Pittsburgh FFH Masters Swimming

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About the FFH

The Pittsburgh Flying Fish Heads is a swimming club of amazing people from all over the Pittsburgh region and one of the fastest growing USMS teams on the east coast. Our current swimmers range in age from 20 - (almost) 80 and have a range of swimming abilities. The Fish Heads was started at the Fox Chapel Racquet Club by Libby Culbertson Ernharth, who had a little dream of being able to swim regularly as an adult in the way she swam as a kid, high schooler and eventually college athlete. She talked a lot of people into joining her, and we’ve been swimming (and growing) as a team in the Pittsburgh region since 2014. There are currently 110 FFH swimmers and coaches.

Ready to Give Masters Swimming a Try?

Despite the word “master,” masters swimming isn’t professional swimming! Our team is open to swimmers of all skill levels and ages; currently the FFH includes swimmers ages 22-78. Being part of a Masters team gives you access to coached workouts at a set time each week.

Here are some of the benefits of joining of joining our team:

  • 10-14 coached practices each week, depending on the time of year

  • Free Sunday morning Yoga for Swimmers

  • FFH Coaches can provide on deck guidance on your swimming form, which helps prevent overuse injuries

  • Friendship! Swimming does not have to be a solo sport

  • Membership in U.S. Masters Swimming is required, and you get all the member benefits associated with our national governing body

2023-2024 Membership

The 2023-2024 season marks the TENTH season of the Pittsburgh Flying Fish Heads. Our tenth season will run September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024 in alignment with the Killer Whales, our partner organization. For anyone who joins our club after the month of September, we offer a monthly membership option, which starts the month you join and ends at the end of our membership year in August. No matter when you join us, you are signing on for the season. We will post updates on membership for our tenth season in August. Please know that we only offer annual memberships, which can only be stopped if you move from Pittsburgh or are injured and unable to swim as a result.

Registration & Fees

  • Our membership is an annual membership; memberships cannot be turned on and off during the season — you are signing on for the year.

  • During September we offer a one time payment option at a reduced rate; these annual one time payments are non-refundable for any reason.

  • All member fees paid to the FFH are managed by Fox Chapel Killer Whales, a 501(c)(3), and are used for coaching and pool rental expenses.

  • Swimmers must also independently register with U.S. Masters Swimming (the national governing body) who provides our liability insurance.

  • Monthly membership cannot be cancelled during the year unless you move out of the Pittsburgh region

  • Monthly membership can be paused only for individuals with a medical issue that makes it so that they are unable to swim; memberships can also be paused for maternity/paternity leave.

Trial Swim

Most new swimmers like to give us a try before joining our team. Register for a trial swim here. Our schedule is here.