From other threads it's seemed some people from small teams feel left out at Nationals because they don't have enough people for relays. How about not counting the relay points for the Small Team Awards and letting the small teams pool swimmers for relays. Pooled relays would not count for records or Top Ten but could win medals.
Paul,
Sorry it took so long to reply.
I'm not against those instances where teams have come together for special occasions such as the DOC Team in '96 or the UCSB Team in '03. I think that's a great way to pull folks out of retirement - I'd hope the positive experience would assist them in continuing to swim thereafter.
What I am against (or just don't agree with) is when swimmers jump from team to team just to be a part of a faster relay team or to contribute to, or be associated with, a higher placing team. That swimmer, to me, has just become a swimming "hussy". This action does the definition of "team" disservice.
Now, it's also one thing when you're alone (or with a couple of others) out in Timbucktoo to associate with a club a thousand miles distant. If you're in a strong local program however, and just can't seem to get the numbers to meets for a significant amount of relay teams to swim with at major meets, your goal should be to work on that particular team trying to get the numbers up, not looking for other teams to "ply your wares" to.
Typing for me is sometimes a rather difficult manner for expressing my opinion - I'd rather discuss it verbally - but I hope I've made myself a little more understandable.
Jim
Paul,
Sorry it took so long to reply.
I'm not against those instances where teams have come together for special occasions such as the DOC Team in '96 or the UCSB Team in '03. I think that's a great way to pull folks out of retirement - I'd hope the positive experience would assist them in continuing to swim thereafter.
What I am against (or just don't agree with) is when swimmers jump from team to team just to be a part of a faster relay team or to contribute to, or be associated with, a higher placing team. That swimmer, to me, has just become a swimming "hussy". This action does the definition of "team" disservice.
Now, it's also one thing when you're alone (or with a couple of others) out in Timbucktoo to associate with a club a thousand miles distant. If you're in a strong local program however, and just can't seem to get the numbers to meets for a significant amount of relay teams to swim with at major meets, your goal should be to work on that particular team trying to get the numbers up, not looking for other teams to "ply your wares" to.
Typing for me is sometimes a rather difficult manner for expressing my opinion - I'd rather discuss it verbally - but I hope I've made myself a little more understandable.
Jim
