I think there should be a Masters Team Competition out there - besides the team scoring at Nationals --
Here is an idea I grew up with in Germany -- they hold team championships every winter and it's a great event.
It's based on a point system (FINA or USA swimming one could do) --
- the world record usually equals 1000 points and slower times are based on a calculation - for example a 50 Free in 30 sec is 348 points.
- every team swims every event twice. 2 people enter the 50 Free, 2 for the 100 Free and so on -- there are 16 events (or 18 if you add the 100 IM and 800 Free) -- so that means 36 total swims. You could add a couple of relays and make it 44 swims
- no team member can swim more than 4 or 5 times - so even small teams can compete -- larger teams could field multiple teams.
- now for Masters, we would use a conversion factor for the times and age groups - I think Chris Stevenson could come up with something fair really quick.
- the team with the biggest point total wins - no individual prizes.
In Germany they have Men and Women (for Masters) on the same team - or you could keep it seperate.
Every masters team that I know of is full of fast swimmers who never swim in meets - but LOVE to train.
Perhaps an idea could be that each club interested in participating, sanction an intersquad type of meet within a swim practice time.
Then the head coach submits results based on this home pool competition.
What I would love to see is these amazing swimmers "in club workout hiding" come forward and represent their clubs and US Masters Swimming.
I have been a coach on deck shaking her head at the speedy workout swims for several years!
Totally inspiring - but absolutely frustrating at the same time!!
I swim with people like that everyday. I am always trying to get them to do meets and still no interest. From my weekday workout group, two people went to Colonies Zones. They are maybe 20 to 25 at this practice every weekday. Plus, there are 10 of us that can do sets of 100s on 1:10 or 1:15. Just crazy.
Every masters team that I know of is full of fast swimmers who never swim in meets - but LOVE to train.
Perhaps an idea could be that each club interested in participating, sanction an intersquad type of meet within a swim practice time.
Then the head coach submits results based on this home pool competition.
What I would love to see is these amazing swimmers "in club workout hiding" come forward and represent their clubs and US Masters Swimming.
I have been a coach on deck shaking her head at the speedy workout swims for several years!
Totally inspiring - but absolutely frustrating at the same time!!
I swim with people like that everyday. I am always trying to get them to do meets and still no interest. From my weekday workout group, two people went to Colonies Zones. They are maybe 20 to 25 at this practice every weekday. Plus, there are 10 of us that can do sets of 100s on 1:10 or 1:15. Just crazy.
