I've been following the postings here for a while and I'd like to find out how people feel about the YMCA Nationals. I've participated in the Y-Nationals for years and one thing really bugs me. Every year there are "Ringers" - swimmers who don't actually belong to or swim with a YMCA. They shop around for a Y willing to give them a cheap deal, all so they can swim at the meet. Y-Nationals is supposed to be an event for YMCA members and YMCA's who sponser a team.
I don't undersatnd why a YMCA would sign all the forms for these swimmers and I don't understand why these swimmers feel the need to pretend they are YMCA members.
Does anybody else think this is cheating?
Thanks,
a real YMCA swimmer.
We had a rather animated thread a while back on this topic as it relates to USMS Nationals and the so called "ringer" phenomenom.
Keep in mind there is no such thing as "a real Y swimmer." Ys are open to anyone and everyone, regardless of ability to pay. It's a Y, for goodness sakes.
This whole notion that you are being denied a trinket by someone faster than you who enters late is irrelevant. Don't you want to compete against the best competition, regardless of when they paid their membership? Whether or not a ringer shows up doesn't make you any more or less fast compared to them.
We had a rather animated thread a while back on this topic as it relates to USMS Nationals and the so called "ringer" phenomenom.
Keep in mind there is no such thing as "a real Y swimmer." Ys are open to anyone and everyone, regardless of ability to pay. It's a Y, for goodness sakes.
This whole notion that you are being denied a trinket by someone faster than you who enters late is irrelevant. Don't you want to compete against the best competition, regardless of when they paid their membership? Whether or not a ringer shows up doesn't make you any more or less fast compared to them.
