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
There are a couple of points of view in this discussion (and probably lots more in between, too). I'd like to look at them for a moment. One way of thinking is those who have their club and their pool time, and yes they would like to see more pools and more options for themselves. However, they are also concerned that if the sport gets more popular without more pool space, they will have to contend with more crowding and they have mixed feelings about this. Thus, they might desire slower growth that matches pool builidng projects.
Another school of thought is that the sport can't get too big because more swimmers means more clout means a better chance of more pools. On the other hand, a stagnant population of swimmers will lead to no new pool construction and/or new pools being dedicated to rec swimmers and water slides, and a decline in both lanes for masters swimmers and in the number of masters swimmers.
I'm inclined more towards the latter view, but I acknowledge the reasonableness of the former.
Now that I am done being broad-minded, let me indulge in a rant-du-jour. One factor that can drive fewer pools, pools designed more for water slides and rec swimmers, and just plain less pool time is boorish behavior by masters swimmers, and in particular the individual lap swimmer who thinks the world owes him "his" lane, at a time and place of his chosing. Emmett Hines riffed a couple of years ago in this forum about how individual lap swimmers (i.e. pool members who work out on their own, not part of any organized group) are the bane of his existence and cause a disproportionate percentage of his headaches as a pool manager. Complaints about lap swim times and temporary suspensions so other events can take place, demands they be expanded a half hour in either direction to fit one person's schedule, complaints about pool time being "wasted" on fitness class and other activities, demands that rec swimmers--during time slots set aside for rec swimming--be kept away from whatever portion of the pool the lap swimmer wants to use, etc. etc.
Just last week, our water polo group ecountered a prime example of lap swimmer chutzpah. Once a week for an hour and a half we gather to play at one pool (out of two on Base). Depending on how many people show up, we may use more or less of the pool. Last week was a little light, so we used about half of the deep end for "half-court" play with one net, leaving half the lanes open for the full length of the pool and all of the shallow end. One dude was unhappy with the prospect of circle swimming, so he jumped in just on the water polo side of the lane line. We were OK with that. About half way through our game, he stops, thanks us for sharing part of the pool with him (as if he even asked us whether it was OK for him to jump in on our side), and then attempts to direct us to stay out of his way now because he was on his main set. In the interest of avoiding an argument, we did not respond to his remarks, and at tried somewhat not to get in front of him. I wonder, how many lap runners would try to appropriate part of a basketball court currently in use, and how many black eyes would result from such an attempt.
One comment on cut times for Nationals: those who are in favor of hard cuts times to reduce the size of Nationals tend to be those swimmers who are fast enough that they are fairly certain of still being allowed to compete. This is how the term "elite swimmer" has become something of an ambiguous, derisive term in some people's minds. Those who figure they won't make a Nationals cut tend to have a less sanguine point of view.
So I guess my general point is that we in our sport can have a tendency toward narcissism, and I hope we all keep that in mind and try to be respectful and cooperative with others when we discuss pool availabilty.
Matt
There are a couple of points of view in this discussion (and probably lots more in between, too). I'd like to look at them for a moment. One way of thinking is those who have their club and their pool time, and yes they would like to see more pools and more options for themselves. However, they are also concerned that if the sport gets more popular without more pool space, they will have to contend with more crowding and they have mixed feelings about this. Thus, they might desire slower growth that matches pool builidng projects.
Another school of thought is that the sport can't get too big because more swimmers means more clout means a better chance of more pools. On the other hand, a stagnant population of swimmers will lead to no new pool construction and/or new pools being dedicated to rec swimmers and water slides, and a decline in both lanes for masters swimmers and in the number of masters swimmers.
I'm inclined more towards the latter view, but I acknowledge the reasonableness of the former.
Now that I am done being broad-minded, let me indulge in a rant-du-jour. One factor that can drive fewer pools, pools designed more for water slides and rec swimmers, and just plain less pool time is boorish behavior by masters swimmers, and in particular the individual lap swimmer who thinks the world owes him "his" lane, at a time and place of his chosing. Emmett Hines riffed a couple of years ago in this forum about how individual lap swimmers (i.e. pool members who work out on their own, not part of any organized group) are the bane of his existence and cause a disproportionate percentage of his headaches as a pool manager. Complaints about lap swim times and temporary suspensions so other events can take place, demands they be expanded a half hour in either direction to fit one person's schedule, complaints about pool time being "wasted" on fitness class and other activities, demands that rec swimmers--during time slots set aside for rec swimming--be kept away from whatever portion of the pool the lap swimmer wants to use, etc. etc.
Just last week, our water polo group ecountered a prime example of lap swimmer chutzpah. Once a week for an hour and a half we gather to play at one pool (out of two on Base). Depending on how many people show up, we may use more or less of the pool. Last week was a little light, so we used about half of the deep end for "half-court" play with one net, leaving half the lanes open for the full length of the pool and all of the shallow end. One dude was unhappy with the prospect of circle swimming, so he jumped in just on the water polo side of the lane line. We were OK with that. About half way through our game, he stops, thanks us for sharing part of the pool with him (as if he even asked us whether it was OK for him to jump in on our side), and then attempts to direct us to stay out of his way now because he was on his main set. In the interest of avoiding an argument, we did not respond to his remarks, and at tried somewhat not to get in front of him. I wonder, how many lap runners would try to appropriate part of a basketball court currently in use, and how many black eyes would result from such an attempt.
One comment on cut times for Nationals: those who are in favor of hard cuts times to reduce the size of Nationals tend to be those swimmers who are fast enough that they are fairly certain of still being allowed to compete. This is how the term "elite swimmer" has become something of an ambiguous, derisive term in some people's minds. Those who figure they won't make a Nationals cut tend to have a less sanguine point of view.
So I guess my general point is that we in our sport can have a tendency toward narcissism, and I hope we all keep that in mind and try to be respectful and cooperative with others when we discuss pool availabilty.
Matt
