Frequently Asked Questions

General Info

Masters swimming is organized swim training for adults aged 18 and up. It focuses on fitness, skill development, and/or competition, depending on your goals.
Joining a Masters swim club gives you structured, coached workouts in a supportive environment — whether you're training for fitness, competition, or fun. You'll improve your technique, build endurance, stay motivated, and be part of a welcoming, social community of adult swimmers of all levels. Swimming is also a very low cost activity compared to most other sports.
Anyone over 18 who can comfortably swim 8 lengths of a 25m pool is welcome. No need to be fast or competitive—many join just for fitness, friendship, and structure.
18 and up. We have swimmers in their 20s through their 70s and beyond. It's never too late to join.
You can register online at https://nmsc.org/#trials
You should be able to swim at least 200m continuously. The sessions are coached and workouts for all levels are coordinated every practice. We will help you improve any level of swimming ability.
Absolutely. Many of our members train for general fitness, stress relief, or fun.

Logitstics & Practice

Our morning swims are generally much busier than the evening swims so if you have a choice, there will be much more room in the evening swims. If you’re a busy professional, parent or night owl, the evening swims offer a relaxed atmosphere to unwind after a long day while still getting a structured, coached workout.
The majority of practices are at the Walter Baker Sports Centre at 100 Malvern Drive, Nepean, Ontario. The practice schedule is posted at NMSC.ORG
You only need a swimsuit, goggles and towel. The club has an assortment of fins, pull buoys and kick boards or you can bring your own.
Lanes are set by speed and comfort level. Coaches will suggest an appropriate lane for you and you are free to move up into a faster or slower lane depending on how you feel. Coaches provide sets suitable for all lanes.
You should be familiar and willing to learn more than just 1 stroke. Some of the sets will include "choice" stroke which means you can do the stroke of your choice.
No problem. Come when you can—your membership allows you to attend on any of the practices you have registered for.
Yes, our coaches provide technical feedback and help you improve your strokes, turns, and general fitness. If you have a particular stroke you would like to work on, mention it to the coach and they will give you specific feedback.
Good swim lane etiquette helps keep workouts smooth and enjoyable for everyone. It describes how to share a lane and follow a practice respectfully and safely. Our detailed lane etiquette can be found at https://nmsc.org/policies/etiquette.

Fees & Membership

Our current fees can be found at NMSC.ORG. Membership includes coaching, pool time, life guards. A small ($15), annual, mandatory Masters Swimming Ontario membership fee is also required.
Yes, if you join after the season is already underway, your fee reflects how many weeks of the swim season is left.
  • Insurance coverage during official club activities
  • Eligibility to race in sanctioned meets and set official records
  • Access to training, administrative, and tracking tools for both swimmers and clubs

In short—it’s the foundation of organized, safe, and officially recognized adult swimming in Ontario. More information about MSO can be found at MastersSwimmingOntario.ca

Yes, trial swims are available and described at https://nmsc.org/#trials. Drop-ins are not available because of the need to register and have insurance coverage before the swim.
Access to all practices for which you have registered, coaching, club communications, the option to participate in social events and the Masters Swimming Ontario benefits mentioned earlier.
We do offer a refund if our club does not work out for you. Just notify us after two weeks and receive a prorated amount of your fees returned.

Competition & Events

Nope. Competing is 100% optional. Most members do not enter competitions, however, many do. Competitions range from local, national and international levels to fun meets with no pressure whatsoever.
We’ll guide you. Club communications will inform you of meets and you can find them on MSO.ORG. Coaches can help with event selection.
It’s a great motivator, helps track progress, and is surprisingly fun—especially with teammates cheering you on.
Yes, some members attend meets around the region and we host one or more annually.

Club Culture & Support

Definitely. We host occasional socials, team breakfasts, post-swim drink nights and celebrations. It’s a long standing tradition that the evening swimmers have more fun … post-swim drinks beats breakfast!
We are an independent, non-profit club run by a volunteer board of directors since 1977. Our coaches are paid and we pay the city for pool time and life guards. As a member of the club, if you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, let us know!

Safety & Policies

If you are not feeling well, stay home to keep others at the pool safe. If you are injured, either stay home to recover or if you feel well enough to swim, let the coach know and go easy - perhaps move down to a slower lane. All coaches and lifeguards are National Lifeguard Service certified and ready to respond to any on-deck situation.
We don’t offer refunds for missed practices as you maintain a reserved spot for the swim, but contact us if you need to step away from the club for a refund for any reason.
Reach out. We aim to be flexible and supportive in case of injury or life change.