All amateur swimmers 18 and over should be required to swim at least one masters meet per year. This would help with the transition into adult life, and really show the younger generation the value of masters swimming. Adults who continue to love the sport, that's a great networking tool and a positive way to stay involved with people of similar interests.
On average, less than 2k attend SCY nationals each year, even less for LCM. Surely the other 41k of the 43k registered masters swimmers are finding meaningful experiences with their membership.
I agree 100% with our thread poster on a personal level, but I disagree with the requirement of competition for the masses. Perhaps instead of "required", it be replaced with "recommended", and instead of a "meet", to include any USMS sanctioned event, whether it be the check off challenge, a meet, a fun-relay meet, a clinic, open water, a social....or getting involved at the administrative level. For those of you who have never attended convention, IT IS A BLAST!! And you will gain such an appreciation of what it takes to run usms.
For those joining masters at an early point in their careers, this is even better experience. You can put it on your resume. Start with your LMSC, and get an officer position. It's a starter board position! Do the registrar function and then you set the bar at only taking PAID board positions in the future!!
I wish that I knew more about this when I first got out of college. It's fun, and it's great experience. My dream is to one day get on the board of a F500 company and actually get paid for it. Unfortunately, it's going to be hard to justify why they want a BANKRUTPCY trustee on their board - may send the wrong message!
On average, less than 2k attend SCY nationals each year, even less for LCM. Surely the other 41k of the 43k registered masters swimmers are finding meaningful experiences with their membership.
I agree 100% with our thread poster on a personal level, but I disagree with the requirement of competition for the masses. Perhaps instead of "required", it be replaced with "recommended", and instead of a "meet", to include any USMS sanctioned event, whether it be the check off challenge, a meet, a fun-relay meet, a clinic, open water, a social....or getting involved at the administrative level. For those of you who have never attended convention, IT IS A BLAST!! And you will gain such an appreciation of what it takes to run usms.
For those joining masters at an early point in their careers, this is even better experience. You can put it on your resume. Start with your LMSC, and get an officer position. It's a starter board position! Do the registrar function and then you set the bar at only taking PAID board positions in the future!!
I wish that I knew more about this when I first got out of college. It's fun, and it's great experience. My dream is to one day get on the board of a F500 company and actually get paid for it. Unfortunately, it's going to be hard to justify why they want a BANKRUTPCY trustee on their board - may send the wrong message!
