Why would YOU join USMS?

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:53:05 GMT

I join USMS to compete. Why do I compete? ...oh I don't know, like if somebody has an MI at a state championship after setting the national record in the 200 Breaststroke for instance. I personally don't think the logo is that bad. I have a USMS sticker on my car and the only way to make it any sexier is to put a phallus on it. We cannot compete with triathlon and we never will. Triathlon is sexy and people love to call themselves triathletes (even though all they do are 300m pool swims, 10 mile bike, and 3 mile runs). Kurt, First off GREAT post, good to see you on here. The humor is a nice addition. I do disagree somehwat on the triathlon comment. No question we can't compete with the "sexiness" of a 300M Swim 10KBike and 2K run. But we can follow their model of the accomplishment motive to compete. I personally believe this could be done with OW Races, Go The Distance, and pool distance achievement swims. Since I haven't swam in a meet in almost 4 years, I obviously don't have my USMS card for meets. I HAD to get it to do an OW swim in Newport Beach this summer. Other than that, I probably wouldn't be a member. (No offense, but the magazine doesn't do that much for me) We have a former WR holder on our team that trains with us pretty regularly. He has no intention of competing in a meet (other than maybe a relay), therefore he is not a USMS member. So I conclude people DON'T join because there is no compelling reason to other than their team might make them do it for insurance. We need a better model. P.S. I thought this post from Sloswim on the "Sister Thread" to this one had some excellent points. Especially considering his background and experience in swimming: I've always been a "Runner", don't know why; everyone just told me so since age 7. I became a "Triathlete" after many years and races when I did a Olympic Distance Tri and felt I'd earned it. I've done one marathon and do not consider myself a "Marathoner" I swim. I do not know when I will become a "Swimmer" or what that tripwire is. The question is, how do you bring lap swimming to the common people. How do you make them want to be a "Swimmer"? I think Tri made it with Kona. The stories of the a dad pushing he's disabled son, the Sarah Reinhartson's story, Rudy Garcia, etc. The "Kona Show" is a tear jerker. A thread here talked to a Downs Syndrome girl doing heroic things. Where is the media? Why isn't USMS showing the human aspect of what all you guyz do? You demi-gods that do to the National Championship (not just "Nats") all have real lives, families, and stories! You want sexy? USMS needs to tell the stories that are buried in these threads! Teen girls with self-esteem. 80+ years beating National records. 15 mile swims. Its all where, but USMS isn't capitalizing on what swimming as a Master is all about. Yes, half naked people sells photos, but human drama get's new members. I'm a newby so I see it from outside. Am I that far off? Who is trying to promote swimming as a commercial enterprise? It should be USMS. Ironman took charge of Triathlon and that is its growth, the outcome was hugely positive for the sport(s)--for Geek. I see a money maker for an insider that has vision. I'd do it but I have no credentials and the Army frowns on that so I have to wait 4 years. I'll be your CFO and build the business plan for free! To make millions of $, find something that pisses you off and fit it! Sorry for my bloviating.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Donna — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:41:07 GMT

I joined USMS because it was required by my team, but being an age group swimmer in the past made me to want to compete again. I don't think we ever lose that competitiveness we had in our youth and in my case it came back with a vengance. Of course as a Masters swimmer you start fresh from where you are and move on from there. Since I used to travel to meets by myself for the first few years I have made some really good friends in the USMS community and when someone is not at a meet you have to check up on them and make sure they are doing well. I look forward to each and every meet even if I don't have a great meet time wise because I get to see people I haven't seen in a month or two or three.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:04:11 GMT

I like USMS being successful because that means they can put on meets. If that means we need to make ourselves attractive to a wider base,great,just make sure we still have Zones and Nats. Indeed! My first post may have come across somewhat negative when, in fact, I'm a big supporter of USMS as well and wish it continued success. There ain't no broken items in this organization & I don't give much of a hoot about the team scoring issue. It's fine as it is since I don't have to hide my head in public when my team loses.... More importantly, if you read the recent meeting minutes, you'll note that Todd Smith is going to get on-line registration implemented by the end of the year. That, accompanied by a uniform competition calendar that shows ALL meets nationwide (work in progress in the Communications Committee) and all meet results in a single database (finally on the Records Committee to-do list in cooperation with Communications) will make it the perfect organization for the competitor. If we need to keep recruiting the hapless noodlers to our ranks to accomplish these tasks, great.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

pwolf66 — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:50:15 GMT

I finally joined USMS after 'thinking' about it for almost 15 years. It took my daughter swimming for me to realize what I have been missing after all these years. Now I am no stranger to sports. Name one and I have probably played it, even competed in it. But when I smelled the chlorine for the first time, that started some sort of chemical process in my body that unfortunately took almost 2 years to complete it's work and get me back in the pool. But now that I'm here, I'm here for life. I'm a very competitive person but mostly I compete with myself so it's all about shaving that half stroke off my handicap or raising my bowling average 1 pin or lifting 5 more pounds than last time. With swimming it's the same way. But this time it's a little different, instead of trying to prove I'm better than other swimmers in a race, I want to race just because I want to see how fast I can go. And more importantly, I greatly desire the social aspects of swimming. Not only as a swim parent but as a swimmer also. And it is that social aspect that needs to also be reinforced as well. Getting involved in my daughter's teams has been one of the best things for me and my wife. We are meeting more people, making more friends, coming out of our house more. THAT is the true power of organized swimming. THAT is what needs to be emphasized also. Those folks who have kids (or can remember BEING kids) on a summer league team. What OTHER sport will have a 17 year old boy yelling his head off in encouragement for a 7 year old girl swimming her first race? Competition is fine but as in all things, it should be a competition against ourselves. Not only to do our best but to be our best. Sorry, the fumes must be getting to me cause I rambled all over the place. I just had forgotten how much swimming has and does mean to me. Paul

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

pwolf66 — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:31:31 GMT

For the chicks! And what do little fuzzy yellow chickens have to do with swimming? Oh, wait.... is this like a POLE thing or something? Paul

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

dorothyrde — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:51:45 GMT

Oh, and I joined to try a meet. I keep rejoining because I really truly hope that some day I will have time for another meet.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

dorothyrde — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:49:52 GMT

If we need to keep recruiting the hapless noodlers to our ranks to accomplish these tasks, great. I swim with the noodlers on Tuesday and Thursdays. They get 2/3, we get 1/3, and since Tuesday and Thursday has not taken off yet, it is usually me and another women(we have a stubborn bunch who does not like change). Anyway, I love the noodlers, they told me they admire my swimming!:banana::banana::banana:

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:11:13 GMT

To support the organization. Not a "to give back" thing, but a national organization has costs and I'm just doing my part.:violin:

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:21:21 GMT

...just make sure we still have Zones and Nats:banana::banana::banana:. ...and the Dancing Bananas I take it ?

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:58:47 GMT

I agree with Dr. Dickson--but I would update the logo. I really don't know why anyone would want to join if they don't want to compete. And I don't believe a Master swim meet can ever equal the draw of a triathlon for the reasons stated. BTW, I think the organization should consider utilizing their membership to create a database for studying health issues in older athletes.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

ourswimmer — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:47:39 GMT

There are other 'benefits' that accrue from your USMS membership but most of them are of no interest to me. Insurance is one that is often mentioned, but in my experience, this is not such an important factor. Actually, even if you join USMS just for the competition, insurance is a very important factor. To take over a pool or beach facility for a competition, the people putting on the competition have to show the facility management that the event will have liability insurance. Sanctioning, whether through USMS or USS or USAT or whatever, provides the insurance without which the organized competition could not occur. In any event, I think that USMS statistics suggest that most USMS members do not join in order to compete. Taking my team as an example, most members of my team don't go to USMS-sanctioned swim meets or OW races (or if they do they go so seldom that I have to believe that competition for them is secondary). Instead, they are USMS members because our club requires USMS membership and they want to work out with our club. And circling back, our club requires USMS membership because we rent a facility that requires us to have our own liability insurance, and USMS provides that insurance. If we did not obtain insurance through USMS, we would have to obtain it through some other provider or we would not be able to have an organized workout group that employs a coach and controls use of a portion or all of the facility during the time we are using it. That reason (organized workouts) is also probably my main reason for being a USMS member, even though I do compete.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

BillS — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:43:00 GMT

I joined after lurking here and printing workouts to use when I was swimming on my own prior to joining my local team a couple years ago. To me, it was much like my support for public radio.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Muppet — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:42:24 GMT

Once I turned 19, I joined because it was required by my club to practice with them (insurance). At the time, they didn't allow 18 year olds to register/compete :dedhorse::frustrated::argue::censor: so I spent my first year swimming with them kind of on the down low, but since I was a member of the facility, I was technically already covered. The following spring, I swam my first USMS meet, but didn't do another meet for another almost two years. Now, I join mostly per the team requirement and for meets. Like President Rob, I occasionally travel, and USMS membership has likewise opened the door to swim with a few other teams. The opportunity for networking is huge, especially in my region, and I have a great many friends I have met through USMS connections. If it weren't for USMS, I'd've not met my special friend.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Allen Stark — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:18:42 GMT

I joined(in 1974) to compete. I like USMS being successful because that means they can put on meets. If that means we need to make ourselves attractive to a wider base,great,just make sure we still have Zones and Nats:banana::banana::banana:.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Paul Smith — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:09:51 GMT

For those who enjoy the meets in this sport there is an important update over on the "Nationals" thread....once again we will go into another 2 years of the status quo with regard to the team scoring issues.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

aquageek — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:44:43 GMT

I joined USMS finally in 2001 to swim a meet, after about 5 years of training with a team. I then stayed in the organization so I could whoop gull annually and enjoy free coffee.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Paul Smith — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:21:53 GMT

And I don't believe a Master swim meet can ever equal the draw of a triathlon for the reasons stated. But is could and should try....one of the things being discussed here in Arizona is working with the triathlons and open water swims to obtain "sanctions" from AZ masters....and try and add swimming competitor only waves to the events. If we did things like this...and add events like Denver has at the Mile High Mile and Double Mile it may get more cross pollination...I've also said that every nationals and regionals should have an open water event or two tied to it (where possible)....When Hawaii did this a few years back even us sprinters signed up!

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

swimshark — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:21:21 GMT

I joined to be with my sister and dad. In 1999, my sister competed in LC Nats. After she told me about her meet I thought "I can do that" and got back into the pool for the first time in 10 years. I joined her (and dad's) team which was also my USMS membership, even though her team was 2 hours away. I moved to Oregon a few months later and the local team there required membership in order to swim. I love to compete, it keeps me going at 4:30am. Now I practice with a USS team, have dual memberships but I know that without my USMS membership, they wouldn't let me train with them and I couldn't compete in USMS meets. My life without meets to train for would be empty. I also believe in the organization and am proud when I tell people that I'm a member of USMS. Alison

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:43:03 GMT

I compete, therefore I train, therefore I stay in decent shape, therefore I can eat ice cream/cake/peanut butter/pie/etc etc etc. I think, therefore I am! I drink, therefore I pee! I pee, therefore the pool is warm!

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Jeff Commings — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:54:41 GMT

I joined USMS because they have 50s and the 100 IM. It's great to see all the people say they joined to compete, but I crunched some numbers the other day, and I noticed that only 4 percent of the USMS population swam in Federal Way last May. So there are a whole lot of people who join because their team requires it and they need an organized place to swim. I'd never join for that reason because it often takes a major battle of wills to get me to workout, and I wouldn't go to workout if there wasn't a goal to achieve in a future swim meet. In fact, I've been on three teams since joining in 1999, and all three of them hold intrasquad meets. Very informal, kind of a way for people to see if they like competing without the stigma of doing it "in public." No one comes to these meets. In New Mexico, we had 75 people on the team. One year, we only had 10 people show up for the intrasquad. That should give you an idea about the majority of masters. They just want to show up at 6 a.m. (or earlier), do their 60-minute workout, and go home. Good for them.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:24:20 GMT

Actually, even if you join USMS just for the competition, insurance is a very important factor. To take over a pool or beach facility for a competition, the people putting on the competition have to show the facility management that the event will have liability insurance. Sanctioning, whether through USMS or USS or USAT or whatever, provides the insurance without which the organized competition could not occur. Your point is well taken: competition insurance is a valid part of my USMS fees even though I may not need that same insurance in order to train. However, I have been involved with cross country ski clubs in different parts of the country and have helped to stage races in that sport. For these operations, there is insurance that is available to be purchased by the organizations just for the events. Then, the organization factors these costs into the entry fees to recover the extra expense. I routinely participate in ski races of 600-1000 skiers and do not have to belong to any organization such as USSA. For example, the last two years National Ski Masters was held in Bend OR and the participant needed only pay the entry fees for the event. So, there are ways to do it although I grant that having a simple umbrella organization certainly makes it more transparent for the organizers of swim meets.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Rob Copeland — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:09:36 GMT

I think, therefore I am! I drink, therefore I pee! I pee, therefore the pool is warm!Veni, vidi, peepee ???

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

aquaFeisty — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:32:16 GMT

I joined to compete. I remain a member to compete. I compete, therefore I train, therefore I stay in decent shape, therefore I can eat ice cream/cake/peanut butter/pie/etc etc etc. Oh, and I scored a husband out of it too.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Midas — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:06:53 GMT

I joined masters swimming for the competitions as well as the fact that my team relies on their insurance. The team was a big factor for me, as I enjoy the camaraderie. Also, I feel more motivated to swim harder in practice when I have to either lead a lane or keep up. For $35/year (I think I heard that might be going up, but not by much) membership is well worth it. In addition to competitions and insurance benefits, we get a nice magazine which I enjoy reading and a very good LMSC web site for competitions, finding places to swim, etc. That's not to mention the national website and this very message board! Money well spent. The logo is timeless and excellent.

RE: Why would YOU join USMS?

Former Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:23:19 GMT

What's your reason? For the chicks! To compete and do the postal events.