I was "enticed" to stay with Colorado Masters (then Rocky Mountain Masters) when I moved to New Mexico.
I think it's OK if the swimmer isn't recruited by, say, a team in California when he or she lives in Florida. The swimmer's home and the recruiting LMSC should have no more than one state between them.
But in the end, it only makes a difference in relays and point totals. The swimmer is still the same in individual races, no matter what team he or she is representing.
People have "recruited" in all levels of swimming since day 1 (as I brought up the "old days" of mission viejo grabbing top NCAA swimmers to come on board for nationals).
I have no problem with people organizing/recruiting especially if it helps bring people (back) into the sport. Keep in mind, its not always about scoring or records.....evil-goodsmith reunited his 11-12 year relay teamates for short course nationals and they had a blast.....firs time some of them had swum since high school.
And trust me, John could have not done this and been a part of some record setting relays!
Reprehensible!
By the way, Allen, you don't by chance have any "ties" to North Carolina, do you? George Simon is our registrar, just in case.
I'm available at a very reasonable price, if anyone is looking for a mediocre middle distance swimmer.
Why do we have to represent our teams at Masters Worlds?
Why shouldn't we be allowed to swim for the US ?
USMS can appoint a relay administrator and we kick some booty like no other country !
John Smith
I don't think it is bad if a person swam with a certain team and then moved for them to stay with their old team.
Case in Point
Karlyn Pipes Nielson swam for SDSM for a very long time but then moved to Hawaii but continues to swim for SDSM because she knows everyone and feels part of their team.
However, I know SDSM recruits swimmers as far away as Canada and some have never even been to San Diego. All I can say to that is we(SSLM) tend to have more fun as a team since we know and train with all of our team members everyday.
In the end, SDSM can have the records if they want them that bad. I was happy to see our team cheering behind the blocks on every swim because of the team connection. To me, fun and comraderie will always be more important and a reason to swim/coach than records.
Dan Peck
swimsmarter.com
Swim Smarter La Jolla Masters (Go SSLiM)
So some of the people who voted think it is alright to force a swimmer to swim on a particular club for Nationals, even though there is only three people attending from his club? When he could have joined a club with enough swimmers to make some relays, and actually wanted to have him represent them?
You probably think it is unfair for folks to bid on ebay at the last moment to win the auction. Grow up.
I'm not deadset against it, but I think it does slightly taint the results and any relay records that were set by the team. Granted, the relay swimmers still have to step up and swim fast, so it doesn't take anything away from their individual swims, but it seems to me it takes some of the luster away from the record. It is much more impressive for a "home grown" team to set a record. This is exactly the same whether we're talking about teams recruiting swimmers or the so-called super teams.
Julie:
I am sorry and stand corrected. I must have mixed you and Michael up with someone else. That's a nice jesture to help another team at Nationals.
