I might enter a USS meet next year as the long course season gets underway. I believe you have to be registered with USS to do so, but just wondered:
Is there an easy way to do this given that I'm already USMS registered (e.g., any reciprocity arrangement)?
Do you have to affiliate yourself with a USS team or can you just swim UNAT?
Thanks,
Patrick, I am thinking about doing the same to get some long course times in early in the season. You will want to ask Brigid Bunch (AZ LMSC Sanctions) about that subject regarding a USMS sanction. I don't know about the whole USA-S membership aspect though.
Let me know what you find out, I may join for a meet or two come summertime. We could show the kids that the oldsters still got some speed left in them...
Most (if not all) age group meets require USA-S registration. There is no 'discount' for being a USMS registered swimmer but it's not that expensive. The cost is the same if you register now or wait until later and your registration (unless you wait until after 1 Oct of next year) will be good until 31 Dec 08. i'm registered with both.
PWB,
You have to register as USA-S.
Go to:
www.azswimming.org
Go to Document Library
Scroll near bottom and I HIGHLY recommend signing up for the 2009 Year Around Athlete registriation ($57.00). Fill it out (don't forget to list your Mommy and Daddy's name!). You can then swim any meet during the year!!
I suggest going UNAT at first, unless you have some compelling reason to attach to a team.
Here are some thoughts:
1. You will want to surf the site and some of the club sites. Get a feel for the general schedule, ie recurring/annual meets, levels of competition, and meet entry requirements.
2. Stragically chose your USA meets for double duty - check the pool measurement rules and you can have times count for USMS top ten, especially LCM where the pools are typically non-bulkhead and on file with USMS.
3. You may find it is a great way to supplement your masters swimming, or even to have USA goals. If I looked you up correctly, you already swim at the level of grand prix/sectional (and blast through your AZ state) meets.
The only catch....you gotta do the times in USA swimming, with a few exceptions.
Hope that helps!
PWB,
You have to register as USA-S.
Go to:
www.azswimming.org
Go to Document Library
Scroll near bottom and I HIGHLY recommend signing up for the 2009 Year Around Athlete registriation ($57.00). Fill it out (don't forget to list your Mommy and Daddy's name!). You can then swim any meet during the year!!
I suggest going UNAT at first, unless you have some compelling reason to attach to a team.
Here are some thoughts:
1. You will want to surf the site and some of the club sites. Get a feel for the general schedule, ie recurring/annual meets, levels of competition, and meet entry requirements.
2. Stragically chose your USA meets for double duty - check the pool measurement rules and you can have times count for USMS top ten, especially LCM where the pools are typically non-bulkhead and on file with USMS.
3. You may find it is a great way to supplement your masters swimming, or even to have USA goals. If I looked you up correctly, you already swim at the level of grand prix/sectional (and blast through your AZ state) meets.
The only catch....you gotta do the times in USA swimming, with a few exceptions.
Hope that helps!
so, I have to swim at an A/BB/C type USA meets to get the times for the higher level meets.
If you are talking about entering a meet with qualifying times, yes...sort of. In the GA LSC, you can enter without a "proof of time."
But if your swim doesn't beat the qualifying time, they go witch hunting through the USA Swims Database looking for proof you met the time standard in a USA meet.
If you haven't, they fine you $50 per infraction and bar your team (or you if unattached) from competition until you pay up.
YMMV in your LSC.
I read some of the entry forms for USA meets in my area and they are adament that you have done the correct time. Besides, I don't plan to do a USA meet until I know that I can do the qualifying times for the Senior Meets.
No reciprocity I'm aware of.
In Texas USA-S membership is handled by the USA-S region (equivalent of a USMS LMSC), not USA-S itself. You'll need to find out which region covers you.
You can definitely register as UNAT.
I seem to remember that times done at USMS-sanctioned meets count for USA-S meets if you request it of the meet referee ahead of time. That way the officials can certify that you did the swim according to USA-S rules (eg, no butterfrog).
But that was a couple years ago, maybe it has changed since then.
as far as i know you do need to register under USS as well.
This last summer i got a seasonal registration as a UNAT which was just valid for the summer, which for someone who just wants to swim a few LC meets works out well.
I seem to remember that times done at USMS-sanctioned meets count for USA-S meets if you request it of the meet referee ahead of time. That way the officials can certify that you did the swim according to USA-S rules (eg, no butterfrog).
But that was a couple years ago, maybe it has changed since then.
Go to USA Swimming website:
Click on Applications and Forms
Click on Observed Meet Forms
You will probably look at page 1 (non-season culminating form).
Pay particular attention to how you would answer the part about ..."the reason and explanation for the request"...
For Glider/tjrpatt - right on point about those penalties. Read meet entries carefully - you can bypass lower level meets and start at the A meets - but try and pick the ones where you do not have to have verified SWIMS times....then carefully chose your entries and make sure you get at least an A time.
2. Stragically chose your USA meets for double duty - check the pool measurement rules and you can have times count for USMS top ten, especially LCM where the pools are typically non-bulkhead and on file with USMS.
Thanks so much for the detailed advice. What specific measurement rules or requirements would I be looking for?
