Okay, what do you think of this idea...
We just had our Short Course meters meet. We had about 100-120 swimmers at this meet.
It's held in a dive well, 8 lanes.
Right next to it is a 50 meter pool with lane lines strung up for short course Yards... Some 16 or so lanes.
Entire time maybe 6-8 lanes were busy with warm-ups/warm-downs. The rest of them were gaping empty.
So, I thought... There's room at the pool, there's capacity on the bleachers, there's lot of food (chili, hotdogs, pancakes, BBQ etc) still at the snack bar.
How about if these things are available during, and in addition to just the swim meet:
- Fitness swimmers, come cheer for your competitive teammates, and join the hosting team for a COACHED workout! (for a nominal fee) See what the swim meets are all about. Hang out and join us for a BBQ. Usually we have some music playing too.
- Or if you usually compete, but just don't want to do it that day, you can still come, get a workout in and hang out.
- We could have extra coaches on deck, and offer a mini swim clinic during the meet.
- We are also capable of filming people under and above water, critiquing their stroke and burning a DVD for them. We can even take that equipment and bring it to their meets with us.
- And of course, the BBQ snack bar is open the whole time. At our bigger meets we have been known to bring a live band.
Thoughts please?
Former Member
it sounds like fun to me. I've always liked swim meets. BUT, it also seems to me that it still elevates competitive swimming over fitness swimming. Develop a Fitness Meet where the emphasis isn't on swimming fast and have the competitive swimmers come cheer their fitness swimmers on.
Originally posted by laineybug
it sounds like fun to me. I've always liked swim meets. BUT, it also seems to me that it still elevates competitive swimming over fitness swimming. Develop a Fitness Meet where the emphasis isn't on swimming fast and have the competitive swimmers come cheer their fitness swimmers on.
Well, that may be doable, but it would take a very long time to develop, I think. For now, it's much easier to get people to come to swim meets then it is to get them to do postal events.
One of the things that we're already trying to do is turn postal events into social occasions where the whole team and families participate. Bring the kids, have a BBQ (our area is predominantly families). In areas that are predominantly single people, you'd modify the focus somewhat to appeal to singles little more.
Now, a question for you, what would a fitness meet look like?
Distance and lap swimming?
You know, what's considered the most boring event to watch is the 1500.. .the longer the swim, the harder it is to fire up the spectators. Most people don't have the patience to watch such a long event.
Plus, even though it seems like the focus is on a competitive swimmer, they're usually in minority on most teams. You won't get as much of a turnout, just because there are fewer of them.
Anyway, I like the idea, but I wonder if it is realistic. I know short term it isn't, loner term, I don't know. If you guys have any ideas how to make this more appealing, let's hear them!
We could add an 'unofficoal time trial' event... Not the high end time trial event that USA Swimmers do, but get in a water, do a 200 any which way you want or can... for those people who have never been in a meet before.
Maybe a 'fun-time-trial' event.
Last year we had a 'fun fin relay', relay with fins and anything goes kind of a thing (completely underwater or ?)
In those fun events we could timers and referees hive 'point scores' for style and comical effect, other than just time... like, a good Belly splash would mean additional points, and a nice smooth dive would give you a point deduction.
Points for best windmill stroke, points for, hmmm, can you breathe and smile at the referee to get his attention and points?
(gives the timers a bit of a fun break too)
Maybe guys on the team should judge girls relays, and girls judge guys? Extra points for the loudest swimsuit. Negative points for being too fast?
Synchro-relay-swimoff? Get all 8 lanes to swim as close to the same sopeed as possible. 3 people per lane, side by side. First and last, or first and last two get eliminated on each lap.
Family relays, where kids, sibilings, parents, or spouses and couples swim together.
Surprize door prizes, where you vote for the 'best dressed, or calmest, or most charming or most talkative or... swimmer (or participant).
Waterpolo relay - swim a relay while pushing the ball.
Guys on my team always want to toss around a waterpolo ball.
Stroke drill demonstrations?
Stuff like that?
If that idea could be done in Pittsburgh or the area around--I'd love it.
I can't swim the competitions anymore (injuries and $) BUT I'd love to get some decent coaching, have someone see what I'm doing wrong in my stroke and maybe pickup a few suits and caps from the vendors who could be persuaded to attend(?):)
Connie! You have some great ideas! I especially like the relays that include the families. I remember doing these at my neighborhood pool. It was a blast and provided for a lot of laughs. It is a good way to get our families involved and get them to know each other. Maybe they would be more willing to come to our meets because they would not be bored between events?!
Thanks for sharing your ideas with us! You have inspired me to discuss some of these ideas with my coach.
Well I have no idea what a fitness meet would be like. But, I think the way to approach it would be to ask yourself, what a fit swimmer should be able to do. Ask coaches what realistic goals would be for fitness swimmers then design events that would test those goals. Fitness involves strength, flexibility, stamina, etc. Is it accurate to say that a fit swimmer would have to have good technique to have stamina? Then maybe there could be an event where judges give swimmer's scores on how technically correct they can swim 200.
Elaine
I think that idea of incorporating the too is really cool! I can saw personally that I am a fitness swimmer who would like to try to swim competively. The idea of being able to be coached is extremely tantalizing, especially for unattached swimmers like myself. Maybe a meet could cater to both competitive and fitness swimmers. Have some races, just for fun, that put fitness and competitive swimmers together. I love the idea of having workshops available and the social side of it sounds like a lot of fun. If something like what you are talking about were available, I would definately attend. Good Luck with trying to get something together!!
Kyra
We host several mini meets during the year. There may only be five or so events (no more than 10). This is an excellent way for the non-competitive swimmer to see how a meet is held. Many times they will enter an event (the cost for the meet is extremely affordable) just to see what it is like. This also gives new swimmers the opportunity to "take the plunge" before a more expensive and time consuming all weekend meet.
Originally posted by susanehr
We host several mini meets during the year. There may only be five or so events (no more than 10). This is an excellent way for the non-competitive swimmer to see how a meet is held. Many times they will enter an event (the cost for the meet is extremely affordable) just to see what it is like. This also gives new swimmers the opportunity to "take the plunge" before a more expensive and time consuming all weekend meet.
I love the idea of mini meets! That seems like a great way to introduce new comers, such as myself, into the world of competitive swimming without throwing them in and seeing if they sink or float. It seems like it would be a lot less intimidating and a lot of fun!!
~Kyra
