For Event Directors - Recent Threads

RE: Will there be any LCM events in Virginia this summer?

Megan OC — Sun, 24 May 2026 13:21:40 GMT

We have an indoor LCM meet scheduled for June 20, 2026 in historic St. Mary’s City, MD. This is historically a fast pool. All long course individual events, except the 800 free, and 3 relays. I have included the link to meet registration. Please note, the limited number of entries for the 400 IM, 400 Free, and 1500 Free events.

The drive is about 2-2.5 hours from Richmond. Let me know if you have any questions.

www.usms.org/.../2026-2nd-annual-maryland-summer-lcm-swim-meet-a1jpo00000avlvz2a1

Will there be any LCM events in Virginia this summer?

VBWJT — Fri, 22 May 2026 11:23:10 GMT

Our Virginia masters team is growing and we had some swimmers competing at the recent spring Nationals. We are looking forward to summer Nationals in Richmond in 2027. Are there any Virginia LCM meets in the plans for this summer? We were hoping to get to at least 1 LCM meet this year.

South Central LCM Zones 2026

RUR63 — Fri, 15 May 2026 09:14:38 GMT

Where are going to be organized ?? Has anyone heard anything?

RE: South Central LCM Zones 2026

Nicole Christensen — Fri, 15 May 2026 20:05:15 GMT

It was announced at the South Central Zone annual meeting last August that no club or group had put in a bid to run a LCM Zone Champs meet and several had been asked but none able, or willing. Every LMSC was asked if they had any potential hosts. We will be having a SCM championship for the first time Nov 14-15, 2026. USMS South Central Zone - Masters Swimming, Usms Swimming, Open Water and Pool Competitions, Masters Swimming

2026 USMS Summer Nationals NQT Hy-Tek File

Colton Martin — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:58:32 GMT

Attached is the hy-tek time standards file with the 2026 Summer NQTs.

You will need to unzip the file to import to MM.

[View:/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/1250/usmssu26nqt.zip:320:240]

OEVT question for Event Directors

Nicole Christensen — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:35:54 GMT

I wanted to find out who regularly offers OVET registrations for your events and if you have found that doing so has created any issues for event directors or membership coordinators.

We have not done this much in the Gulf LMSC but we are considering doing it more in the hopes of encouraging swimmers to try out our events which may then lead them to wanting to join USMS.

TIA for any replies.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

robinmsmith — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:14:27 GMT

Just want to clarify and clear up any misunderstanding. As I stated, our LMSC does not offer OEVT registration for sanctioned pool meets. For the occasional fundraising meet where the host would like to offer OEVT registration, any OEVT swimmers only participate in the nonconforming fun unofficial events listed on the order of events stated in the meet announcement.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

Nicole Christensen — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:53:50 GMT

Thanks Mary Beth. I knew that for our first Gulf LMSC hosted swim meet (Hallowmeet) and I did not delete them but designated them as OVET and then sent them to our Membership Coordinator. I was both Meet Director and and the Administrator Official running the HyTek Meet Manager software and doing all of the pre and post meet emails and reports. This meet was set up for both experienced swimmers and swimmers who had never been to a swim meet. We did do OVET and the process was not onerous at all.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

mb windrath — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:17:38 GMT

Robin, you mentioned that any pool results need to have these OEVT participants removed from the backup. That is not quite accurate.

OEVT swimmers are part of the official results, even though their swims cannot count for any USMS awards. They should be uploaded as part of the meet results, just as other swims like 25-yard swims are uploaded. The local Top Ten Recorder makes sure those swimmers are listed as non-members, and then the swims will automatically NOT be included for top ten or other awards. The Event Results database is NOT just for Top Ten and awards. Per the Guide to Operations for Top Ten Recorders (page 2) of the General Information:

Statement of Purpose: The USMS Event Results Database (ERDB) is the repository of official results from events that are formally Sanctioned or Recognized by USMS. The ERDB is used to list a swimmer's results and may be used to generate awards and recognition data, such as seasonal top 10 lists. Data will be maintained for meets, long distance pool events, and open water events.

Then on page 4 of that same document, 1^st bullet, it explains: One-event members should be marked as non-members in the auditing process in the Top Ten Tools.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

mb windrath — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:58:24 GMT

Event Directors should be aware that ALL times from METER meets that allow OEVT swimmers are NOT valid for World Aquatics Top Ten and/or Records. Yard meets are ok.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

Douglas Sayles — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:06:13 GMT

FOMO works better than OEVT in motivating people to join USMS, especially November-March.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

robinmsmith — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:54:20 GMT

Hi Nicole, we have found that our OEVT participants do NOT join USMS (open water and pool meet participants).

For pool meets, the meet admin has extra work to do to remove the OEVT swimmers and their times from MM and the backup. This is onerous and has to be done before the results are final.

For open water races, the info is requested by USMS about month after the event, so it is hard to get the host to report the number of participants (not number who registered) and provide the OEVT details. Our Open Water Chair and I (as Sanction Chair) have to remind the host how to do this. We have tried to be proactive and get the info earlier, but it doesn't always work and we have to remind the host multiple times regarding what they need to provide.

Note that OEVT registration was not offered when we hosted the USMS OWNC Festival and one of our open water hosts doesn't offer OEVT registration for their events due to capacity limits at their venue. So we do get some new members due to this.

Separately, Our LMSC Annual Meeting is always in November and it usually includes a stroke & turn clinic. And our big LMSC SCM Championship Meet in Long Beach is always in December. We have found that participants do join USMS in order to attend these events and their membership carries over to the following year.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

Douglas Sayles — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:40:29 GMT

The national office would have more data than an LMSC board about the percentage of OEVT members who ultimately join USMS. I doubt many if any LMSCs track or have the means to track that data. I have asked Membership Services about this over the years, during both the Hughes and Butcher administrations, and now as then the answer I've received is hardly any OEVT members join USMS within a few months of a OEVT purchase. I don't know the percentage but feel free to ask Membership Services directly. I'd be surprised if it's more than 3%.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

Nicole Christensen — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:03:04 GMT

Thank you, Robin. I knew everything about what they can and cannot do. I was curious about whether you find that they join and whether the people who process this find it onerous.

In the Gulf, we have too many people who do not participate in any event. We are looking at this from every angle.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

robinmsmith — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:04:19 GMT

Hi Nicole! Southern Pacific LMSC also only offers OEVT membership for our sanctioned open water events. We do not offer OEVT for sanctioned pool meets, except for one or two that are annual fundraising types of meets. And then the host has to get approval to offer OEVT registration from our LMSC Executive Committee.

OEVT participants do not represent a club, they are not able to swim in "legal" relays, and they are not eligible for official times, top ten, or other awards. So, any pool results need to have these participants removed from the backup. For open water, the host can download a spreadsheet with the OEVT entry information from Club Assistant to forward to USMS as required. We then invoice the host for the total fees for the OEVT participants, since USMS "invoices" the LMSC for the total OEVT membership fee amount per event.

We have not found that OEVT individuals join USMS. In fact some are previous USMS members who only want to participate in the open water swim or the fundraiser meet.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

Nicole Christensen — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:10:41 GMT

Thanks so much Doug! I agree with your position on any larger meet 100%.

RE: OEVT question for Event Directors

Douglas Sayles — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:46:13 GMT

Hi Nicole! In New England we only offer OEVT memberships for sanctioned open water events, not pool meets. We revisit this policy every year or two but have not changed it since implementing the policy nearly a decade ago if I recall correctly. Speaking for myself, I'm indifferent about offering OEVT memberships at mini meets but oppose offering OEVTs at zone or LMSC championships or other large team-oriented meets at great venues, which IMO should be an exclusive membership benefit. For example, if we offered OEVT memberships for our annual 700-swimmer NELMSC SCY Championship at Harvard or 500-swimmer CCS-USMS meet at Boston University, dozens of swimmers might opt for OEVT who otherwise would've purchased a standard membership so they could participate in that marquee event potentially taking spots away from longtime full members. Of course, these events very popular and often sell out. If revenue and balancing the meet budget is an issue, then you must of course take that into consideration out of necessity. In the Northeast, it is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to secure pools for big meets, almost prohibitively so.

RE: Love to Swim Outdoors?

John Parkey — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:09:51 GMT

Hi Audrey. I swim with FAST Swim &Tri club, and they post on their web calendar when and where they practice. A club member helps coordinate the downriver swimming dates and times. Please contact them on their site for additional information and participation. Thx. John

Love to Swim Outdoors?

Jill Wright — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 23:14:05 GMT

I love to swim outdoors: lakes, ocean, rivers. It doesn't matter. There is something more fun and freeing than a black line. In Idaho it's almost time. In May we can swim in the ponds and lakes with wetsuits. Finally in June the water gets warmer: 65-68 degrees. No wonder we're tough when we live up here. It's always such a pleasure to go south to swim in warm water. Does anyone have open water warm weather swimming plans?

Our first open water swim in Idaho is at Broadside Harbor , Caldwell, ID on June 14th. Come join us: https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1476&smid=19658

RE: Love to Swim Outdoors?

TB665 — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 22:02:58 GMT

Hi John. I live in Warren, MI and am interested in joining your swim group. How might I do that? I'm currently swimming close to Milford but am very interested to swim downriver or at other lakes nearby.

Thanks,

Audrey

RE: Love to Swim Outdoors?

Jill Wright — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:47:51 GMT

I've heard about those swims. I'll make it someday.

Jill

RE: Love to Swim Outdoors?

John Parkey — Tue, 06 May 2025 20:46:42 GMT

Hi Jill. I'm in the Detroit, MI area and members of our group have begun open water swimming in different inland lakes, and then will add downriver (Detroit River just above Lake Erie) swimming when the temps get a bit warmer in early June. Looing forward to events like the Mackinac Bridge Swim or Mackinac Island Perimeter Swim in July & August. Cheers! John

Sanctions Webpage & Meet Announcement Updates

Douglas Sayles — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:19:38 GMT

Hello Event Directors!

Last year members of the LMSC Development Committee worked with national office staff to restructure the Sanction Application Process webpage, update the Overview and General Sanction Information guidance document, and add a Meet Announcement Template in Word and PDF formats that provide examples of required and optional meet information.

Also, if you're not already aware, USMS has eliminated sanction fees (but kept recognition fees).

Multiple start wave order

ForceDJ — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 14:20:50 GMT

In open water events that have numerous start waves/groups…is it common practice to start the faster/stronger swimmers first, and subsequent groups being slower/weaker swimmers?

Here’s why I ask — There is an event that I participate in annually…this year will be my 24th time swimming in it. About decade ago, the sponsoring organization’s current events director began consulting with me about some of the aspects of the event. It’s a 2-mile swim, across a shipping channel, that obviously is affected by tidal currents. Usually there are 400+ participants. The start is always right at slack tide (low or high), with the faster/stronger swimmers starting first, and usually four or five groups starting at five-minute intervals. Even in perfect conditions, by the time the last group starts, and gets into the channel, the tidal flow has begun. Last year, the start was delayed by 25-30 due to fog. And when we did start, due to time constraints dictated by the USCG, they sent everyone off at the same time. By the time even the lead swimmers got across the channel, the tidal flow had gotten significant. Everyone had difficulty. The slower/weaker swimmers were forced way off course (but not really dangerously as they are accompanied with individual kayakers). So, my suggestion for this year…and going forward…is that they start the groups in reverse order to get the weaker swimmers across the channel before any tidal flow. They like the idea, except that they think all the kayaks on the course will disrupt the faster/stronger swimmers who are permitted to swim without a kayak escort. Thoughts? — Dan

New Open Water Event Directors Forum

TosbornMOORE — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 04:47:54 GMT

Welcome to the new Open Water Event Directors Forum! This forum is intended to be a place for you and other LMSC volunteers to post questions or suggestions and to share information. Questions and Ideas suggested here will be used by the LMSC Development Committee to help prioritize the scheduling of Peer-to-Peer Teleconference Meetings as well as the creation of Recommended Practices documents to address the concerns and include the ideas that you share here.