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?
Parents
Former Member
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!
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!
