Swimming- Technique or Stamina

I think you already know the answer! Definitely go with the lessons first up or you will head straight into needing to post on ways to treat rotator cuff fasciitis ;-) If lessons are difficult to access you can try what I did after a long layoff - use short fast fins to take some pressure off the shoulders and allow time for the muscular development to occur that will stabilise your shoulders. Gradually wean off the flippers as you build up strength. And don't start swimming straight away - find some drills that will give you good feel and balance in the water. A good coach should take you slow enough to avoid overuse injury. If you are a Master (and aren't we all ;-) ) try and find a Masters coach that understands the older body as we are usually less flexible than our youthful counterparts and less able to have accelerated training loads. If you want to build up some fitness first try fins and kickboard. Also your land based fitness will still help in the pool - it is the lack of technique that will cause you to sink before the end of the lap!Good to have you back in the fold! Dx

I agree get the lessons. I hired a coach last winter to evaluate my stroke and in that hour we spent together I was able to swim much easier because of the suggestions offered to me.

Mike

what constitutes a masters level? just wondering.

I had to make the same decision a few weeks ago.  I went with the lesson.  If you start training first, you'll either build bad habits or 'burn in' the ones you already have.  If you don't swim regularly, getting a lesson first will make a big difference.

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masters level swimming is for older folk - usually post college - who have the desire to still swim in competition. I'm 30, and compete in masters events and am usually one of the youngest participants. You don't have to be a "master" swimmer to be in a masters program, either. Far from it. People do masters for the love of swimming...I mean geezes, I'm no where near where I used to be in terms of times, etc.

Masters is also a national program, and I believe most states do it. Here's the link:

http://www.usms.org/

In our local YMCA pool, Masters = 30+

Nationally, Masters is just 18 and over. Good thing too. Not everyone in college who likes to swim can make the team. :-P