Is there really a division between masters swimmers? i.e. one camp allied to a more low key fitness oriented approach with low membership growth vs. a meet oriented competitive (elite) camp?
This sounds ridiculous to me. I don't think I've ever run into anyone that acknowledged this debate on a pool deck.
What spawns this rift in Masters swimming? Is this an old guard vs. younger member phenonmenon?
Are there different motivations that exist that create this conflict in terms of the future of USMS? Why can't both coexist?
I say we poll some people out there and find out what they support.
John Smith
My speed or actually lack thereof would put me well out of elite ranks, but isn't there something in between fitness swimmer and elite?
I always think of the fitness swimmer as anyone who swims laps just doing it for the exercise. This somewhat reminds me of the debate in running circles about "runner" vs. "jogger" and there are so many gradations of commitment to a sport.
I suppose I'd say I'm more low key than the fast swimmers in the more advanced lanes at my master's workouts. But the fact that I go to master's workouts might make me less low-key than someone who swims maybe a dozen or so laps for the exercise. (Of course, that dozen-lap swimmer might be able to swim circles around me and might think I should be committed... but that's a whole 'nother story.) ;)
Okay, so now that I've non-answered the first question, another non-answer coming up: I'm down with lane space... love it in fact... hate crowded pools... and thus am all good with USMS growing. Contradictory? Maybe not.
The more masters' groups and interest in them, the more people who understand about swimmers wanting lane space and thus the more lane space available. The "if you build it, they will come" school of expansion applied to the idea of getting more support for swim workout time both in groups and independently. While it's great to support kids' swimming programs, it would be nice to promote serious swimming for adults.
I compete infrequently except with myself in the pool.. just time schedule and opportunity don't always mesh... but I see the occasional meet or open water race as a way to stay motivated and keep working on my swimming... and at the same time enjoy the workouts for their own sake--as mentioned, competing w/ myself, w/ my previous times, etc.
My speed or actually lack thereof would put me well out of elite ranks, but isn't there something in between fitness swimmer and elite?
I always think of the fitness swimmer as anyone who swims laps just doing it for the exercise. This somewhat reminds me of the debate in running circles about "runner" vs. "jogger" and there are so many gradations of commitment to a sport.
I suppose I'd say I'm more low key than the fast swimmers in the more advanced lanes at my master's workouts. But the fact that I go to master's workouts might make me less low-key than someone who swims maybe a dozen or so laps for the exercise. (Of course, that dozen-lap swimmer might be able to swim circles around me and might think I should be committed... but that's a whole 'nother story.) ;)
Okay, so now that I've non-answered the first question, another non-answer coming up: I'm down with lane space... love it in fact... hate crowded pools... and thus am all good with USMS growing. Contradictory? Maybe not.
The more masters' groups and interest in them, the more people who understand about swimmers wanting lane space and thus the more lane space available. The "if you build it, they will come" school of expansion applied to the idea of getting more support for swim workout time both in groups and independently. While it's great to support kids' swimming programs, it would be nice to promote serious swimming for adults.
I compete infrequently except with myself in the pool.. just time schedule and opportunity don't always mesh... but I see the occasional meet or open water race as a way to stay motivated and keep working on my swimming... and at the same time enjoy the workouts for their own sake--as mentioned, competing w/ myself, w/ my previous times, etc.
