Recruiting

I understand what you're saying Skip but the people that are unhappy about it aren't the people who desire to leave their team and swim for a faster relay team. It seems they are imposing their frustrations on people that would want to leave on their own accord. And mind you, this is only for world or international competitions. What do you think of this as a possible middle ground. USMS could allow a sort of dual registration for individuals who want to represent their country at worlds or international competitions and swim on faster relays. This way you retain your local USMS registration to swim all year with your local team including nationals and then when you go to worlds you swim for a national type of team. Getting back to your "intent" question. It may be the intent of USMS to discourage a national team based on FINA guidelines, but USMS did not disallow it in the rule book. I don't think anyone is trying to hide anything by recruiting a "super team" for relays at worlds. It is what it is..... a better way to get faster people together. People who don't want anything to do with it don't have to join. People who do want to participate should be allowed to join and frankly, USMS should support both options. Remember, no one is doing this to piss of local USMS clubs or non elite swimmers. People who want to do this want to independently leave their local club for a limited time period to swim on these relays and come back. John Smith

I understand what you're saying Skip but the people that are unhappy about it aren't the people who desire to leave their team and swim for a faster relay team. It seems they are imposing their frustrations on people that would want to leave on their own accord. And mind you, this is only for world or international competitions. What do you think of this as a possible middle ground. USMS could allow a sort of dual registration for individuals who want to represent their country at worlds or international competitions and swim on faster relays. This way you retain your local USMS registration to swim all year with your local team including nationals and then when you go to worlds you swim for a national type of team. Getting back to your "intent" question. It may be the intent of USMS to discourage a national team based on FINA guidelines, but USMS did not disallow it in the rule book. I don't think anyone is trying to hide anything by recruiting a "super team" for relays at worlds. It is what it is..... a better way to get faster people together. People who don't want anything to do with it don't have to join. People who do want to participate should be allowed to join and frankly, USMS should support both options. Remember, no one is doing this to piss of local USMS clubs or non elite swimmers. People who want to do this want to independently leave their local club for a limited time period to swim on these relays and come back. John Smith