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.
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by aquageek
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.
Is it irrelevant? If simply "swimming fast" is the goal of a swim meet then why do we keep scores at all?
Why have age and gender groups? Does it matter if you are competing against men, women, and children, young or old as long as you are swimming fast?
Why should we even award ribbons and medals? What's the point? After all, as long as you "swam fast" who cares where you placed - so why would you want to commemorate the event with a "trinket."
Did you ever notice the relay teams at the Olympics representing their countries? Now there is a stupid idea. Why not just get the best swimmers together, regardless of citizenship and see how fast they can go. Representing your country is meaningless - Right?
Should you actually attend the college you swim for? Nah - membership, commitment and dedication to a team in meaningless - just pay your tuition before the meet and swim.
Why do we keep track of things like State, National, Masters and Olympic records? Should it be just one big FINA pot? After all - swimming fast is the only goal.
As a matter of fact - why have standards and rules - just get the end as fast as you can. Wear fins, take drugs, whatever. Just swim fast!
Aquageek - Do you really think that membership and commitment to an organization or group is meaningless and irrelevant? What about standards and rules - Do they count for anything?
RSY
Originally posted by aquageek
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.
Is it irrelevant? If simply "swimming fast" is the goal of a swim meet then why do we keep scores at all?
Why have age and gender groups? Does it matter if you are competing against men, women, and children, young or old as long as you are swimming fast?
Why should we even award ribbons and medals? What's the point? After all, as long as you "swam fast" who cares where you placed - so why would you want to commemorate the event with a "trinket."
Did you ever notice the relay teams at the Olympics representing their countries? Now there is a stupid idea. Why not just get the best swimmers together, regardless of citizenship and see how fast they can go. Representing your country is meaningless - Right?
Should you actually attend the college you swim for? Nah - membership, commitment and dedication to a team in meaningless - just pay your tuition before the meet and swim.
Why do we keep track of things like State, National, Masters and Olympic records? Should it be just one big FINA pot? After all - swimming fast is the only goal.
As a matter of fact - why have standards and rules - just get the end as fast as you can. Wear fins, take drugs, whatever. Just swim fast!
Aquageek - Do you really think that membership and commitment to an organization or group is meaningless and irrelevant? What about standards and rules - Do they count for anything?
RSY
