Lately there have been some threads that touch on macroeconomic issues affecting the US and the rest of the world. I am (morbidly?) curious about how this affects masters swimming.
My concern is primarily related to registration and participation. Right now we are in the 2009 registration period, meaning swimmers are either registering or renewing. But are we loosing people because of the economy?
Separate issue is participation. Let's say signing up for USMS is not a problem, but the cost of swimming (dues, gear, commute to pool, etc.) is an issue. I am thinking particularly about people who have either lost their jobs, had to change careers, closed/reduced their business, or lost a lot of money recently. How is this affecting membership?
What do you all have to say about this?
I've had the same thoughts. Attendance at Long Beach SCM was very good. I don't think it was effected at all. However, there may be an effect at nats. I still plan to attend Canadaian nats in May and LCM in Indianapolis. I have been planning to go to Sweden in 2010 for Worlds, but we will see on that one as the cost will be far greater than Toronto or Indianapolis!
Several years ago, USMS spent some hard earned resources on a membership survey. I believe that the majority of respondents are not interested in competition and join USMS as a requirement to participate in masters workouts. A much smaller, but significant portion, are actively involved in competition. For those involved in competition, the average income level was significantly higher than the reported US median.
My hunch is that the economic condition may affect renewal rates among the non-competition subset, but that the competition subset will continue to both renew and participate (and expend travel related resources) because competitive swimming is a core value - even with possible declines in income and travel related cost increases.
My 2 pesos.
... the competition subset will continue to both renew and participate (and expend travel related resources) because competitive swimming is a core value - even with possible declines in income and travel related cost increases.
Generally, yes, I agree. I don't see it impacting my training or participation in Arizona meets. Swimming and competing is a core value for me, but, flying to meets, might get impacted over time. Like Glenn, I hope to go to Worlds in Sweden, but that becomes a family trip versus a solo trip. If times aren't much rosier in 2010, I'd probably opt to conserve discretionary funds and stay local.
I would think people might look at swim meets as a relatively inexpensive alternative to other more expensive and less beneficial activities they had been doing. Most people are capable of finding a meet within 50 miles of their hometown at least a few times per year, and really the only cost is meet entry ($20 approx) and gas (which is relatively cheap for the time) assuming it is a one day meet.
As for National type meets, you might see some reduced attendance depending on the location. Take the 09 Clovis meet, which will be situated nicely between Southern and Northern portions of the state. In state attendance alone will most likely assure good turn out, and the hard core out of state attendee's are generally willing to budget a trip to National's into their overall expenses while perhaps foregoing other travel they would do in more "up" years. Just my take!
I seem to recall seeing a membership survey that showed that USMS swimmers were relatively well off income wise. If you assume that means discretionary income too is relatively high I would guess that people joining USMS for workouts and doing the occasional local meet would be only slightly effected. I think national meets and multi day competitions could see more of an impact.
Personally it prob wont really change my local meet schedule, but it may change my decision on national meets.
