Distance Distance Distance

and... one more thing... There are a few people that complain about awards being based on how fast you are alone.... Well, in traditional swim meets and races it is the speed that counts the most. here's an idea about allowing dedicated people whom may not be abler to become the fast elite still get some recognition... and it may increase interes in meet attendance, which I understand is pone of the things that USMS would like to see. Why not keep a point system, similar to how it's done in ocean swimming? I mean, I know it would require additional work at USMS and local levels, and even with meet organizers levels to make it happen, and this may be difficult to make happen... Hypothetically speaking, let's assume that logistic can be worked out here's how it could work... This is just a first draft, I'm sure it would need a lot of refinement to make it fair and balanced. - Every USMS or LMSC sanctioned meet would be required to use the point system - not just championship meets. - Swimmer would get a point for attending the meet - A point for not scratching the event - A point for each 100 yards or meters swum... perhaps double points for stroke other than freestyle? - A point for each relay swum... or maybe double points for relays? - Poinst as usual for placing 1- (is it 8th? I forget off the top of my head.) - Any others? Maybe a point or two for volunteering in a meet? - Points would be cumulative for each season SCY SCM and LCM and people would be ranked and recognized for their achievements. (this being the most important part) So other than top 10 in speed, you'd have top xxx in involvement, which I think is nothing to sneaze at. Thsi way, one of the principles of masters swimming, where even though speed does matter, just showing up matters too is reinforced from the top down, and gives people a chance to get recognized for their consistency and involvement in the sport. Look at the race car driving.. it's one of the sports where the point system has helped and instilled that just finishing the race counts too, even if you're not first. I mean, a story about a person that perhaps never placed higher than 5th, but had attended every meet in their area for years and years could be inspiring too. Perhaps even more so than someone who is naturally gifted and only comes to two meets a year. Celebrity and human interest can come in many forms. If we want to expand, we may need to look at other ways of recognizing and acknowledging people, which in turn will breathe new life and interest in the organization and the sport. I know, it's a lot of work and bookkeping to do for organization that relays mostly on volunteers to keep it running, then on the other hand, good things don't happen woithout little hard work and sometimes looking outside the bokx (or past the same ole gutter) Anyway, just some thoughts I wanted to throw out there.

and... one more thing... There are a few people that complain about awards being based on how fast you are alone.... Well, in traditional swim meets and races it is the speed that counts the most. here's an idea about allowing dedicated people whom may not be abler to become the fast elite still get some recognition... and it may increase interes in meet attendance, which I understand is pone of the things that USMS would like to see. Why not keep a point system, similar to how it's done in ocean swimming? I mean, I know it would require additional work at USMS and local levels, and even with meet organizers levels to make it happen, and this may be difficult to make happen... Hypothetically speaking, let's assume that logistic can be worked out here's how it could work... This is just a first draft, I'm sure it would need a lot of refinement to make it fair and balanced. - Every USMS or LMSC sanctioned meet would be required to use the point system - not just championship meets. - Swimmer would get a point for attending the meet - A point for not scratching the event - A point for each 100 yards or meters swum... perhaps double points for stroke other than freestyle? - A point for each relay swum... or maybe double points for relays? - Poinst as usual for placing 1- (is it 8th? I forget off the top of my head.) - Any others? Maybe a point or two for volunteering in a meet? - Points would be cumulative for each season SCY SCM and LCM and people would be ranked and recognized for their achievements. (this being the most important part) So other than top 10 in speed, you'd have top xxx in involvement, which I think is nothing to sneaze at. Thsi way, one of the principles of masters swimming, where even though speed does matter, just showing up matters too is reinforced from the top down, and gives people a chance to get recognized for their consistency and involvement in the sport. Look at the race car driving.. it's one of the sports where the point system has helped and instilled that just finishing the race counts too, even if you're not first. I mean, a story about a person that perhaps never placed higher than 5th, but had attended every meet in their area for years and years could be inspiring too. Perhaps even more so than someone who is naturally gifted and only comes to two meets a year. Celebrity and human interest can come in many forms. If we want to expand, we may need to look at other ways of recognizing and acknowledging people, which in turn will breathe new life and interest in the organization and the sport. I know, it's a lot of work and bookkeping to do for organization that relays mostly on volunteers to keep it running, then on the other hand, good things don't happen woithout little hard work and sometimes looking outside the bokx (or past the same ole gutter) Anyway, just some thoughts I wanted to throw out there.