Anyone else find it a bit odd that the cover of the May/June issue shows "swimmers" wearing flotation vests?
Former Member
I'll throw in one "out of the box" line of thought. I have heard it expressed that swimming is more similar to a martial art than it is to a sport like running or cycling in that skill plays a dominant role.
This leads to two thoughts:
1) perhaps there ought to be a stream of masters swimming that concentrates on individual achievement rather than competition, i.e. in martial arts they often define certain levels of proficiency that one attempts to achieve and whether you achieve them is not a competitive thing it is an individual thing. A yellow belt isn't thrown into competition with the black belts.
Which leads to a second thought:
2) in martial arts no one would claim that a yellow belt and a black belt are fairly matched because they are the same age.
Picture an additional page in the results that listed the swimmers that achieved their yellow belt in butterfly, the swimmers that achieved their green belt in *** stroke, etc. Possibly each swimmer's time could be ranked with an IPS type score relative to the time standard for their "belt level".
I would suggest that masters swimming meets are designed primarily for the black belts of swimming and the insistance that the yellow belts should go up against black belts of the same age might suit the black belts ok but probably isn't the optimal experience for the yellow belts.
yes you are right, but everytime one of the bad apples post a sarcastic comment it reflects on the entire organization. This board is the most visible part of USMS on the net. Just remember that next time you wish to post some thinly veiled sarcastic insult.
And if you read my post closely, the majority of my reasons for not joining USMS has to do with the cost/benefit provided by USMS to members who do not belong to a club.
Lainey
Interesting thoughts Lindsey but perhaps swimmers would earn green, yellow, red, brown, black suits...
Why does proficiency have be tied to time? That is a time/speed/racing mind set.
Lainey
Originally posted by laineybug
Just remember that next time you wish to post some thinly veiled sarcastic insult.
I don't believe anything Geek has ever posted could be described as "thinly veiled."
I am one of the USMS members who does not swim with a club mostly due to time issues. Between our two kids (ages 2 and 6) and the honeydo list it is not realistic for me to spend 1.5 hours 3-4 times a week with a swim club (although I do look forward to swimming with a club one of these days when my life becomes a little less hectic). So...for now I swim on my own but I am attached to a club in a nearby city for purposes of competing in relays. Essentially the only reason I have joined is for the competition aspect. Were I not interested in competition I would most likely not have joined. What would be the point?
I can understand Lainey's position...there is little reason for her to join USMS right now. As far as the membership/forum use question goes, I think that anybody who provides thought provoking questions or valuable feedback has a place here on USMS Forums.
Originally posted by gull80
First, I would like to apologize. I have been informed that the term "noodler" is derogatory and offensive. The correct term is "noodlist."
I now prefer NAAP (Noodle Assisted Aquatic Participant).
When gull80 sees the picture on page 19 he's gonna have a cardiac event. Fortunately, he's a doctor and will be able to treat himself. And, on page 18, a noodle is listed as "water exercise equipment." Who knew?
Even worse is the "my favorite workout" from Evil......let me tell you, do that 3-4 times a week as he does (I went once and never went back) most people would take up noodling in a heart beat!
And Geek.......I personally have nothing against western medicine, in fact I hear some great anger management/noodle addicton drugs coming out of that wonderful arena these days.
