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.
I had to join in this discussion because it sort of took me by surprise.
I hope no body considers me a ringer at all.
I started swimming Masters 3 years ago and swam Y Nationals 2 years ago. I swam for my local Y, I convinced a dear friend of mine to join me and now she is hooked. The Y we swam for did NOT have a masters team and it took a lot of work to convince our Y to let us swim, thank goodness my friend is a lawyer. We went to Nationals and had a great time. (Just to let you know our Y didn't even ask us when we returned how we did or how our trip was.) We met a bunch of great people from various teams that had relays and we were very jealous. We wanted to swim relays. We couldn't convince people at our Y to swim. It takes 4 to swim a relay. We looked into joining another Y. The following year we did. Mainly to swim on relays, not for points! Plus, I don't think the Y I swam for even placed top 3 in the team points. I don't think I bumped anyone off any relays either. I didn't even swim on the "A" relay. We needed more girls. The guys out numbered the girls. How do you like that ratio.
Going with a large group also helps decrease the cost of traveling.
I love to swim meets! I love to swim......I love to travel too especially to some where warm with an ocean helps.
Y Nationals are great they get done at 1 then you can relax at the beach. You can't go wrong; they do the YMCA dance. Nothing compares to Y Nationals.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL-how appealing is that. FUN, SUN, and SWIM
Mark your calenders: April 15-18th, make it a weekend to relax before USMS Nationals.
Just swim and have fun.
Swimcerely, Nadine
I had to join in this discussion because it sort of took me by surprise.
I hope no body considers me a ringer at all.
I started swimming Masters 3 years ago and swam Y Nationals 2 years ago. I swam for my local Y, I convinced a dear friend of mine to join me and now she is hooked. The Y we swam for did NOT have a masters team and it took a lot of work to convince our Y to let us swim, thank goodness my friend is a lawyer. We went to Nationals and had a great time. (Just to let you know our Y didn't even ask us when we returned how we did or how our trip was.) We met a bunch of great people from various teams that had relays and we were very jealous. We wanted to swim relays. We couldn't convince people at our Y to swim. It takes 4 to swim a relay. We looked into joining another Y. The following year we did. Mainly to swim on relays, not for points! Plus, I don't think the Y I swam for even placed top 3 in the team points. I don't think I bumped anyone off any relays either. I didn't even swim on the "A" relay. We needed more girls. The guys out numbered the girls. How do you like that ratio.
Going with a large group also helps decrease the cost of traveling.
I love to swim meets! I love to swim......I love to travel too especially to some where warm with an ocean helps.
Y Nationals are great they get done at 1 then you can relax at the beach. You can't go wrong; they do the YMCA dance. Nothing compares to Y Nationals.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL-how appealing is that. FUN, SUN, and SWIM
Mark your calenders: April 15-18th, make it a weekend to relax before USMS Nationals.
Just swim and have fun.
Swimcerely, Nadine
