A quick question for all of you:
Our state meet is taking place this weekend. The meet entries were cut off last Sunday at 6p.m. The psych sheet was available mid-Monday. About 24 hours later, one of our swimmers found a way to get herself into the meet, despite there being a very strict stipulation regarding no late entries.
She "conveniently" put herself in races where she would place first place without a doubt. In two of the races, she actually knocked her fellow teammates down from first place to second.
Keep in mind that this is not the first time this person has done this, and it should be noted that she repeatedly stated her goal to get "high point" at the meet. According to numerous conversations, she knew she had "missed" the deadline, but failed to seek entry until AFTER the psych sheet came out.
When our coach was notified of this, his reaction was basically, "It's just your time that counts, so I wouldn't worry about points." However, this obviously affects not only the swimmers on her team who were screwed, but other swimmers and other teams who may also be trying to get high point status.
Am I wrong in thinking that this is deceptive at best, and a very clever and manipulative use of a loophole that allows a swimmer to have a very unfair advantage? Is this what USMS has become - winning at any cost? Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?
A quick question for all of you:
Our state meet is taking place this weekend. The meet entries were cut off last Sunday at 6p.m. The psych sheet was available mid-Monday. About 24 hours later, one of our swimmers found a way to get herself into the meet, despite there being a very strict stipulation regarding no late entries.
She "conveniently" put herself in races where she would place first place without a doubt. In two of the races, she actually knocked her fellow teammates down from first place to second.
Keep in mind that this is not the first time this person has done this, and it should be noted that she repeatedly stated her goal to get "high point" at the meet. According to numerous conversations, she knew she had "missed" the deadline, but failed to seek entry until AFTER the psych sheet came out.
When our coach was notified of this, his reaction was basically, "It's just your time that counts, so I wouldn't worry about points." However, this obviously affects not only the swimmers on her team who were screwed, but other swimmers and other teams who may also be trying to get high point status.
Am I wrong in thinking that this is deceptive at best, and a very clever and manipulative use of a loophole that allows a swimmer to have a very unfair advantage? Is this what USMS has become - winning at any cost? Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?
I lost a State Meet while coaching because someone did something similar (was scratched during the scratch down period, then re-entered in the event after final psyche sheet was released). In my case, it was due to someone who knew nothing about swimming, but was in charge of AAA (the high school sports governing body in Arkansas), deciding what was in the best interest of the SWIMMER (the swimmer didn't make this mistake, the coach(es) did). While on the one hand I can respect that, on the other, the person had no idea that doing this would cause a ripple effect, and my team went on to lose by 1.5 points (the swimmer in question won his event).
I think what it comes down to is who is in charge and how well they want to enforce their rules. I am one of those people where if the rules say "You cannot do X," then I won't do X, and expect everyone else participating not be allowed to do X either. I also believe if I am one of the people enforcing said rules, that NO ONE should be allowed to do X. No exceptions (especially when we talk specifically about something like meet entries).
It sounds like whoever was in charge of your meet had a heart, or a bribe, or just doesn't care that much one way or the other, and let this swimmer enter past the deadline. I personally don't believe in making "grey areas" where if you enter past the deadline but before the psyche sheet you can still get in. Meet deadlines are just that: deadlines. I used to shut teams out of meets for not meeting the entry deadline. It wasn't like the meet was only posted a day before. When this stuff is up and online for weeks and sometimes months, there really is no excuse. But certainly trying to enter a meet AFTER a psyche sheet is posted is just not right.
On the other hand, maybe this swimmer had some personal family issue or medical issue that caused them to accidentally miss the deadline...then again, your explanation seems to shoot that possibility down!
A quick question for all of you:
Our state meet is taking place this weekend. The meet entries were cut off last Sunday at 6p.m. The psych sheet was available mid-Monday. About 24 hours later, one of our swimmers found a way to get herself into the meet, despite there being a very strict stipulation regarding no late entries.
She "conveniently" put herself in races where she would place first place without a doubt. In two of the races, she actually knocked her fellow teammates down from first place to second.
Keep in mind that this is not the first time this person has done this, and it should be noted that she repeatedly stated her goal to get "high point" at the meet. According to numerous conversations, she knew she had "missed" the deadline, but failed to seek entry until AFTER the psych sheet came out.
When our coach was notified of this, his reaction was basically, "It's just your time that counts, so I wouldn't worry about points." However, this obviously affects not only the swimmers on her team who were screwed, but other swimmers and other teams who may also be trying to get high point status.
Am I wrong in thinking that this is deceptive at best, and a very clever and manipulative use of a loophole that allows a swimmer to have a very unfair advantage? Is this what USMS has become - winning at any cost? Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?
I lost a State Meet while coaching because someone did something similar (was scratched during the scratch down period, then re-entered in the event after final psyche sheet was released). In my case, it was due to someone who knew nothing about swimming, but was in charge of AAA (the high school sports governing body in Arkansas), deciding what was in the best interest of the SWIMMER (the swimmer didn't make this mistake, the coach(es) did). While on the one hand I can respect that, on the other, the person had no idea that doing this would cause a ripple effect, and my team went on to lose by 1.5 points (the swimmer in question won his event).
I think what it comes down to is who is in charge and how well they want to enforce their rules. I am one of those people where if the rules say "You cannot do X," then I won't do X, and expect everyone else participating not be allowed to do X either. I also believe if I am one of the people enforcing said rules, that NO ONE should be allowed to do X. No exceptions (especially when we talk specifically about something like meet entries).
It sounds like whoever was in charge of your meet had a heart, or a bribe, or just doesn't care that much one way or the other, and let this swimmer enter past the deadline. I personally don't believe in making "grey areas" where if you enter past the deadline but before the psyche sheet you can still get in. Meet deadlines are just that: deadlines. I used to shut teams out of meets for not meeting the entry deadline. It wasn't like the meet was only posted a day before. When this stuff is up and online for weeks and sometimes months, there really is no excuse. But certainly trying to enter a meet AFTER a psyche sheet is posted is just not right.
On the other hand, maybe this swimmer had some personal family issue or medical issue that caused them to accidentally miss the deadline...then again, your explanation seems to shoot that possibility down!
