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?
Was this swimmer's team hosting the meet? If so, I have kind of seen something like this, but not as egregious. Local large team hosting a meet does as many teams do, puts out two psych sheets. An early one, and a late one. I can't recall the reasons for this meet, as there is no time standard to be met. Perhaps entries are due at 2 weeks, but may be modified up until 1 week. At any rate, one time after the psych sheet came out, for the second psych sheet, several of their swimmers had significantly improved times (that were "unofficial") which coincidentally bumped them up a couple of heats, and bumped down some local swimmers on other teams*. Host team kind of has that prerogative, and after a large shake up, that kind of thing has not happened, again. But it torqued off some parents of other teams, and other people just dismissed it.
* It may have been timed finals events such as 400IM or distance frees. Don't recall. Would not have been prelims/finals as top 3 heats are circle seeded.
But if the entry deadline passed and this swimmer had not swum any times that would change his/her qualifications, then they should not be allowed to enter, IMHO. The LSC should have control of that, but as I said, often the host team gets to make the rules.
Was this swimmer's team hosting the meet? If so, I have kind of seen something like this, but not as egregious. Local large team hosting a meet does as many teams do, puts out two psych sheets. An early one, and a late one. I can't recall the reasons for this meet, as there is no time standard to be met. Perhaps entries are due at 2 weeks, but may be modified up until 1 week. At any rate, one time after the psych sheet came out, for the second psych sheet, several of their swimmers had significantly improved times (that were "unofficial") which coincidentally bumped them up a couple of heats, and bumped down some local swimmers on other teams*. Host team kind of has that prerogative, and after a large shake up, that kind of thing has not happened, again. But it torqued off some parents of other teams, and other people just dismissed it.
* It may have been timed finals events such as 400IM or distance frees. Don't recall. Would not have been prelims/finals as top 3 heats are circle seeded.
But if the entry deadline passed and this swimmer had not swum any times that would change his/her qualifications, then they should not be allowed to enter, IMHO. The LSC should have control of that, but as I said, often the host team gets to make the rules.
