I am fully aware of what is required if a USA Swimming athlete (i.e. - age grouper) swims with my Masters team. But, I have a Masters swimmer that would like to train every now and again with the age group team. I have looked on the USA Swimming site for direction but can't find any. I know with the emphasis on safe sport we have to make sure everything is by the rules. Does anyone know how this works or what the requirements are?
Thank you.
Bill
I am not aware of any restrictions, assuming that the masters swimmer is also a USA-S member. (If s/he isn't then I suspect USA-S has restrictions on non-members swimming with the team, regardless of age or USMS membership.)
It is kind of odd when you think about it. If I'm swimming with a USA-S team, the coach on the deck (often younger than I) has to undergo background checks and whatnot while I am actually in the water with these young swimmers without anything of the sort. Heck, my wife is a computer operator at USA-S meets -- never interacting with swimmers AT ALL -- and had to undergo those same checks.
My recollection is that the "separate lanes for warm up and warm down" requirement in USA-S/USMS dual sanctioned meets (Appendix B pp 144-145 in the 2014 USMS Rule Book) originated from the USA-S side of things because of their concerns for safe sport. But this concern hasn't trickled down to USA-S practices AFAIK. I suspect it is a "see no evil" kind of thing, that just one complaint to the USA-S national office might result in such regulation.
we have locker room of over lap with the USAS kids and because we are also athletes it's all okay.
we cannot be in the locker room with the locL high school team..it's all so weird.
I am fully aware of what is required if a USA Swimming athlete (i.e. - age grouper) swims with my Masters team. But, I have a Masters swimmer that would like to train every now and again with the age group team. I have looked on the USA Swimming site for direction but can't find any. I know with the emphasis on safe sport we have to make sure everything is by the rules. Does anyone know how this works or what the requirements are?
I am not aware of any restrictions, assuming that the masters swimmer is also a USA-S member. (If s/he isn't then I suspect USA-S has restrictions on non-members swimming with the team, regardless of age or USMS membership.)
It is kind of odd when you think about it. If I'm swimming with a USA-S team, the coach on the deck (often younger than I) has to undergo background checks and whatnot while I am actually in the water with these young swimmers without anything of the sort. Heck, my wife is a computer operator at USA-S meets -- never interacting with swimmers AT ALL -- and had to undergo those same checks.
My recollection is that the "separate lanes for warm up and warm down" requirement in USA-S/USMS dual sanctioned meets (Appendix B pp 144-145 in the 2014 USMS Rule Book) originated from the USA-S side of things because of their concerns for safe sport. But this concern hasn't trickled down to USA-S practices AFAIK. I suspect it is a "see no evil" kind of thing, that just one complaint to the USA-S national office might result in such regulation.
Bill,
From what I can tell, having trained with age groupers every so often, as long as the athlete is usa registered and the coaches are ok with the person swimming with kids, it doesn't appear to be an issue. My coaches said that as long as I give the best effort possible each day, try to be encouraging, and an example of leadership for the kids(even though I wouldn't be the fastest) they thought it would be a good thing.
Now, we did have an agreement in place that if any parents or even the kids didn't like the idea of an adult swimming with them, I just train with masters group unless we didn't have practice. The pool is big enough they would give me my own lane on days when we didn't practice for some reason.
I would talk with your adult swimmer about training with the kids. I would make it clear of your expectations and that if any parent or child expressed concerns with you, then the adult swimmer may need to go back to masters practices.
This reminds me of a time in my 30's when all my training was with a kids' team. I happened to be at a local high school on business. One of the swimmers spotted me and said "Hi Mr. Jackson". After a pause I said, with a teacher and an administrator close enough to hear "Oh, hi Kathy I didn't recognize you with your clothes on." :doh::doh::doh:
USA Swimming rules specifically say that US Masters swimmers are able to train in the same lanes with USA Swimming swimmers. The US Masters swimmers do not even have to be registered in any way with USA Swimming. I have seen this many times and it is written in the rules.:confused::confused::confused:
I just went through the USA Swimming rulebook and I couldn’t find the “rule”. Can you let me know where to find it?
However, according to the USA Swimming Insurance Coverages “Frequently Asked Questions”; revised February 2014:
Parents Working Out Same Time as Team
Question: Some parents want to workout (laps) while their children are at swim team practice.
Answer: Two different situations. If they want to swim with their kids in the same lanes while the kids are practicing, they have to join USA Swimming as an athlete member. If they are swimming in separate lanes and are not being coached by the USA Swimming club coach, they don't have to join. However, this activity is not an insured activity.
Masters Swimmers at Practice
Question: A member of the United States Masters Swimming, Inc. practices with a USA Swimming team. What is the status of the liability insurance for the USA Swimming member club and its members?
Answer: This would be an insured activity. There is an agreement between USA Swimming and USMS allowing their members to practice with either organization as long as a USA Swimming member coach is on deck.
USA Swimming rules specifically say that US Masters swimmers are able to train in the same lanes with USA Swimming swimmers. The US Masters swimmers do not even have to be registered in any way with USA Swimming. I have seen this many times and it is written in the rules.
I think I might have read the FAQ you posted and inferred it was in the rules. USA Swimming wouldn't have answered the FAQ the way they did if it wasn't OK for Masters swimmers to swim with USA Swimming members.
Usms has the lane line rule...look at the policy..
I believe, unless it changed.
and the watching coach must be registered usms, not just USAS.The lane separation language deals with dual sanctioned events, not USA Swimming practices.
And the coaching requirements for Masters practices do not apply, since the question has to do with USMS members at USA Swimming practices. The rules and policies dictating who can participate in a USA Swimming workout are those of USA Swimming, the LSC and member clubs; not USMS.
