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.
Am I correct in understanding that this virtual competition would mean masters clubs submit the top time in each event by age-group?
If this is the case, it doesn't matter how large a team is or is not.
But does serve the club to have at least one swimmer male & female in every age-group.
Pretty sure all coaches who encourage competition are like me... trying to fill in the holes of missing ages and genders.
What are we hoping to recognize?
Depth or the fastest clubs?
Am I correct in understanding that this virtual competition would mean masters clubs submit the top time in each event by age-group?
If this is the case, it doesn't matter how large a team is or is not.
But does serve the club to have at least one swimmer male & female in every age-group.
Pretty sure all coaches who encourage competition are like me... trying to fill in the holes of missing ages and genders.
What are we hoping to recognize?
Depth or the fastest clubs?