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
You've gone so far down the slippery slope that I wonder if you knew where you got on the slide.
Y Nationals are not the Olympics and not the NCAAs. Drawing that analogy is erroneous. And, I'm not sure how you drew the distinction between Y membership and wearing fins and taking drugs. I don't think anyone would support that.
No, but to compete in the Olympics, you must have MEMBERSHIP ie citizenship for that country. And to compete at NCAA's you must belong to and go to school. Just like the YMCA, you should have "membership" to compete.
You are concerned about one thing and one thing only - trinkets. All that great work you do at the Y doesn't entitle you to the medals or entitle you to swim the fastest. It entitles you to compete, that's it. Why the great concern? What is the harm? Aren't you still practicing and getting in shape and setting PBs?
Can you read my mind? I think not. I'm concerned about fair play and palying by the rules. I enjoy competition and the TEAM concept. Bringing in ringers dilutes my enjoyment - which I have earned.
And, as a member, you don't decide the policies on membership, the board of directors for the Y does. And, membership is not conditional on the amount of work a person does.
This is the crux of the issue. There are policies on membership. I strenously object to subverting those policies so that someone can swim in a swim meet. I object to those YMCA's that allow someone to buy a discounted membership solely for the purpose of competing at a swim meet.
If you are upset because you can't swim fast enough to win medals maybe you should train harder to be as good as the "ringers." Then, you could say you are the fastest, period.
You miss the point entirely. It is not about swimming fast. This post is about principals, standards and ethics.
Stop whining, start winning!
Originally posted by aquageek
You've gone so far down the slippery slope that I wonder if you knew where you got on the slide.
Y Nationals are not the Olympics and not the NCAAs. Drawing that analogy is erroneous. And, I'm not sure how you drew the distinction between Y membership and wearing fins and taking drugs. I don't think anyone would support that.
No, but to compete in the Olympics, you must have MEMBERSHIP ie citizenship for that country. And to compete at NCAA's you must belong to and go to school. Just like the YMCA, you should have "membership" to compete.
You are concerned about one thing and one thing only - trinkets. All that great work you do at the Y doesn't entitle you to the medals or entitle you to swim the fastest. It entitles you to compete, that's it. Why the great concern? What is the harm? Aren't you still practicing and getting in shape and setting PBs?
Can you read my mind? I think not. I'm concerned about fair play and palying by the rules. I enjoy competition and the TEAM concept. Bringing in ringers dilutes my enjoyment - which I have earned.
And, as a member, you don't decide the policies on membership, the board of directors for the Y does. And, membership is not conditional on the amount of work a person does.
This is the crux of the issue. There are policies on membership. I strenously object to subverting those policies so that someone can swim in a swim meet. I object to those YMCA's that allow someone to buy a discounted membership solely for the purpose of competing at a swim meet.
If you are upset because you can't swim fast enough to win medals maybe you should train harder to be as good as the "ringers." Then, you could say you are the fastest, period.
You miss the point entirely. It is not about swimming fast. This post is about principals, standards and ethics.
Stop whining, start winning!
