In another discussion, it sounds like there is a lot of interest in having an additional SCM national championship. However, one of the arguments was the lack of attendance at LCM in Rutgers. I personally did not attend the Rutgers meet because it was spread out to be a five day meet. The five days makes it more expensive because of the additional hotel days and food expenses. It also impacts one’s vacation schedules and days available to use in a year for those working in corporate America.
Which got me to thinking, has redoing the national meets by age groups versus event order ever been discussed? What I mean is that specific days would be dedicated to certain age groups and they would swim all of their events spread out over only a one or two day timeframe. They could be split up by age groups rather than age ranges. This would allow one to swim on the same day as the young whipper snappers as well as the old guns. A day in the middle could be dedicated to relays only. This would allow team member in different age groups who still want to swim together the ability to while also only adding one to two additional travel days.
I for one would be much more willing to spend the time and money for a one or two day meet. One could fly in the night before, swim their events in a day and then be able to vacation the other time without worrying about warm-ups and swim times or one could just fly back the morning following their event day and save some money and vacation days in the process. This would also ease the daily congestion at the meet site because only a third or a half of the group would be at the facility each day for warm-ups and events.
Perhaps it’s too late since the national convention is already in progress but perhaps this could be discussed during the committee meeting.
Any one else have thoughts on this idea or has it already been pursued and voted down in the past?
I hear what you are saying about the expense. But part of the joy of nationals is the social aspect, so losing the opportunity to mix with half of the swimmers would be a big minus.
Besides, if you split the swimmers into two groups by age, the multi-generational swimmer families will inconvenienced. If you split by gender, that would take all of the fun out of life. ;)
I hear what you are saying about the expense. But part of the joy of nationals is the social aspect, so losing the opportunity to mix with half of the swimmers would be a big minus.
Besides, if you split the swimmers into two groups by age, the multi-generational swimmer families will inconvenienced. If you split by gender, that would take all of the fun out of life. ;)
