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
On drafting in a race, I've done it myself and I still disagree, but really don't care.
Re my 25+, 30+ agegroup idea being harsh against younger folks, that is the intent, if harsh = realistic. If you consider age a race time "handicap" in the golf score sense, and you agree that it is monotonically increasing with age over 18, how can you argue any other way?
My use of the word "ageism" may not be right. I don't like the effect of cutting all the competitions into enough pieces so that everyone is a champion or gets their own record.
On drafting in a race, I've done it myself and I still disagree, but really don't care.
Re my 25+, 30+ agegroup idea being harsh against younger folks, that is the intent, if harsh = realistic. If you consider age a race time "handicap" in the golf score sense, and you agree that it is monotonically increasing with age over 18, how can you argue any other way?
My use of the word "ageism" may not be right. I don't like the effect of cutting all the competitions into enough pieces so that everyone is a champion or gets their own record.
