Relays seem to spark controversy. Some people love them. Some people see them as an intrusion on their individual events. Some people are forced to scratch events to swim relays because of exhaustion. (I actually know a swimmer who practices with a team but won't officially join the team for fear of having to swim relays at zone or other big meets.) Some people "cherry pick" elite swimmers to set records in relays. Relays make meets run longer.
We're adults, not kids on a USS team. Do we really need relays at masters meets?
I've not actually swum on one, I should point out. I'm just wondering why masters swimmers bother when everyone seems to be gunning for PBs and swimming really seems like an individual sport.
Having said that, an open water relay seems oddly appealing. But that's because the relay is the event. I don't see whatyaall see in swimming lots of events and then adding on relays.
I love relays. As a sprinter, they fit my need for speed and give me an opportunity to get another time in case I miss a wall or have a bad start in the regular 50 event. I like the team building that relays promote and the strategy of putting the right mix of swimmers for the event and/or age grouping. In addition, at nationals I'm usually on the outside looking into the Top 10 but with relays we can usually get a team to break into the Top 10. This helps bring some of the other members to a high level of competition and helps them aspire to reach that level individually (just like it did back in age group swimming, too). Something about bringing home a medal helps to justify the cost of the trip. I do understand that some people may be gunning for PBs or other records and, as adults, they have earned the right to say "no". In that case, you either find someone else or don't swim the relay at that particular meet.
I love relays. As a sprinter, they fit my need for speed and give me an opportunity to get another time in case I miss a wall or have a bad start in the regular 50 event. I like the team building that relays promote and the strategy of putting the right mix of swimmers for the event and/or age grouping. In addition, at nationals I'm usually on the outside looking into the Top 10 but with relays we can usually get a team to break into the Top 10. This helps bring some of the other members to a high level of competition and helps them aspire to reach that level individually (just like it did back in age group swimming, too). Something about bringing home a medal helps to justify the cost of the trip. I do understand that some people may be gunning for PBs or other records and, as adults, they have earned the right to say "no". In that case, you either find someone else or don't swim the relay at that particular meet.
