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. I've had meets where I've done 9 events (my five individual and four relays). I think relays are great for all the reasons listed above. My team is great about understanding if you don't want to do a relay because of a pet event being right after.
When I was attempting to be a 200IMmer (which I failed miserably at) it was frequently the last event of the meet with a mixed medley or free relay just before it so I would skip out on that relay.
At state I swim on all four relays and do 5 events per day and love it. That's a choice though. No team should force or bully swimmers into swimming relays but I think they are awesome.
I agree with Fortress that mixed relays are the best.
I love relays. I've had meets where I've done 9 events (my five individual and four relays). I think relays are great for all the reasons listed above. My team is great about understanding if you don't want to do a relay because of a pet event being right after.
When I was attempting to be a 200IMmer (which I failed miserably at) it was frequently the last event of the meet with a mixed medley or free relay just before it so I would skip out on that relay.
At state I swim on all four relays and do 5 events per day and love it. That's a choice though. No team should force or bully swimmers into swimming relays but I think they are awesome.
I agree with Fortress that mixed relays are the best.
