I realize this thread will create a lot of controversy.
Over the past five years I have worked very hard to develop clubs and increase membership in USMS. The very fabric of my work and others in this area is building relationships and comradairre within the LMSC and or Club. Small clubs and large teams are proud of their "elite" swimmers and boast of their successes. With this said, it is very disturbing to me as I read through the FINA World Championships Physch Sheets to see the number of elite swimmers "jumping ship" to other clubs to swim on "elite" relays. If USMS had "Team USMS" I would have no problem with everyone coming together for a team effort. I don't have a problem with four guys coming together who swam in college using the Worlds as reunion of sorts. Where I have problem is the swimmer or swimmers who have been a member of a club or LMSC for years and because of individual egos leaves his team. What this says to me is our "elite" swimmers ego is more important than his or her club. How do you think the other 3 swimmers who normally swims on the relay with the "elite" swimmer feels. We are good enough througout the year, however we are not good enough for the Worlds. Instead of swimming for his or her club so all members of the club can be proud of the "elite" swimmers accomplishments, it is more important to this swimmer he or she represent someone else at the Worlds for personal gratification. If the relay team does win and breaks a WR the record does not show USMS as the record holder, but the name of a club the swimmer transferred too.... what a shame...
It is regretable I bring up this discussion, but it tears at the very fabric of the USMS mission regarding building club or LMSC relationships...I realize what these swimmers are doing is within the rules.. I just think it is wrong.
Mel
Parents
Former Member
I can vouch for Beth McGee. It's not her.
Beth, this is Kristina, one of the gals you swim with on occasion at SAMS. I've missed swimming with you this summer!
I did not realize that your id was so close to what I chose. :) I'll see if I can change it to something a little less similar! Did not mean to embarass you with my post! Please do allow me to take the heat.
Anyway, I'm glad the FINA rules are the way they are. I always want to swim against the fastest swimmer or swimmers in relays.
I did not know that USS, High School, and NCAA were comparable to eachother much less USMS. USMS is certainly it's own separate body with completely different goals promoting the sport of swimming for it's healthy benefits along with building relationships among other swimmers regardless of where they may live. I learn something new every day and did not know relationship building was limited to your geographical location.
Why do you think top age group teams travel across the country (or even outside of it) to join other teams different from themselves in trainings? To get more experiences and benefit from different ideas and training techinques. I can't tell you how many times I've been told one thing by one coach and the complete opposite by another coach - and that's within the same "club." The weath of info we now have is massive compared to what it was in the 70s when I grew up. This issues makes me think of Walmart going overseas to keep prices as low as possible. Why not go outside your state line for the fastest team? It's a global economy and like it or not, we no longer operate in a bubble.
Who is to say that swimmers jump ship b/c of their egos? First, so what if that's the case? Clubs have egos too and are not perfect beyond reproach. Not every swimmer has a wonderful "club" experience. I've personally had mixed experiences at different clubs and am happy to have a pool to swim in.
Second, there could be many reasons as to why the swimmer jumps ship other than individual ego. It's not as if we've signed a contract with a "club" and are paid by them to swim for the team. We pay the club!
Third, it's fun to win. Winning does not happen by chance. When I was on high school, you are right, I was stuck with the team we had and I had to carry the three other slow swimmers. How do you think the fastest swimmer feels? I sure as heck would dare not say! (I will now 'cause it's been many years.)
Shouldn't masters have a lot more "leeway" anyway?
If not and we're going to be all tied down in crazy rules, then we really need to implement doping/ random drug testing which would be great b/c then I'm pretty sure I'd eliminate half my competition!
I still say it's a case of have or have nots, but if you prefer, "wahhh" vs. fast.
Always working on not being "wahhh,"
:p
I can vouch for Beth McGee. It's not her.
Beth, this is Kristina, one of the gals you swim with on occasion at SAMS. I've missed swimming with you this summer!
I did not realize that your id was so close to what I chose. :) I'll see if I can change it to something a little less similar! Did not mean to embarass you with my post! Please do allow me to take the heat.
Anyway, I'm glad the FINA rules are the way they are. I always want to swim against the fastest swimmer or swimmers in relays.
I did not know that USS, High School, and NCAA were comparable to eachother much less USMS. USMS is certainly it's own separate body with completely different goals promoting the sport of swimming for it's healthy benefits along with building relationships among other swimmers regardless of where they may live. I learn something new every day and did not know relationship building was limited to your geographical location.
Why do you think top age group teams travel across the country (or even outside of it) to join other teams different from themselves in trainings? To get more experiences and benefit from different ideas and training techinques. I can't tell you how many times I've been told one thing by one coach and the complete opposite by another coach - and that's within the same "club." The weath of info we now have is massive compared to what it was in the 70s when I grew up. This issues makes me think of Walmart going overseas to keep prices as low as possible. Why not go outside your state line for the fastest team? It's a global economy and like it or not, we no longer operate in a bubble.
Who is to say that swimmers jump ship b/c of their egos? First, so what if that's the case? Clubs have egos too and are not perfect beyond reproach. Not every swimmer has a wonderful "club" experience. I've personally had mixed experiences at different clubs and am happy to have a pool to swim in.
Second, there could be many reasons as to why the swimmer jumps ship other than individual ego. It's not as if we've signed a contract with a "club" and are paid by them to swim for the team. We pay the club!
Third, it's fun to win. Winning does not happen by chance. When I was on high school, you are right, I was stuck with the team we had and I had to carry the three other slow swimmers. How do you think the fastest swimmer feels? I sure as heck would dare not say! (I will now 'cause it's been many years.)
Shouldn't masters have a lot more "leeway" anyway?
If not and we're going to be all tied down in crazy rules, then we really need to implement doping/ random drug testing which would be great b/c then I'm pretty sure I'd eliminate half my competition!
I still say it's a case of have or have nots, but if you prefer, "wahhh" vs. fast.
Always working on not being "wahhh,"
:p
