It is here!

I agree with Allen. This indignity should not be allowed to stand! For those of you who have not yet discovered the world of USMS blogs, I urge you to read Leslie's description of her travails on the blog The FAF AFAP Digest and today's specific entry entitled "extremely unhappy." If you would like more info in a visually pleasing format, I similarly invite you to watch my own langorous Vlog, entitled Vlog the Inhaler, or The Occasional Video Blog... Today's entry, which expresses outrage at Leslie's fate, has the understated title of Travesty of Travesties. On an unrelated note, pictures for the USMS Cheesecake Calendar have been pouring in, though not at the kind of rate that should discourage further offerings. So far, if we use pictures of me, Leslie, and Geek, we have January and February covered. For more on this, please visit the thread entitled USMS Cheesecake Calendar if it hasn't already been taken down.

Uh, thanks Jim, I think. I'm in the process of letter writing. We'll see what happens. Rule 202.2 looks promising.

Leslie, we're pulling for you...

Several posters have expressed disappointment that USMS does not accept Time Trials (contrasted with rumors where other Time Trials whose times were accepted). I’ve already gone over this with Fort, but I’m writing to clarify for others (I tried to post on a blog but my post mysteriously disappeared...). Time Trials (TTs) are indeed permitted – as long as they are sanctioned. The problem at Rutgers, unfortunately, was the TT was not sanctioned nor was it part of the meet. Fort was given bad advice from the referee and meet director when she requested the TT. They granted her request not realizing the time would not be eligible for USMS Top Ten/records. Without a sanction, her swim was basically no different in the eyes of USMS than a swim in practice where your coach gets your time. Similarly, if Paul Smith steps on the blocks in practice with 3 timers and breaks a John Smith record (or vice versa), the time cannot be submitted for a record. It’s a shame what happened at Rutgers for Fort because she did nothing wrong , but I thought I’d clear the air that USMS did not deny her time simply because it was a TT – they denied it because the swim was not sanctioned (nor was it part of the meet – the entry form needed to include the option to do a time trial in order for it to be included with the meet). I hope her appeal is successful but there you have the background for when TTs “count” and when they don’t. Lastly, I’m not on the USMS Rules Committee (thankfully!) so this is just my own personal interpretation of the relevant sections of the rulebook. :dedhorse::dedhorse::dedhorse: Jeff

Thanks, Jeff, for a very well-explained reply. I, too, hope Leslie's appeal goes through, having seen her talk to the officials, get their approval, then watched the swim itself, witnessed the 29.99 appear on the score board from the electronic timing apparatus, and documented all of the above on my cell phone video camera! I am sure Leslie can go faster than this, and will do so in the near future, but I feel for her frustration at doing such a great swim, in a measured pool, with electronic timing system all set up, being watched by officials, etc. Does a tree falling in forest when nobody's around make a sound? Does a Fortress who swims under 30 seconds in the 50 SCM Fly really do this if it's not sanctioned? Yes. Yes. I think we can all hear the sound of one hand clapping for this remarkable accomplishment!

Well, the grounds for denial are actually in a private email and don't say exactly what Jeff stated. And, as Jeff said, that's just his own personal interpretation of the rules and his wording does not actually appear verbatim in the rules. A certain implicit understood pattern and practice is not necessarily tantamount to an explicit rule. It is my personal opinion, and am likewise entitled to have one despite not being a USMS admin, that the rules are inapplicable and/or very ambiguous and definitely not uniformly or fairly applied. My own lawyer, Mr. Fort, who has many years of litigation experience and does not look at the rules through a swimmers perspective or experience, agrees. So I do not believe I am totally off base here, despite the above post being somewhat officious. Sometimes, one can be so used to thinking the rules say X or interpreting them a certain way to say X, but when you actually read them they don't in fact say X. And it's like a "swim in practice?" Uh, NOT. If that's how it's viewed, and I don't dispute that the view "exists," I think the camera needs to be re-focused. I have filed a letter of appeal, seeking recognition under Rule 202.2, and think the whole matter should just be dropped on the forum. The letter is on my blog if anyone feels the need to criticize it there. Or do as you wish. I'm tired of it all, but feel that a person should have a right to appeal. Unfortunately, some seem to think this is an ill-advised dragging my name through the mud idea. If so, so be it. However, that very notion seems ridiculous to me. I am to be pilloried for having the nerve to question the rules? Doesn't seem right to me ... Perhaps, as some feel, it is simply safer to swim in USS meets. Not nearly as fun, but not nearly as many masters times thrown out for various reasons either.

(nor was it part of the meet – the entry form needed to include the option to do a time trial in order for it to be included with the meet). Interesting statement. So the basis for obtaining official status is that it needs to be listed on the official meet entry form? And can I get the exact rule number that covers this situation? I have looked thru the USMS rulebook now three times cover to cover in the last 24 hours and can not find where this swim is CLEARLY disallowed. Since you are convinced it is, could you please quote the relevant sections so I can see if I am missing something?

Perhaps, as some feel, it is simply safer to swim in USS meets. Not nearly as fun, but not nearly as many masters times thrown out for various reasons either. Well, they bring their own headaches. Their pool measurements rules are less strict than ours. The times don't count for FINA either. And getting them submitted for USMS TT is a little more of a hassle.

Well, they bring their own headaches. Their pool measurements rules are less strict than ours. The times don't count for FINA either. And getting them submitted for USMS TT is a little more of a hassle. My understanding is that USS times do count for FINA if the meet is dual sanctioned. More and more USS long course meets are dual sanctioned now. And SCY meets are obviously irrelevant for FINA purposes.

My understanding is that USS times do count for FINA if the meet is dual sanctioned. More and more USS long course meets are dual sanctioned now. And SCY meets are obviously irrelevant for FINA purposes. I simply don't undertand why we need to make things harder than they have to be. How much friggin work would it be...or should I say "checking of ego's" to get USMS & USA Swimming at least a bit more on the same page. Now FINA I can understand...I won't even try and go there but come on folks? As much as certain folks withing USMS want to claim that we're primarilly a fitness organization the bottom line is we are still hosting meets...I don't see a lot of fitness swimmers spending thousands a year on travel, entries, suits, etc. We still are an organization that has a significant and very active/vocal group of members who are racing and utilizing timers, time standards for TT's, WR's, top 10's, etc...streamline and simplify the process will ya...no excuse for someone entering a meet and doing a swim like this and not being recognized.