Why is it that Masters level swimmers who participate in USS sanctioned meets under a separate USS registration can't have their times automatically qualify for USMS rankings and USMS National records? What is the reason for this separation? The rules with USMS and USS seem parallel enough to allow USS swims to qualify under USMS ranking and records. Do we care if elite older swimmers in their 30's (say Gary Hall Jr.) effectively end up owning the USMS national record by default? Is USMS afraid of merging to closely with USS? Why wouldn't USMS want to recognize the true best performance by and old man/women in the pool regardless of whether their card said USS or USMS on it?
John Smith
Leslie......I think maybe it can and should be both? I mean we're seeing some incredible things going on in masters swimming with respect to the times in every age group. I mean come on....Trip Hedrick at 51 splitting a 23.7 long vourse 50m free??!!
So for those of us who actually want to see interest and participation in our sport grow (all levels, not just masters) why not have more collaboration?
Sadly the vast majority of high school/college swimmers out there see USMS as nothing more than a "fitness organization"...they really don't take us seriouslly when it comes to offering "real" compeitition.
But as folks like Susan make trails cuts and swimmers like Rich Abrahams at 61holding off Rowdy Gaines anchoring a relay get noticed...we get more credibility in the USS world and most likely more participation...and that to me makes it more fun.
Look, unlike Geeks assertion of Evil and my Texas size egos....the reality is we're willing to go swim against Longhorn Aquatics and get our butts whipped....and be given endless grief about blowing out the seems on our Speedo's....but it will be interesting because we'll put a beer bet :drink: on the line as long as they spot us say about 30 seconds in the 400 medley??!! :help:
Leslie......I think maybe it can and should be both? I mean we're seeing some incredible things going on in masters swimming with respect to the times in every age group. I mean come on....Trip Hedrick at 51 splitting a 23.7 long vourse 50m free??!!
So for those of us who actually want to see interest and participation in our sport grow (all levels, not just masters) why not have more collaboration?
Sadly the vast majority of high school/college swimmers out there see USMS as nothing more than a "fitness organization"...they really don't take us seriouslly when it comes to offering "real" compeitition.
But as folks like Susan make trails cuts and swimmers like Rich Abrahams at 61holding off Rowdy Gaines anchoring a relay get noticed...we get more credibility in the USS world and most likely more participation...and that to me makes it more fun.
Look, unlike Geeks assertion of Evil and my Texas size egos....the reality is we're willing to go swim against Longhorn Aquatics and get our butts whipped....and be given endless grief about blowing out the seems on our Speedo's....but it will be interesting because we'll put a beer bet :drink: on the line as long as they spot us say about 30 seconds in the 400 medley??!! :help:
