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
When we came up with the idea of a relay day, it was a way to have fun; to bring out some of the swimmers who might not want to swim at Worlds, but you could get your team mates out there to swim in a 200, after all it is only a 50.
It was also a way to get all the relays in worlds. In past worlds, just the mixed medley and the mixed free were raced. Now all the 200s will have be raced. It will be a chance for swimmers to swim in great facilities and deep water. It will also be a chance to dive off of blocks that are right at the height limit - dont look down.
We also thought that it would be a short day, and give the swimmers a chance to rest, for those teams with few swimmers, they could go traveling and the out of town officials would get a chance to tour the area. I thought we would be out of the pool by 1pm-2pm.
Well there are almost 1,500 relay teams entered and it will be normal day. I have heard from many people that they are looking forward to swim in the relays and compete for their team.
FUN-FITNESS- and Competition. Lets have some fun for all. If records get broken, that is fine - there will certainly be the competition there.
Of course, with all the competion going on, it might be fun to turn on the team calculator to see which team scores the most points. Double points for relays.
michael
When we came up with the idea of a relay day, it was a way to have fun; to bring out some of the swimmers who might not want to swim at Worlds, but you could get your team mates out there to swim in a 200, after all it is only a 50.
It was also a way to get all the relays in worlds. In past worlds, just the mixed medley and the mixed free were raced. Now all the 200s will have be raced. It will be a chance for swimmers to swim in great facilities and deep water. It will also be a chance to dive off of blocks that are right at the height limit - dont look down.
We also thought that it would be a short day, and give the swimmers a chance to rest, for those teams with few swimmers, they could go traveling and the out of town officials would get a chance to tour the area. I thought we would be out of the pool by 1pm-2pm.
Well there are almost 1,500 relay teams entered and it will be normal day. I have heard from many people that they are looking forward to swim in the relays and compete for their team.
FUN-FITNESS- and Competition. Lets have some fun for all. If records get broken, that is fine - there will certainly be the competition there.
Of course, with all the competion going on, it might be fun to turn on the team calculator to see which team scores the most points. Double points for relays.
michael
