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
To add to the comments...
Some people just want to be able do relays. And there are so many swimmers (myself for one) who have been to the Y Nationals and lo and behold I am the only person from my Y, so, no relays. Even though there may be someone at that meet on my masters team, I can't do a relay with them. So yes, if there is a group of us--all Y members--- who would like to be on relays and can somehow swing it where we are all members of the same Y, what is the harm? We're all members of a YMCA somewhere....
Now, I have seen a situation where a ringer was arranged with a Y age group team...and for the sole purpose of winning an award, being the best, etc. I don't think that was right. In this situation, it knocked off a longtime relay member of one team, just to add a faster guy from another Y. The age group Y nationals are far more competitive, with stricter entry rules, than the Masters Y Nats.
To add to the comments...
Some people just want to be able do relays. And there are so many swimmers (myself for one) who have been to the Y Nationals and lo and behold I am the only person from my Y, so, no relays. Even though there may be someone at that meet on my masters team, I can't do a relay with them. So yes, if there is a group of us--all Y members--- who would like to be on relays and can somehow swing it where we are all members of the same Y, what is the harm? We're all members of a YMCA somewhere....
Now, I have seen a situation where a ringer was arranged with a Y age group team...and for the sole purpose of winning an award, being the best, etc. I don't think that was right. In this situation, it knocked off a longtime relay member of one team, just to add a faster guy from another Y. The age group Y nationals are far more competitive, with stricter entry rules, than the Masters Y Nats.
