Thanks to everyone involved in the Ft. Lauderdale Nationals. I had a great time and met some exceptional people. I especially want to thank Doug Malcolm for the competition in the adjacent lane. It looks like (from USMS data) you have not competed for quite a while and had a great meet! I had not competed for over 20 years when I entered the 2001 Nat's at Santa Clara and have done pretty well for the past few years. Doug exemplifies what our sport should be all about; a true competitor who brings out the best in someone like me who may not have accomplished the standards acheived in Ft. Lauderdale without someone like him next to me. I never got a chance to thank you so I am doing so now. Keep up the good work!
I would also like to congradulate John Blank for being the first male competitor over 45 to break one minute in the 100 yard breaststroke; a great accomplishment! I have never broken a minute in that event and am full of envy.
Lee Rider
There are no guarantees only advantages. There is no guarantee that four swimmers will swim 200m relay faster than a single swimmer but the playing field is not level in a one person versus four person relay race. In any individual or relay event there are many factors that can make for an uneven race, but the terms of the competition provide a level playing field. This is not true with variable team sizes.
I explicitly stated that I was not advocating removing the total points competition, by all means keep it. Participation is a good thing and should be rewarded. What I am arguing is that if you want to have team competitions with a level playing field you must have fixed sized teams. There simply is no way to have large teams compete with small teams on even terms without introducing factors that discourage inclusion/participation by the less elite.
Since you are against fixed team size competitions I assume you are against relays? Why is it ok for a club to field four relay teams but not ok for the club to field two eight person teams that compete on some other defined basis? I never suggested that a club be limited to one team in the fixed sized team competitions.
All I am saying is that you can't have one competition that both rewards larger teams and that allows small teams to compete on a level playing field. The two goals are contradictory and can best be met with two competitions.
There are no guarantees only advantages. There is no guarantee that four swimmers will swim 200m relay faster than a single swimmer but the playing field is not level in a one person versus four person relay race. In any individual or relay event there are many factors that can make for an uneven race, but the terms of the competition provide a level playing field. This is not true with variable team sizes.
I explicitly stated that I was not advocating removing the total points competition, by all means keep it. Participation is a good thing and should be rewarded. What I am arguing is that if you want to have team competitions with a level playing field you must have fixed sized teams. There simply is no way to have large teams compete with small teams on even terms without introducing factors that discourage inclusion/participation by the less elite.
Since you are against fixed team size competitions I assume you are against relays? Why is it ok for a club to field four relay teams but not ok for the club to field two eight person teams that compete on some other defined basis? I never suggested that a club be limited to one team in the fixed sized team competitions.
All I am saying is that you can't have one competition that both rewards larger teams and that allows small teams to compete on a level playing field. The two goals are contradictory and can best be met with two competitions.
