What were your likes and dislikes about the nationals?

Originally posted by MegSmath Please keep Arizona's check-in system! Meg, Thanks you for some good input :) Anyone happen to know what check-in system they used? (I'll do some research on my own in the meantime)

Originally posted by swim53 I was at Rutgers most recently. ... Transportation? not reliable Swim 53, thank you for the reply :) Other than the obvious, was there something specific, that you know of, that made the trasportation not reliable? Was it not communicated well? Not enough coverage? Inconvenient timing? Just plain no-shows?

This comes from a letter that Dr. Keith Bell wrote to me last week: Yes, USMS can boast about 40,000 members. So what? In my opinion that has detracted from much of what was good about USMS. For example, there are very few persons that have competed in as many USMS Nationals as I have. Yet, I've stopped entering and may never swim in one again because they have gotten so large that it has taken much of the fun out of it (the days are too long) and has been detrimental to good competitive conditions. Also in my opinion, the huge bureaucracy that has gone along with the rise in numbers has had many other negative results. I miss a smaller USMS.

I can understand Dr Bell's concerns, but from similar discussions on past Nationals, I don't see a way to put the genie back in the bottle. (Most suggested changes to Nationals would disenfranchise one group or another.) When I watch NCAA basketball on TV, I think, "wouldn't it be better if they had fewer than 65 teams in the tournament". Then I think back to when I was in college, and there was a real risk of cancelled water polo championships, because there were not enough Division I teams. (Misuse of Title IX was starting to rear its ugly head.) Point: Sometimes smaller does not equal better. (Just like sometimes bigger does not equal better.)

Agreed, smaller isn't necessarily better...or well received. Take a look at how well Dr. Bell's "other" masters endeavor is going and as what swimmers think of his idea for individual world records BY individual age (ie., men's 26 year old, men's 43 year old, women's 31 year old, women's 67 year old, etc). Of 40,000 registered swimmer, how many realistically are expected to swim at a nationals, let alone a zone meet? The purpose of USMS (also shades of prior threads--can of worms here) was to encourage participation and friendship. What we do is the healthiest activity on earth and that is why we should continue to grow.

Originally posted by shipleywm I miss a smaller USMS. What about smaller local meets? Do you not get the community feel out of smaller meets? How would one take an event that encompasses a national level (of anything really, not just swimming) and keep it small and cozy?

My two cents as pluses (+) and minuses (-): Been to: Santa Clara, Honolulu, Cleveland, Phoenix, and Piscataway.... Santa Clara: +crowd control, multiple ways to get where you're going to avoid the crowds, - parking (don't get there late), +heat sheets (up everywhere), ++close to home :) Cleveland: +20 minute delayed Camcorder recording, - help can't breathe indoors (from CA), + the dome (breathing option for those unaccustomed to humidity) ++social Honolulu: +detailed bus schedule, ++open water swim option Phoenix: +water for a dollar stations other than the snack bar, +lots of shade, +++ foot (rails for short people like me so I can stand), - a bit of a squeeze to walk thru in certain areas, ++check in system, Piscataway: +++P.A. system hooked up in locker room hallways, etc.. (for once I didn't have to worry what event they were on every time I got nervous), - construction=shuttle problems solution: car rental, we were warned, ++seating with backs(nice if you can't haul out your own high back chair from coast to coast), ++ check in system I had a very enjoyed myself at every nationals, plus every other meet I've travelled to and I realize nothing is perfect, but some problems can be avoided. Suggestions: I've only seen plentiful "You are Here Maps" at one place, can't remember where, its nice to have them in the program, but alot around the facility are nice for spectators and swimmers, the delayed taping was real cool too. The P.A. was awesome, no matter where I was I could hear the announcer, though it was freaky at first to hear a male voice next to me in the locker room. One more liability issue you may want to cover....seems no matter what meet I travel to, I seem to almost slip and fall, clumsy me I know, but imagine all the floors soaked with water, unable to dry, due to sheer volume....getting some extra non-slip pads might not be a bad idea

Hi Karla, Thanks for the good feedback and ideas :) Hey, my coach and I met you over at the pierce college SCM meet. Great job! You beat me in each event we swam in (we're in the same age group). You go girl! Another year of training for me, and ... watch your heels ;) , well, I hope.