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
Is there anything wrong with the way nationals is currently held?
I've only gone to 1 nationals, and it was because my team was hosting the event. I didn't qualify for any events, and just registered for my 3. I think the only time I would go again is if it is convenient (within a 2-3 hour drive). I think 50%+ of people who don't qualify would be in the same boat, only go if it is convenient.
I don't like the idea of seeding strictly by time either. When I swam at nationals, it was the only time I've swam with other guys in my age group. We do the time only thing at local events, which is fine to make the meet move along smoother, but then I never actually swim head-to-head with people in my age group. At nationals, there seemed to be enough people in each sex/age group that things still moved along fast enough.
As for growth, I'm all for it. We usually have at least 4 people per lane at my workouts, but when we have loads of people, the coach will sometimes move some lanes to the other side of the bulkhead (that area is generally for rec swimmers, but there's hardly any there at 6am). As long as we are similar times and placed well in the lane, I feel workouts are more productive with a larger group, and I can 'compete' against people in neighboring lanes. As our group has expanded, the coach has worked with local Y's (and other pools) and set up some extention groups with them.
Is there anything wrong with the way nationals is currently held?
I've only gone to 1 nationals, and it was because my team was hosting the event. I didn't qualify for any events, and just registered for my 3. I think the only time I would go again is if it is convenient (within a 2-3 hour drive). I think 50%+ of people who don't qualify would be in the same boat, only go if it is convenient.
I don't like the idea of seeding strictly by time either. When I swam at nationals, it was the only time I've swam with other guys in my age group. We do the time only thing at local events, which is fine to make the meet move along smoother, but then I never actually swim head-to-head with people in my age group. At nationals, there seemed to be enough people in each sex/age group that things still moved along fast enough.
As for growth, I'm all for it. We usually have at least 4 people per lane at my workouts, but when we have loads of people, the coach will sometimes move some lanes to the other side of the bulkhead (that area is generally for rec swimmers, but there's hardly any there at 6am). As long as we are similar times and placed well in the lane, I feel workouts are more productive with a larger group, and I can 'compete' against people in neighboring lanes. As our group has expanded, the coach has worked with local Y's (and other pools) and set up some extention groups with them.
