Frequently-asked Questions, with Answers



Membership fees are for the entire season (September to August of the following year), and include mandatory MSABC (Masters Swim Association of BC) registration. Fees may be pro-rated if a swimmer starts mid-season, providing there is space available.  Current fees are listed here.
Payment is by Interac e-transfer.  Cheques or cash may be accepted by special arrangement.
VMSC holds practices up to four times per week. Attendance at all practices isn’t mandatory but is encouraged. To avoid overcrowding of lanes, the two short-course (25m) weekday practices are split into an early-evening group and a late-evening group.  The two long-course (50m) weekend practices are for all club members simultaneously. See here for current practice days and times.
We have eight lanes, with a range from beginners to world record holders. There is a lane, and a spot in every lane, for everyone. There is no minimum skill level, fitness level, speed level, endurance level etc. required. However a comfort with being immersed in water is expected.
Beginners are always welcome. Our coaches focus on technique, and there are always a variety of drills that help to improve your stroke. Workouts are tailored to swimmers’ fitness levels and goals for the year.


You start at your own pace in the lane you feel comfortable in. If you want to increase your abilities, share your goals with the coaches and work your way into faster lanes.
There are eight lanes with a broad range of abilities, and we always start the year off gradually to accommodate swimmers’ off-season fitness levels. If you’d like to give it a try you can come for about a week and see if you like it before making a firm commitment.
That’s not a problem – we spend the first couple of months each season on stroke technique. Swimmers have a variety of strengths and challenges with each stroke and each lane works out how to spread those abilities around during practice so it tends not to be a problem.
There is no minimum requirement; we all have busy lives, so just come when you can.
No. To ensure that the full membership is able to enjoy uncongested lane space in short course, members are required to choose either the early or late slot for both of their weekday workouts. Note that the early slot often fills up quickly each season.
For short course weekday practices (25 meters), the average is five to six swimmers per lane. For long course weekend practices (50 meters), there are about fifteen swimmers per lane.
Typically we get in about two to three kilometers per practice: see this typical workout as an example. Coaches cycle the weeks’ practices to focus on technique, speed, and endurance throughout the year.
Yes we can definitely sign you up with MSABC, which will allow you to enter meets. The cost for the 2021-2022 season is $39.
As with ALL health conditions or concerns, as long as the coaches are aware of your challenges, they will either make suggestions for adaptations specifically for you, or allow you to modify the workout to ensure that you swim safely and pain-free.
Victoria Masters Swim Club has club merchandise available for direct purchase. See ***link*** for details on how to order and personalize your own clothing and gear online.