Qld AUSSI Swimming
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Qld AUSSI Swimming
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More information can be obtained from the Qld AUSSI Masters web site, but a summary follows. (This information was borrowed from the Qld Masters Web Site)
AUSSI Masters Swimming is an Australia-wide association of adult swim clubs whose members, men and women twenty years and older, swim regularly to keep fit and have fun. The Queensland Branch of this national organization is known as Queensland Masters Swimming. Clubs are where people with similar goals meet, swim together, encourage each other, and make new friends. Members are given opportunities to enjoy a variety of activities, and may choose to swim for their club in competitions. Clubs cater for all ability levels, from those who can just swim through to the experienced swimmer. Everyone is most welcome, and our motto says it all - FUN, FITNESS and FRIENDSHIP. AUSSI AND ITS BEGINNINGS The first ‘Masters’ style swim meet in Australia was conducted at the Harbord Diggers’ Club in May 1971. Then, on 30 March 1974, a team of US Masters Swimmers visited Australia for a competition at the Heffron Park Pool in Sydney. This was attended by swimmers from South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Later that same year on 18 October, a meeting was held, and it was at this meeting that the Australian Masters Swimming Association was formed. This became AUSSI in September 1975. The first Australian Masters Swimming Championship was held on 8 March 1975, and the AUSSI National Swim and Club Championships have been held every year since then. AUSSI played a major role in the formation of Masters Swimming International (MSI) in 1983 and is today a significant contributor to the body. AUSSI has a substantial commitment to world wide Masters Swimming and there are many Australians holding office in MSI. Through association with Australian Swimming Inc., AUSSI is linked to FINA, the world governing body of amateur swimming. AUSSI Masters Swimming was incorporated in 1986 in South Australia and now has more than 200 clubs affiliated with the 8 Branches – one in each State and Territory in Australia. The National Board of AUSSI Masters Swimming consists of three elected positions – President, Director of Finance, Director of Coaching – and eight Directors, each representing a Branch and holding a portfolio. The day to day running of AUSSI is managed by a paid Executive Director from the National Office in Adelaide. Board Members act as delegates and promote the views of their Branch. Members are able to submit their ideas and views through their clubs and Branches to the Board which meets in person twice a year. AUSSI Masters Swimming has conducted several International Swim Meets. The first Pan Pacific Masters Championships were held in Sydney in 1981, the second in 1983, and the seventh in Perth in 1999. The second FINA/MSI World Masters Swim was held in Brisbane in 1988. This last event with some 4000 competitors (3000 from overseas) was the largest swim meet conducted anywhere in the world to that point in time. Brisbane also hosted the World Masters Games in 1994, with Melbourne hosting them in 2002. Although swim meets play an important role in the AUSSI program, the majority of members prefer to be involved in the aerobic activities, gaining points for themselves and their clubs whilst competing for the National Aerobic Trophy. AUSSI maintains a computerised National Registration System. It is autonomous in its operation and its professional management has been commended by many including the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Swimming Inc. AUSSI is a member of Sports Industry Australia and is represented on the Masters Committee of that organization. AUSSI Masters Swimming’s stated purpose is "To encourage adults, regardless of age or ability, to swim regularly in order to promote fitness and improve their general health". ABC OF MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS A t National Level:
B ranch Level:
C lub Level:
Experts state that swimming is one of the most effective forms of exercise. It improves –
Swimming is an ideal activity for those who believe that age or ill-health prevents them from participating in sports or exercise programs. When swimming, your body is supported by the water so there is no excessive stress on any one set of muscles or joints. BUT I’M NOT A CHAMPION SWIMMER! The majority of AUSSI members are not champion swimmers either. There are members who are ex-champions, beginners and all standards in between. All members enjoy the camaraderie and friendship established through regular swimming and social events. So perhaps swimming against other people is not for you. There are other ways to measure your fitness and see your times improve, and there are many ways to participate without being competitive –
Opportunities for the fit and competitive swimmer abound. These help individuals gauge improvement levels and measure their standing in their particular age groupings. AUSSI Masters Swimming offers a wide range of competitions from –
Examples of other opportunities to compete include –
Inter club competitions are similar to time trials where you are seeded into heats according to your nominated times. Events are conducted for all strokes including individual medleys. There are also relay events where you swim in a team with other club members. Times are recorded through the year and the ten fastest times are published yearly in the Top Ten books, both for the Branch and nationally. Often novelty events are included in the inter-club competitions. These assist in creating a friendly relaxed atmosphere and provide a few laughs for both novice and accomplished swimmers alike. Many clubs also hold regular social events away from the pool. AUSSI Masters Swimming ensures that all competitions –
To swim in a sanctioned meet, you should –
Other points to note:
Competition can be good fun. It -
Aerobic fitness is especially important for developing long term fitness. Longer, slower swimming helps to elevate the heart rate for an extended period which in turn contributes to weight loss and muscle toning. That’s why aerobic swimming gets easier the more you do it. The aerobic swim program involves you completing a time trial on your own, usually over longer distances starting at 400 meters. These can be done at any time, you just have to organise a timekeeper to record your times. A points system exists, and is based on the type of event, your gender, age grouping and Top Ten listings. These swims are also eligible for the Top Ten. AUSSI Masters Swimming provides each of its clubs with a computer program that tracks individual performances, and can provide you with a printout of your progressive points earned. As part of an incentive program, AUSSI Masters Swimming presents Branch and National Aerobic Trophies to the respective clubs who have accumulated the highest points or who have the most points per member. For clubs to be eligible for consideration of these Trophies, club members may complete a number of distances with 400m upwards and continuously from ½ hr to ¾ hr to 1 hour in a variety of strokes. An additional incentive in the form of apparel is provided for swimmers accumulating longer distances. A record card to log your distances is included in this kit. Awards are available through your Club Secretary or Aerobics Recorder on verification of the swims. For the regular swimmers who record their training, these incentives are –
It is important for swimmers to see their fitness and times improving. To encourage swimmers of all standards, the AUSSI Awards are achievable with effort by everyone over a period of time. |
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