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?
Yes, those are the same locker rooms. Pretty much the same as they've been for the entire 12 or so years that I have been attending meets there. My coach told me that it was up ME to bring it up to the meet director (the same Jim Stites). I also brought it up to the state chair who was horrified and dumbfounded that anyone would even want to do what the swimmer did. My coach's exact words were, "Well, what did you want me to do about it?"
I don't think anyone would have a problem extending a deadline (although I would ask WHY have a deadline if you aren't going to honor it?). My first coach used to always refer to flight departure times when someone was late - the time is the time and they aren't going to turn that plane around because you were a minute late! Anyway, the issue really is that the intention was there to miss the deadline, wait for the psych sheet, and then enter accordingly. It's just slimy.
With regards to the coach, I just hate people who won't take a stand, siding with liars/cheaters rather than what is right in some kind of misguided effort to keep the peace. In the long run, you're only going to display your lack of backbone and lose the respect of those around you. What could have been rectified by simply talking to the swimmer and ensuring her points weren't allowed has now turned into an enormous team-wide drama lasting a week and probably longer.
Yes, those are the same locker rooms. Pretty much the same as they've been for the entire 12 or so years that I have been attending meets there. My coach told me that it was up ME to bring it up to the meet director (the same Jim Stites). I also brought it up to the state chair who was horrified and dumbfounded that anyone would even want to do what the swimmer did. My coach's exact words were, "Well, what did you want me to do about it?"
I don't think anyone would have a problem extending a deadline (although I would ask WHY have a deadline if you aren't going to honor it?). My first coach used to always refer to flight departure times when someone was late - the time is the time and they aren't going to turn that plane around because you were a minute late! Anyway, the issue really is that the intention was there to miss the deadline, wait for the psych sheet, and then enter accordingly. It's just slimy.
With regards to the coach, I just hate people who won't take a stand, siding with liars/cheaters rather than what is right in some kind of misguided effort to keep the peace. In the long run, you're only going to display your lack of backbone and lose the respect of those around you. What could have been rectified by simply talking to the swimmer and ensuring her points weren't allowed has now turned into an enormous team-wide drama lasting a week and probably longer.
