Has the Championship Committee, or other entity within USMS ever discussed having a more strict policy of enforcement in regards to the NQT's?
Why do we state that you must have 3 cuts, in order to swim more events? Why not require a swimmer to have 6 cuts in order to swim 6 events?
Just like to understand more from a historical point of view. I have read post that asked, or suggested how to control the size and length of the National meets. Would not having a stricter enforcement of this policy help? Or would it cause swimmers to shy away from these meets?
Just a curious thought.
Thank you.
I personally would not like the idea of an East and West Nationals, because I look forward to seeing people from different parts of the country when I go to Nationals. If I had to go East and Jody Welborn had to go West, we could never go head to head in the 200 *** again! Also, for a lot of the older competitors, the only time they have any competition in their age group at all is at Nationals, and they really look forward to that.
It seems to me that the size of Nationals right now is manageable. The size has been holding fairly steady for the last several years.
We may have to go to verifying NQTs at some point if it seems that the honor system is being abused, but I think for the most part we're pretty honest. Just because USA Swimming does it doesn't mean we have to, or that it's feasible for us to do it. I can foresee a verification system having a lot of administrative costs. I give a lot of time to USMS volunteering, but that's not the way I'd choose to spend my time.
On the subject of Olympic qualifying: remember, the Jamaican bobsledders started out not being competitive, using hand-me-down bobsleds, but they eventually became pretty good, and have every right to be there now. And remember "Eric the Eel"? The guy from an African nation who struggled to finish the 100 free, and thought he'd won the entire event when he received so much applause just for finishing? (He also struggled to keep his suit up because he hadn't tied the drawstring, but that's another story.) He wasn't a white South African. But he most likely is an exception. I'm sure you could count on one hand the number of black competitive swimmers in the continent of Africa. I'm not really trying to make an argument for or against enforcing qualifying for the Olympics. Just making a comment.
Meg
I personally would not like the idea of an East and West Nationals, because I look forward to seeing people from different parts of the country when I go to Nationals. If I had to go East and Jody Welborn had to go West, we could never go head to head in the 200 *** again! Also, for a lot of the older competitors, the only time they have any competition in their age group at all is at Nationals, and they really look forward to that.
It seems to me that the size of Nationals right now is manageable. The size has been holding fairly steady for the last several years.
We may have to go to verifying NQTs at some point if it seems that the honor system is being abused, but I think for the most part we're pretty honest. Just because USA Swimming does it doesn't mean we have to, or that it's feasible for us to do it. I can foresee a verification system having a lot of administrative costs. I give a lot of time to USMS volunteering, but that's not the way I'd choose to spend my time.
On the subject of Olympic qualifying: remember, the Jamaican bobsledders started out not being competitive, using hand-me-down bobsleds, but they eventually became pretty good, and have every right to be there now. And remember "Eric the Eel"? The guy from an African nation who struggled to finish the 100 free, and thought he'd won the entire event when he received so much applause just for finishing? (He also struggled to keep his suit up because he hadn't tied the drawstring, but that's another story.) He wasn't a white South African. But he most likely is an exception. I'm sure you could count on one hand the number of black competitive swimmers in the continent of Africa. I'm not really trying to make an argument for or against enforcing qualifying for the Olympics. Just making a comment.
Meg
