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
when I get to a competition for warmups around 7:30 and I don't leave until 3:00 or 4:00 pm that is ONE HELL of a long day in my book. Especially when you consider there's no prelims and finals
John,
In Pacific, most of our local meets usually start at 9 am and if we finish by about 3 pm it is a smaller meet. You are very fortunate that you have such meets that allow you to finish much earlier.
For giggles, why dont you do a time line of how long the day would be if you had just two heats of each age group. That would be something like 16 to 20 swimmers competing against each other. You would have about 50 heats total for each event - roughtly 12 age groups and two genders plus a couple for the oldest heats. - There are 18 contested events plus relays for short course.
I dont think that having a major sponsor would affect the number of swimmers. For most swimmers, the meet entry fees are the least expensive part of the budget, it is the flight, the lodging and food that cost much more - and of course the beer money.
You are right it does make for a long day, however, the swimmers usually are able to lie down and relax between events, your volunteers and deck officials, are on deck for quite a while.
michael
when I get to a competition for warmups around 7:30 and I don't leave until 3:00 or 4:00 pm that is ONE HELL of a long day in my book. Especially when you consider there's no prelims and finals
John,
In Pacific, most of our local meets usually start at 9 am and if we finish by about 3 pm it is a smaller meet. You are very fortunate that you have such meets that allow you to finish much earlier.
For giggles, why dont you do a time line of how long the day would be if you had just two heats of each age group. That would be something like 16 to 20 swimmers competing against each other. You would have about 50 heats total for each event - roughtly 12 age groups and two genders plus a couple for the oldest heats. - There are 18 contested events plus relays for short course.
I dont think that having a major sponsor would affect the number of swimmers. For most swimmers, the meet entry fees are the least expensive part of the budget, it is the flight, the lodging and food that cost much more - and of course the beer money.
You are right it does make for a long day, however, the swimmers usually are able to lie down and relax between events, your volunteers and deck officials, are on deck for quite a while.
michael
