Triathletes should be certified by USMS (SCAQ)

Perhaps a solution is a qualifying process for triathlons with swims of more than 400 yards. Before a triathlete can compete in a triathlon with an open water swim of 500 or 600 yards, he/she must have completed a triathlon with an open water swim of 300 or 400 yards. For a triathlon with a 1/2 mile swim, said triathlete must have completed a triathlon with an open water swim of at least 600 yards. For an Olympic distance triathlon, said triathlete must have completed a triathlon with a 1/2 mile open water swim. Who is going to be the one verifying all of this? The race director who might have 800 or 1000 entrants? The USAT official who is usually a volunteer? Or will it be on the honor system? Everyone signs a waiver that they are fit and can handle the race. They take on their own liability and in most cases they are adults. If they find themselves in trouble during the swim, they need to flag down a boat. Maybe more boats are needed at each race. Perhaps so many boats per race participants. I agree with Ken. We don't need more nannies. This is a USAT issue, not a USMS issue.

Perhaps a solution is a qualifying process for triathlons with swims of more than 400 yards. Before a triathlete can compete in a triathlon with an open water swim of 500 or 600 yards, he/she must have completed a triathlon with an open water swim of 300 or 400 yards. For a triathlon with a 1/2 mile swim, said triathlete must have completed a triathlon with an open water swim of at least 600 yards. For an Olympic distance triathlon, said triathlete must have completed a triathlon with a 1/2 mile open water swim. Who is going to be the one verifying all of this? The race director who might have 800 or 1000 entrants? The USAT official who is usually a volunteer? Or will it be on the honor system? Everyone signs a waiver that they are fit and can handle the race. They take on their own liability and in most cases they are adults. If they find themselves in trouble during the swim, they need to flag down a boat. Maybe more boats are needed at each race. Perhaps so many boats per race participants. I agree with Ken. We don't need more nannies. This is a USAT issue, not a USMS issue.