Greensboro Nats - Who's In?

I'm in! My first Nationals! 200 free 500 free 200 *** I've had a meh season and I haven't yet swam a qualifying time, but I just didn't want to miss out. Also, there's enough FISH going to post a respectable relay or two! GO FISH! See you all (or many of you, at least) there.

I think the best solution is to let Chris push for a rule change that will allow USMS to accept what the rest of the world condones. Over the long run, yes. Over the short run, there ought to be a procedure whereby the young woman attending Canadian nats this year gets credit for any USMS records she may set; also any TT times, by her or by other swimmers.

Over the long run, yes. Over the short run, there ought to be a procedure...There is a procedure, and it is described in The certification form and process, available on the USMS web site; at www.usms.org/.../gto...easurement.pdf

The certification form and process are readily available on the USMS web site; at www.usms.org/.../gto_rectab_pool_measurement.pdf I being a real live human can guide you through the process, but it is pretty self explanatory. Thanks for the link, Rob. Yes, looks very straight forward for anyone who can operate a measuring tape. :)

I don't know why it has to be so complicated. If a pool is set up walls it can be done via the blueprints or if bulkhead via laser measure, both of which take all of six seconds to accomplish. I also don't quite understand the need to measure a pool set up walls if that pool has hosted sanctioned meets in the past. In the case of Greensboro there will have been a zillion sanctioned meets prior to Nationals.

I also don't quite understand the need to measure a pool set up walls if that pool has hosted sanctioned meets in the past. In the case of Greensboro there will have been a zillion sanctioned meets prior to Nationals. The document Rob provided says that pools with fixed walls do NOT need to be remeasured. Once the pool is measured initially that measurement stays valid. It's only pools with moveable bulkheads that cause problems. And you're right that it doesn't involve a huge effort. You do have to measure both outside lanes and an a middle lane, though, so it's going to take a little longer than six seconds AND you need someone there with the proper equipment before the meet starts to do the measuring. If a pool is set up walls it can be done via the blueprints No way. How do you know the pool was built exactly to the blueprint dimensions? Keep in mind the pool cannot be under the nominal length. There is no negative tolerance allowed. If you put the pads in and the pool is 1 mm too short, then the pool--by the letter of the law--is not legal and you better pull the pads and have three manual timers per lane.

The good news is that I was in Greensboro for an AG NR (breaking a Missy Franklin record) three weeks ago and all was well, running bulkheads. I do know that after the swim a lot of brain firepower was assembled to make sure everything was totally legal. Since I officiated the swim there was some skepticism over whether it would be allowed. And, how do I know a pool was built to exact specs? We don't make mistakes like that in the South, I think. Maybe Boeing engineers were involved, who knows.

They'll likely refuse based on the email I received from the meet director of Canadian Nats in Montreal last May. I hope the Rules & Tabulation proposal passes. It is bizarre to have different standards than FINA. And the current rule is a actual disincentive for USMS swimmers to travel for meets, another oddity. Will the pool be measured for Worlds this summer? If not, I would assume this would affect USMS attendance. I don't know how you worded your email but the response you got from Montreal said it costs $1000 to do the measurements required by FINA and he is not willing to pay for that for every day of the meet. He also said measuring tape doesn't meet his measuring criteria and there were no issues at a meet he hosted in 2003. I think he would have had no issues if you had explained that you would bring the tape and make the measurements, that tape meets USMS measuring criteria, and new USMS rules require measuring every day for meets with a movable bulkhead. Most meet directors outside of the US will not go out of their way to buy measuring equipment but would have no issues letting you make the measurements required and sign whatever paperwork you need or assist in measuring if required. For anyone who wants to go to Canadian Nationals this year explain exactly what you want to do and make it easy for them to say yes.

I'm registered. I couldn't pass it up the opportunity to swim in a fast pool this close to home! Just swimming on Saturday though, and looking forward to some relays.

:hijack: I just measured our town's pool with the form mentioned above, and used the steel tape. Even though it was built in the 70's, it is amazing that each lane was not exactly 75 feet (each was over by 1-2 inches). Our masters mini meet is the same weekend as Nat's, so I won't be going. As for now, :popcorn: