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
Parents
Former Member
I'm not sure I see the point of lowering the qualifying times if they are not going to be enforced. As it stands now, anyone can enter three events without a qualifying time. The other thing to keep in mind is that only a fraction of those who do qualify actually enter the meet.
Regardless, I don't consider the current qualifying times in my age group (45-49) easy. I suppose it's all a matter of perspective, since I'm not "elite." But it's taken me quite a bit of work over the past three years to make the qualifying times that I have. If the times are lowered further, which they will be before I age up, I'll just have to work a little harder.
I'm not sure I see the point of lowering the qualifying times if they are not going to be enforced. As it stands now, anyone can enter three events without a qualifying time. The other thing to keep in mind is that only a fraction of those who do qualify actually enter the meet.
Regardless, I don't consider the current qualifying times in my age group (45-49) easy. I suppose it's all a matter of perspective, since I'm not "elite." But it's taken me quite a bit of work over the past three years to make the qualifying times that I have. If the times are lowered further, which they will be before I age up, I'll just have to work a little harder.
