why doesn't masters apply the same age rule for short course as it does for long course?
In long course meets a persons age is determined by their age by the end of the year.
so at worlds there were 24, 29 , 34, 39, 44, ... year olds
who competed in the next age group up because they aged up later in the year.
In short course competitions a persons age is determined by their age at either the end or beginning of the competition.
I encourage USMS to be consistent and
consider adopting the same rules for short course competitions
Ande
Parents
Former Member
OK, so the US uses exact age and FINA uses a Year of Birth rule.
The US system is clearly more "fair" if you agree that it matters whether you are 44 years 364 days or 45 years old on a given performance date. I do, but I was raised that way, except for my childhood summer swim league.
FINA is easier to implement (all you need is YOB). Arguably the calendar effect at Masters ages is irrelevant, but I don't like it. You are always in the same age group as people born in the same year.
We only use the FINA rule for meters as they don't recognize yards events.
I think we are stuck with both.
OK, so the US uses exact age and FINA uses a Year of Birth rule.
The US system is clearly more "fair" if you agree that it matters whether you are 44 years 364 days or 45 years old on a given performance date. I do, but I was raised that way, except for my childhood summer swim league.
FINA is easier to implement (all you need is YOB). Arguably the calendar effect at Masters ages is irrelevant, but I don't like it. You are always in the same age group as people born in the same year.
We only use the FINA rule for meters as they don't recognize yards events.
I think we are stuck with both.
