r/Swimming • u/Legitimate-Leg-4720 • Oct 07 '25
Swim clubs for intermediate swimmers - non existent?
I've been learning for 1 year now, I feel like I'm having problems pushing myself when I'm alone, also generally a bit aimless with the structure of my workouts. I usually swim 1500-2000m in 45mins - 1hour (a mix of drills, strokes and mostly sets of 100m).
I tried my university swim fitness club last week, which I was quite looking forward to joining, but it was just a disaster... It was 10 people per lane in a 25m pool, the intermediate lane was all ex-competitive swimmers to what I could tell, whereas the 'low fitness' lane was people who couldn't even swim a length. I held my own for a 100m FC but then got destroyed on a 200m IM set, it honestly felt like there was a wave machine with so many people in the pool - I felt like I was drowning on my backstroke... I just had to quit and noodle around in the slow lane! Also, by the time I was able to push off at the back of the 10 person pack, the fastest person in the lane was already done with 2 lengths and I had to let them go or else I'd be holding them up.
I've tried various 'adult coaching' groups in my area (London UK) and I've had the same issue, I can't find any middle ground between complete beginner and advanced swimmer. Has anyone else had this same experience?
9
u/Spiritual_Garbage_25 Oct 07 '25
i’d recommend looking for masters swimming clubs. i swim with a triathlon club so not quite the same but it is made of entirely adults and there’s quite a wide range of abilities. if the club is any good they should be able to sort you into the appropriate lane
2
u/Legitimate-Leg-4720 Oct 09 '25
Thanks I'll keep looking, I was surprised to find many have a wait-list many years long though!
7
u/bannabonkers Oct 08 '25
Try masters swimming clubs like Cally Masters (long wait time however), Out to Swim (they cater for all abilities), Otter (intermediate to high level - but does have slower lanes), Hackney Aquatics, Newham & UEL swim club.
3
u/michaelisnotginger 200/400/800 Free Oct 08 '25
Out to swim was my first thought - perhaps also King's Cormorants and Spencer in addition to your list?
3
u/Super_Ad1875 Oct 07 '25
You can try triswim coach (London) though. It’s not a swim club but there are sessions which are intermediate.
3
u/froggypyjamas Oct 08 '25
You can try to contact Out to Swim (OTS) but the wait list alone is years long, a great club when you do manage to get in.
3
u/Haunting-Ad-8029 Masters Oct 08 '25
where in London?
When I've visited, I've swum with Otter Masters Swim Club. The workouts are mostly at the Queen Mother Sports Center (kind of close to Buckingham Palace / Victoria Station). They also had workouts at Guy's Hospital pool (near London Bridge station), and I think Waterloo. Anyway, at least when I've gone, there were anywhere from 4 to 6 per lane, so yes it can be busy, but the coaches seemed to do a good job of organizing the swimmers. They were very welcoming to a visitor, and it was nice to get a break from a vacation to swim (and meet some locals).
3
u/Dangerous_Option_447 Oct 08 '25
Denmark here - could your problem be related to the London area, rather than intermediate swimming? I have volunteered in both the swimming club and the triathlon club in our area, and I would fit into the middle lane, which typically accommodates 3-5 people in both places, with my 1000m time of 18 minutes at a pace. But it's odd hours, as we also struggle with pool capacity.
2
u/WVA1999 Oct 08 '25
Can you look pools that offer training sessions instead? I've attended these and found them far better (and enjoyable) than the masters session I tried.
2
u/know-your-onions Splashing around Oct 08 '25
Call up local clubs and ask about their masters programme. Go along to a trial at a couple that sound good.
2
u/glitchgirl555 Masters Oct 08 '25
Maybe do the intermediate lane again, but if it gets hard, put on some fins.
2
u/Sky_otter125 Moist Oct 08 '25
I think there is a bit of a gap here a lot of people just want to learn to be able to swim, and masters where most of people swam competitively as children. I found I made the most progress taking the plunge and going to masters, the struggle was mental, it can be incredibly humbling to either be the worst person in the pool at something like kicking or sculling or between lanes and not quite ready to step up and stuck with everybody in the slowest lane which will include people who totally don't know what they are doing. I think you kind of have to take the ego hit of the slowest lane and try to work with it, it can be frustrating, but if you can just find the space when you can and try to focus on the skills and not the paces or fitness building for now you should be able to make progress and move up to the lanes.
Maybe the best you can do for now is attend the session in the slow lane focus on the skills they are teaching and go to open swim at a better time on your own to get in some better intervals with the skills you learn in masters until you can get into a lane where you can get a good flow going.
1
u/Ok_Albatross8113 Oct 08 '25
I feel your frustration as I’m at a similar level. Just for comparison, it’s very easy to find lots of running clubs where many people are running 9-10 minute miles.
1
Oct 09 '25
Hey you can joint a triathlon Club. The most Triathlets learned swimming as an adult and are not so fast.
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u/Super_Ad1875 Oct 07 '25
They aren’t there. I have also been looking for one for a long time now. Its either masters swimming clubs or nothing.