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 think we need to separate the desire to grow USMS from wanting to grow what we have been calling "Nationals".
I'd like USMS to grow (but not in my lane!). I think the best way for that to happen is more pools (in most places) and good masters programs (organized workouts, etc.). I don't see any good reason why you cannot meet the needs of the "elite" and "fitness" (and even "recreational") swimmers at the local level with good coaching and enough lane/slide space. I swim workouts and take my small kids to the pool, so I want it all, and there are places that have it all.
As for nationals, I'd like us to make up our mind if we'd rather have a "festival" or a "championship" meet. I'd say we are closer to the festival (big, fun, social), which has its advantages for many people. The Nationals format does not seem to do so well at catering to the smaller group of faster swimmers (very long days, crowded warmups, segmented too much by age v. speed). I'm not saying the meet totally fails for these swimmers, but it could be improved. I'd prefer seeding by time over age, as that seems like it would provide better competition for the faster swimmers. At the facilities nationals are held at, it should not matter what lane you are in for an opportunity to swim fast, so I don't see potentially losing a center lane seed as an issue.
I believe that the limiting factor for USMS meets is finding people to put them on. I could easily see USMS deciding to commission a true USMS Championship meet and having no one step forward to put it on, and/or not drawing the elite swimmers it attempts to draw.
Heres an idea: what if we had concurrent Eastern and Western nationals with points scored between the two? The rivalry would help to increase participation, reduce travel expenses/logistics and allow for growth while improving the conditions at each meet.
I think we need to separate the desire to grow USMS from wanting to grow what we have been calling "Nationals".
I'd like USMS to grow (but not in my lane!). I think the best way for that to happen is more pools (in most places) and good masters programs (organized workouts, etc.). I don't see any good reason why you cannot meet the needs of the "elite" and "fitness" (and even "recreational") swimmers at the local level with good coaching and enough lane/slide space. I swim workouts and take my small kids to the pool, so I want it all, and there are places that have it all.
As for nationals, I'd like us to make up our mind if we'd rather have a "festival" or a "championship" meet. I'd say we are closer to the festival (big, fun, social), which has its advantages for many people. The Nationals format does not seem to do so well at catering to the smaller group of faster swimmers (very long days, crowded warmups, segmented too much by age v. speed). I'm not saying the meet totally fails for these swimmers, but it could be improved. I'd prefer seeding by time over age, as that seems like it would provide better competition for the faster swimmers. At the facilities nationals are held at, it should not matter what lane you are in for an opportunity to swim fast, so I don't see potentially losing a center lane seed as an issue.
I believe that the limiting factor for USMS meets is finding people to put them on. I could easily see USMS deciding to commission a true USMS Championship meet and having no one step forward to put it on, and/or not drawing the elite swimmers it attempts to draw.
Heres an idea: what if we had concurrent Eastern and Western nationals with points scored between the two? The rivalry would help to increase participation, reduce travel expenses/logistics and allow for growth while improving the conditions at each meet.
