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.
championship : n. 3. A competition or series of competitions held to determine a winner
We call it the National championship, that seems to be a fair description. A patch is given to the first place finishers, labeling them as a National Champion (or so I'm told :( :) ). Or you can think of it as a competition that involves the whole nation.
There may not be an efficient way to swim the 800 and the 1500, just the most efficient way that we can get. (Maybe in a 10 lane pool, keep two lanes off to the side for the extra distance events. Let them swim long distance while the rest of the meet is going on. Just mind the waves when people dive in!)
Michael,
Just to be clear, I'm not in any way suggesting that you ry to incorporate any of the things we've been discussing by next year but rather looking long term.
Some time back I think when we we're discussing NQT's several folks took issue with the "semantics" of a national championhisp vs. calling it a "festival". I'm completely OK with a inclusive....open....festival for all swimmers in USMS but do see that we could up the anty a bit for national and world designated meets.
To me when we host a "world" championship its just that and would be great to see if country vs. country. Otherwise I would suggest we call it the world "club" chmapionships, or world masters swimming festival. Granted their wold be lots of challenges as you've brought up but still think its fun to consider.
Lastly I do think that an oppuruntiy exists to more closely align oursleves with USS for those of us who come from a competition based background; things like QTs, seeding by time vs age, requiring us citenship fo US national records (and add open records) , etc. etc.
With limited resources for swimming the more we can "pool" them to help achieve growth, expansion of pools, etc. the better in my opinion.
Michael,
I'm not necessarilly advocating any of these changes, just bringing them up fo discussion. Changing the name of the wrold champs to me would be stupid, I was using it as an example of how different masters interpretation of "world" is than USS.....as it exists now it is a club championship.
I would love for Nancy to address some of these points that are being brought up by various folks in this forum. Not everyone can attend the convention, this would be a way to reach a ton of people.
Jerry, there are lots of possible scenarios....you don't have to hold a "trials" you could pick teams of our us nationals results. Guys (gals).....just bcause we have "always" done something a certain way doesn't mean it can be done differently or better! "Challenge the domiant paradigm" (a favorite bumper sticker).
To me when we host a "world" championship its just that and would be great to see if country vs. country. Otherwise I would suggest we call it the world "club" chmapionships, or world masters swimming festival. Granted their wold be lots of challenges as you've brought up but still think its fun to consider.
Why do you have to have a world championships that pits country against country? The original Olympics of the modern era had competitors of different countrys on the same team.
While we are the host country for the XI FINA World Masters Championships, I am chairman of the Organizing Committee. It is the FINA Masters Committee that is the management group that runs the championships.
If you have ideas about how to change the championships that happen every two years, you should contact Nancy Ridout who is a member of the FINA Masters Committee, it will be the committee or the FINA Congress that makes decisions about the naming of the championships.
On a side note, so you really think they are going to change the name from the World Championships to the World Masters fesitval? (Personally, I dont think that will happen and to think otherwise would be just kidding yourself.)
Lastly I do think that an oppuruntiy exists to more closely align oursleves with USS for those of us who come from a competition based background; things like QTs, seeding by time vs age, requiring us citenship fo US national records (and add open records) , etc. etc.
To get changes like changes in QT, seeding by time vs age and requiring citizenship for US national records are items that will require changes in the US Masters Swimming Rule book. Those changes can only be made by the USMS House of Delegates. You should get your LMSC to propose changes (or the Championship Committee could also make proposals for the change.)
regards
michael
Tomorrow the USAS Convention starts. They have computers there and if I can get on one I will report back on some of the items discussed here. The International Committee should be interesting and hopefully some of the points brought up here will be discussed.
