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Why do "Zones" exist within USMS?

Paul Smith
I left convention again (which was great this year by the way!) with a nagging question...why do we have "Zones" within the structure of USMS? - They wield little if any "power" within the organization - LMSC's are already often challenged with getting volunteers - The only people that can participate pretty much have to be at convention - One additional "layer" of "management? - The lines that have been drawn are crazy...have you seen the Breadbasket? I'd prefer to see a consolidation into 4 Regions...then realign the meet calendar so that "Regional" Championships actually mean something and are a viable alternative to folks that can't make Nationals for whatever reason. Along with this I would prefer to see the competitive seasons "balanced" a bit as follows: - Short Course = Mid-December until the end of April. State meets held around the first of March, Regional's two weeks later, Nationals two weeks after Regional's. - Long Course = May 1 thru the end of August. State championships held around the first of July, Regional's two weeks later, Nationals two weeks after Regional's - Short Course Meters = September 1 thru mid December. State meets in late October, Regional's in November, Nationals the first or second week of December.
  • Paul, honestly, I wanted to vote for option 1. But the spelling error was just too much for me to overlook. 1. Yes, your brilliant Paul! Everyone knows briliant has one l.
  • Paul, honestly, I wanted to vote for option 1. But the spelling error was just too much for me to overlook. 1. Yes, your brilliant Paul! Everyone knows briliant has one l. :)
  • Did zones serve a larger role before the internet? The difference between now and when I started masters is actually quite amazing. I remember only knowing about local and zone meets from my team. You could only get hard copies. It was a big deal to get the Swimmer magazine because that was the only source for the nationals entries. Does anyone remember the pitiful blurb on "upcoming events"? Those were the only events I knew about!
  • well you were at convention. why not make a motion next year? (i realize it's not that simple but...)
  • I would rephrase the question as, "Why do we have LMSCs?" I realize things probably work differently in different parts of the country -- and perhaps my LMSC is doing critical but invisible things that in my newbieness I am not too aware of -- but in my neck of the woods the Dixie Zone website is definitely the go-to place for information about upcoming meets. The Dixie Zone also keeps Dixie Zone records and publishes a Dixie Zone Top Ten list at the end of every season. Since I can't quite make the national Top Ten lists, for me the Zone Top Ten lists are very motivating! As an ordinary competitor, not the sort of person who goes to conventions, not an insider in any sense (and with apologies to LMSC folks for your critical but invisible services!), I get more valuable information from my Zone than I do from my LMSC.
  • The Dixie Zone also keeps Dixie Zone records and publishes a Dixie Zone Top Ten list at the end of every season. Since I can't quite make the national Top Ten lists, for me the Zone Top Ten lists are very motivating!Cool! I didn't know this. Turns out I made a couple top 10 dixie zone times this year. Kind of shocked one of them was 200 fly since I entered that just to see if I could make it. I think you swam next to me in that race. I might be able to dig up some video of it if you want.
  • ... I think you swam next to me in that race. I might be able to dig up some video of it if you want. Aha! So it 'twas you who kicked my *** in the last 50. Well done! Put me down for a rematch this February -- I have been working on this race! Yes, a video would be cool!
  • Aha! So it 'twas you who kicked my *** in the last 50. Well done! Put me down for a rematch this February -- I have been working on this race! Yes, a video would be cool! Here you go: http://youtu.be/coM7NL9kEQA You're on for February! I was nervous about 200 fly this year but look forward to swimming it again.
  • No you're showing...... But, seriously, I think the driving distances would make a difference, as stated above. I do like the standardized schedule for state, etc., meets, but that may vary from region to region, depending on pool availability, etc.