USA Swimming blow's it again

Seems to me that the organization is entrenched in its ways and somewhat disorganized... You're kidding, right? :rant3:

Grab a hold of Phelp's leg and ride this wave as long as possible. I totally agree with this one from John, USA Swimming is right in the middle of the perfect storm and they HAVE to ride the wave NOW and not just rest on their laurels, or they are going to miss out on the biggest golden opportunity USA Swimming has and may ever have again.

JAEGERMEISTER, One of the problems is if the parents go out and find a local country club with summer league instead of being AWAKENED to USA year 'round swimming through this kind of advertising...... or worse..... they wait until next years summer league comes around and the kids lose interest by then. USA swimming needs to go for it on the national advertising scene. Grab a hold of Phelp's leg and ride this wave as long as possible. John Smith Although I started this thread with USA-S in mind the same situation holds true for USMS. The other night I listened to a prime time news anchorwoman say how motivated she was and that she wanted to start swimming...lot of oppurtunity all the way around...but apparently no foresight to take advantage of it before things got going.

So, instead of your Monday morning quarterbacking, why don't you propose a solution that an organization can actually afford. I've lived through the enormous cost of advertising on the Olympics for a gigantic multi billion dollan MNC with a massive marketing budget. What you are saying sounds cute but you really need to support your statements financially. What kind of coffer do you think it takes? Don't start your statement with any company with a net cap of less than $500m and that's probably way way low. Do you really think NBC wants anything to do with an org than can only shell out $100K or less when they have outlayed over $1b USD? How much do you think an ad costs prime time during swimming? And, don't think you can buy just one ad, it's a package. Product placement might be a better and more affordable idea. Not sure how you sneak that in. Lochte's dad was wearing a USS logo golf shirt in the stands on this morning's coverage. Wonder if he got paid for that?

Free? Get something for trade? This isn't a flea market but I guess creative ideas should be pitched.

I don't know that much of the specifics of how USA Swimming is running its organization, but I don't think they need to advertise, at all. They are getting all they need every night. I've spoken to a couple of parents with younger kids who are just fixated on the swimming coverage. They won't have any problem at all finding the local club. JAEGERMEISTER, One of the problems is if the parents go out and find a local country club with summer league instead of being AWAKENED to USA year 'round swimming through this kind of advertising...... or worse..... they wait until next years summer league comes around and the kids lose interest by then. USA swimming needs to go for it on the national advertising scene. Grab a hold of Phelp's leg and ride this wave as long as possible. John Smith

If anyone's curious about the financials of USA Swimming, you can get part of the picture from their Form 990 that they have to file every year to keep their non-profit legal and tax status. (I use the free part of Guidestar.org for it, though it's a little irritating to have to register for that) Their CEO compensation package is about $500K a year. I'm not sure how that works out to CEO pay in similar other roles. And they pay Shubert somewhat less than market rate, so I can understand why he'd take sponsor money from Speedo on top of that salary. (Not like he's in poverty or anything, but he'd make 50% more for the same role for the UK's elite swimming program)

So, instead of your Monday morning quarterbacking, why don't you propose a solution that an organization can actually afford. I've lived through the enormous cost of advertising on the Olympics for a gigantic multi billion dollan MNC with a massive marketing budget. What you are saying sounds cute but you really need to support your statements financially. What kind of coffer do you think it takes? Don't start your statement with any company with a net cap of less than $500m and that's probably way way low. Do you really think NBC wants anything to do with an org than can only shell out $100K or less when they have outlayed over $1b USD? How much do you think an ad costs prime time during swimming? And, don't think you can buy just one ad, it's a package. Product placement might be a better and more affordable idea. Not sure how you sneak that in. USAS could probably get this for free if they offered up something in trade. The USAS (and USOC) have something - access to athletes, training facilities, etc that might be valuable to NBC (or any other media company). This is dangerous territory though when exclusivity might be granted (surely that's what NBC would want). This is the kind of activity that caused the problem between USAS and Floswimming.

Yes & No The coaching staff should have spent those weeks between trials and the Games drilling in on the little things like this...just as we all should have been doing the last few weeks leading into Portland...how many swimmers have you seen drive to the finish and throw their head back to see times...actions like that can and do cost races...but do agree there is only so much a coach can do and when the swimmer steps to the blocks it falls on them 100%. Paul, well said.....and a good example of this working is Phelps. I have heard that he works all of the details of each race. When is the last time you saw him pull up short at the finish? Doesn't happen often does it? Too many coaches these days think that they can pound out yards and that will do it.......WRONG.....coach the total race not just part of it. Drive through the wall to finish the race....

Paul, well said.....and a good example of this working is Phelps. I have heard that he works all of the details of each race. When is the last time you saw him pull up short at the finish? Doesn't happen often does it? Too many coaches these days think that they can pound out yards and that will do it.......WRONG.....coach the total race not just part of it. Drive through the wall to finish the race.... Phelps turns and finishes well even when his goggles are full of water. Phenomenal attention to detail. How many swimmers have we seen enter the water with their hands apart? I have seen many including Americans.