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
Mr Goodsmith:
I see that Kokkole did an Italian Job on your analysis of the relays. I think at this point to try to speculate who is doing this is pointless. I hope that we find other teams doing it because it will be ammunition for FINA to change the Masters MGR 3 rule to FINA General Swimming Rules GR1 and GR2. And as Paul said are we really sure everyone is pure as regard to relays and combined teams? I think the biggest difference now compared to 1988, is that masters swimming is bigger around the world then it was back then and I think there has been a change in attitudes regarding this. One of the main points of controversy back then was the financial incentives and how that was a lure to swimmers to form a team. Remember, back then swimming was not a professional sport and no one made any money off the sport that was still competiting. Today its very different with sponsors and all. I know that Team TYR did not use financial incentives and that is a big difference than what happened in 1988.
I believe something has to be explored to try to change this rule. An example would be to take a survey of the competiting nations swimmers at the World Championships and see what they think of a National Delegation entry. If there is an interest, then it should go from there. The main point of this change is, will it affect participation of the swimming population that attends the World Championship? Will it be looked at as to competitive and not in the interests of the majority of swimmers? If these areas are not adversly effected with the change then I can see a chance for this change.
There is a lot of work to do and this my not happen overnight. But if this did ever happen we would not have the controversy we have had since 1988.
Mr Goodsmith:
I see that Kokkole did an Italian Job on your analysis of the relays. I think at this point to try to speculate who is doing this is pointless. I hope that we find other teams doing it because it will be ammunition for FINA to change the Masters MGR 3 rule to FINA General Swimming Rules GR1 and GR2. And as Paul said are we really sure everyone is pure as regard to relays and combined teams? I think the biggest difference now compared to 1988, is that masters swimming is bigger around the world then it was back then and I think there has been a change in attitudes regarding this. One of the main points of controversy back then was the financial incentives and how that was a lure to swimmers to form a team. Remember, back then swimming was not a professional sport and no one made any money off the sport that was still competiting. Today its very different with sponsors and all. I know that Team TYR did not use financial incentives and that is a big difference than what happened in 1988.
I believe something has to be explored to try to change this rule. An example would be to take a survey of the competiting nations swimmers at the World Championships and see what they think of a National Delegation entry. If there is an interest, then it should go from there. The main point of this change is, will it affect participation of the swimming population that attends the World Championship? Will it be looked at as to competitive and not in the interests of the majority of swimmers? If these areas are not adversly effected with the change then I can see a chance for this change.
There is a lot of work to do and this my not happen overnight. But if this did ever happen we would not have the controversy we have had since 1988.
