provide you more in-depth and focused feedback to improve your stroke than what a coach can typically offer at one of our weekly swim practices.
• New swimmers should speak with the coach on deck if there's any apprehension or uncertainty about the workout and/or which lane is paced right for their swimming abilities.

Still have questions? Write us at info@sftsunami.org