Does membership with USA Swimming (not USMS) require any sort of attachment to a specific club? Or, in other words, can I join USAS and go swim whatever meets they have as an "unattached" swimmer. The master's program I swim with only had USMS affiliation.
On a similar note, do times achieved in a USMS meet have any sort of merrit for making Q times for something like a Grand Prix meet?
Parents
Former Member
Because there are no USMS meets within 100 miles of me, I swam several USAS meets unattached last year. I think was supposed go to the meet director to be assigned to a USAS team coach 'representative' but didn't. I entered with paper forms and just sent a check. Essentially the same as USMS meets. They were senior meets with qualifying times and USMS meets do not count, unless they are officially USAS 'observed' meets. Your USMS meet director will be able to tell you if any meets in which you've swum were USAS observed. But, as someone else mentioned, being able to prove your times is only an issue if you fail to make the cut when you swim.
These meets are fun, but can be a little weird when you don't fit in with the typical USAS swimmer. While I'm competitive with the younger guys, the wrinkles on my face and hair on my chest reveal my age (40). I occassionally get stares from kids who wonder why I'm not in the stands with the other 'old folks.'
Good luck!
Because there are no USMS meets within 100 miles of me, I swam several USAS meets unattached last year. I think was supposed go to the meet director to be assigned to a USAS team coach 'representative' but didn't. I entered with paper forms and just sent a check. Essentially the same as USMS meets. They were senior meets with qualifying times and USMS meets do not count, unless they are officially USAS 'observed' meets. Your USMS meet director will be able to tell you if any meets in which you've swum were USAS observed. But, as someone else mentioned, being able to prove your times is only an issue if you fail to make the cut when you swim.
These meets are fun, but can be a little weird when you don't fit in with the typical USAS swimmer. While I'm competitive with the younger guys, the wrinkles on my face and hair on my chest reveal my age (40). I occassionally get stares from kids who wonder why I'm not in the stands with the other 'old folks.'
Good luck!
