What should USMS do about the suits?

But my point is that a lot of masters swimmers don't even care about tech suits... So why are we banning them? Oh yeah, because we want to be like Mike.

How many may meets do swim each year ?? Are you asking me how many meets I swim each year? Three in 2009.

Even after all this discussion about whether the tech suits should be banned or not because of the advantages to some and not to all, I am extremely concerned that the sport of swimming will take a major hit with the general public and lose popularity if ALL tech suits are banned. The growth we have seen over the past couple of years in the sport of swimming has a lot to do with Michael Phelps of course, but also because of the new technology that the sport has allowed into its arena. I do think this HAS to come into consideration by our governing bodies to keep continued growth.

In terms of increased public interest, swimming has still not caught fire at all. Really, you sure about that? What was the showcase sport for the Olympics last year, smart guy? The Grand Prix in Charlotte this year was the biggest in over 25 years and sold out all sessions. The trials were in a basketball arena. USMS has the largest membership ever. There is a swimmer on that Dancing with the Stars show. I think I heard this year's Worlds were the most televised ever in the USA. So, once again, you have shown your utter swimming ignorance.

Even after all this discussion about whether the tech suits should be banned or not because of the advantages to some and not to all, I am extremely concerned that the sport of swimming will take a major hit with the general public and lose popularity if ALL tech suits are banned. The growth we have seen over the past couple of years in the sport of swimming has a lot to do with Michael Phelps of course, but also because of the new technology that the sport has allowed into its arena. I do think this HAS to come into consideration by our governing bodies to keep continued growth. In terms of increased public interest, swimming has still not caught fire at all. The increased interest because of suit technology is mainly due to the huge emotionally charged debate of whether the records set by using them are really legit or whether they should be discounted. In fact the controversy over suit technolgy has made swimming even more Hooo Huuum. D2

First scm meet of the season in Mission Viejo - still lots and lots of suits out there .... A bunch of records - all of them in some sort of tech suit. There is simply no way people will swim this well in season if they ban the suits - just for that reason, they should leave everything up to the swimmers .... I'm not sure I follow you here. How is not swimming well in season without the aid of a tech suit reason to keep them around? What will happen if people can no longer swim so well in season?

What will happen if people can no longer swim so well in season? How many may meets do swim each year ??

I think a big part of the problem is that swimmers have never thought of their sport as one that could be significantly impacted by the introduction of new technologies. It is on its face such a simple sport requiring such little equipment that the idea of technology coming in and becoming such a huge game changer seemed far fetched. But it can and did. I don't see how you can look at the near perfect relationship between world records and new swimsuits, especially world records by near unknowns and not wake up to the fact that the tech suits are turning previous standards on their heads. Nearly every sport in the world has to grapple with the fact of technology and decide where it wants to draw lines to keep the essence of the sport fixed, while allowing for progress for the sake of things like safety and standardization. You'd see teams stretch the field in amazing ways if you decided to let quarterbacks sling those grooved nerf footballs instead of a pigskin. Take a look at the difference between the major league and college game in baseball to see how the introduction of technology (aluminum bats) change the game. I view the tech suit as swimming's aluminum bats. All of a sudden you have these ridiculous times popping up, kind of like inflated college batting averages. But it's always easier to be proactive than reactive which is what I sense the problem is. Let's face it, if FINA/USA-S had been ahead of the game and had instituted the coverage and fabric requirements back in the 1990's no one would be griping about the fact that they aren't able to wear a hypothetical Jakerz tech suit that "could" be made if only the manufacturers were allowed to push the limits. Everyone would just accept the equipment standards as a fundamental part of the sport. What gets people upset is something being taken away. I think the introduction of new equipment standards on the elite level helps protect the integrity of the sport. We'll be able to meaningfullly compare world records and times across generations. The technical limits will be fixed (hopefully) with a clear bright line so that athletes won't have an excuse to blame their off the podium finishes on a sponsorship deal or a lack of funds. Long story short, swimsuits will be the same sort of factor that cleats are in track, shoulder pads are in football, and bats are in baseball-- a necessary piece of equipment but irrelevant in terms of the outcome of a competition. Swimmers will be the deciding factor. I am unsure of where I stand for the master's level, but I do have to say I like the idea of being able to meaningfully compare the top master's times with the top elite times.

here's what USMS is doing about suits. U.S. Masters Swimming Statement on Swimsuits 10/11/09 The FINA Masters Committee has recommended that the FINA Bureau, meeting in mid-January, approve its recommendation that Masters swimmers be governed by the same swimsuit rules as the elite pool swimmers. If the Bureau approves the committee's recommendation, it is anticipated it would go into effect after the Bureau meeting. If this recommendation becomes policy with the FINA Bureau, USMS will implement it for our sanctioned swim meets. For the time being and until the FINA Bureau issues its policy for Masters, the June 1, 2009 ruling that allowed technical suits in USMS swim meets is still in effect. If you choose to compete in a USA Swimming sanctioned meet, you must follow USA Swimming rules.

Shocked. Shocked I tell ya. Who woulld have ever thought?