Picture that you have been suddenly transported to an alternative universe in which none of the swimmers enjoys competition. You find yourself the president of an organization sort of like USMS and have been put in charge of designing programs for swimmers who aren't at all interested in racing but who enjoy swimming and have a desire to improve. What do you think an organization like USMS would look like under such a scenario?
A couple of things have been suggested to me:
Think of swim clinics like TI offers but based on a largely volunteer basis like USMS is instead of having an entrepreneurial basis. Instead of going to meets to race swimmers would be going to clinics to learn, and yes, test their progress.
Consider the number of person-hours needed to organize a swim meet, just in terms of officials. A tremendous amount of effort is put into ensuring a "fair race" and that times swum at one meet can fairly be compared to times swum at another. If you were able to get the same number of people to volunteer the same number of hours and undergo the same level of training aimed in a more instructional vein what could you accomplish? It seems to me that you could organize really great clinics, that non-competitive swimmers would benefit from a lot more than swimming in a meet and perhaps still obtain a similar social experience.
Would it be possible to produce tools for evaluating swimmers progress that would be more informative than just time in a race? For example could one use stroke checklists to give more feedback on technique? Could you develop standardized evaluation tools that, for example, used inexpensive video equipment to do a detailed analysis of a swim, including all the stuff currently used for analysis of elite swimmers such as reaction time, distance under water, time to 15m, stroke count and turnover, turn time, etc..
I suspect that there is a lot of great stuff being done at larger more established clubs that have really good coaches that could be captured and documented and codified and used in the many clubs that are currently struggling to find a good coach in their area that they can afford.
What can you envision?
Former Member
Actually I believe the American Red Cross sort of already does this, they are just not solely dedicated to the idea. I used to be a Red Cross WSI (water safety instructor, qualified to hand out lifesaving certificates), but I lost it because I did not keep it up (which can be done mostly by giving free swim lessons and clinics).
I’m all for the “information is free” theory that I first saw in Steven Levy’s book “Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution”. In my quest for swim info (on the web) I’ve found that there is a substantial gap between beginner info and super advanced info. The super swimmer sites frequently have good stuff on them, but too often they are mixed in among mass quantities of super detailed and highly technical descriptions (that require frequent use of a dictionary).
I’ve long wished to see more sites with just basic useful info, and lately I think they have been emerging, so hopefully the gap will be filled. There are way more average swimmers out there who would benefit from more condensed and simpler technique info (as opposed to the few beginners and Olympic class swimmers), so you’d think there would be more sites targeting them.
It is hard for me to imagine a place where no one enjoys competition. I don’t consider myself to be all that competitive, but there is absolutely no substitute for standing up on the block in a meet, even if all my “competitors” are 10-20yrs older than I am. There are not may pool meets where I live now, which is probably just as well because I was getting burnt out on not having more “average” people to compete against in my age bracket
Affordability is another issue. I’m convinced that swimming is a “rich mans” sport. I go through great effort to ensure I have easy access to a pool year round, yet it does not escape me that I am typically driving the oldest and rattiest car in the lot at the pool.
What can I envision?
Maybe some sort of mentor program. I see folks at the pool all the time that I know could improve a lot with just a little bit of help. I used to volunteer advice, but now generally keep my mouth shut unless asked (there has been at least one thread on this topic here).
Some ideas:
- Do the same distance/time at a lower heart rate.
- Do the same distance/time with less breath
- Perform a longer push-off
- Increase the distance
- Encourage trial of stroke that swimmer thought inattractive
All of these has a common denominator which is ... time performance. Therefore the best measurement instrument is still a race.
As the swimmer progresses through the levels, there should be an emphasis on meeting a speed criteria because speed does measure fitness, and is an indication of good technique. However, these criteria should not be equivalent to qualifying times. Remember the emphasis is on FITNESS, not on fitness to compete. The difficult question the task force will have to address is “What time is a measure of good fitness?” A possible starting point for determining the time criteria might be Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper’s research. For example, one of several fitness criteria for a male 40 to 49 years old might be swimming an 800 free in 16 min, 30 sec.
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The problem I see with this suggestion is that swimming is so technique driven that swimming x distance in y time bears no relation to overall fitness. I know plenty of tri-types who are as fit as can be, but who struggle just to get through an 800 because their stroke mechanics stink. I also see a lot of fat, out of shape former swimmers who can bust out a reasonably decent 800 when called upon to do so by simply relying on once-learned, never-forgotten tricks and techniques.
The swimmer should also be required to pay a fee to USMS in order to be officially recognized at that level.
He or she could write a check, payable to USMS, like you did when you joined.
Gull, this is not a thread about why or why not a swimmer who doesn't have access to a club should join USMS. It is a thread about what USMS could do to encourage fitness swimmers. I guess what you are trying to say is that my opinion doesn't count because I'm not a member. Unfortunately, USMS administration doesn't agree with you because if they did these forums would be for members only.
Lainey
The last thing a fitness swimmer wants is a competitive swimmer telling him/her what he/she should be doing.
I wish rather than continuing to state what are completely untrue statements about USMS and their swimmers that you would just once, just one single time, visit a large USMS team and participate in a workout. All you have to do is visit. I assure you that your views, fueled by ignorance, would change.
A fitness meet? That's what's called a swim meet. There are USMS swim meets all the time. You should attend one. They are very fun for all levels of swimmer, ALL LEVELS.
When you decide to attend a single USMS workout or meet I will give your opinions some credibility. Until that point, your musings are based on a total lack of knowledge about USMS. I swim with non competers 3 days a week, many in my lane. Your vision of them is insulting to their abilities and drive.
Lainey:
I admire your desire to be fit. That's what is ultimately important. But I would estimate that about 75% of my team doesn't compete or very rarely competes when strong armed by the coaches. Some are just fitness freaks, some want to stay young, some want to burn calories, some want to prep for triathlons (I stay away from those people -- they're obsessed with distance freestyle and always think they should lead a lane no matter what). I find that going to a practice, as opposed to swimming by myself, usually makes me go longer and harder. And my teammates won't hesitate to point out my many stroke defects. But I also know people who train entirely alone. But it could get lonely. Don't let Aquageek scare you away from this thread or any other!! I left a note for you on another, but Peter Cruise told me the Geek chased you away....
Leslie
That shouldn't be the only criteria, just a possible one. A checklist on technique as Lindsay suggests could be another one. A committee made up of fitness swimmers would define the goals of fitness swimming and from those goals the criteria would be developed.
Lainey
