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
my wife and I find that people tend to hang together mostly because they have been in a lane/group for a long time...and often are busy chatting it up....easy to take it as elite or cliquish but I doubt its often the case.
Not to mention swimming just doesn't lend itself to socializing during the workout. You're just not going to get the chance to talk to the guy or gal two lanes over unless it's in the locker room after practice. For this reason I think any training group that really thinks of themselves as a "team" needs to have social events outside the pool.
my wife and I find that people tend to hang together mostly because they have been in a lane/group for a long time...and often are busy chatting it up....easy to take it as elite or cliquish but I doubt its often the case.
Not to mention swimming just doesn't lend itself to socializing during the workout. You're just not going to get the chance to talk to the guy or gal two lanes over unless it's in the locker room after practice. For this reason I think any training group that really thinks of themselves as a "team" needs to have social events outside the pool.
