What should USMS do about the suits?

I know I have been asking for USMS to rule, but tieing ourselves to whatever FINA may do come January at this point seems premature. If we were sincere in our recommendation to FINA to carve out a limited masters exception, it seems we ought to be considering our options right now. But by my reading of this announcement we took that off that table, and will now blindly follow whatever FINA rules. So please remind me why are we wedded to FINA again? So our LCM/SCM records count? So we're not considered a beer league? Because our rules say so unless we choose to go our own way, as we have for butterfrog? None of those reasons seem compelling enough to announce at this time that we are on board with whatever move FINA makes next. I would have liked to see a little more consideration given to the concerns expressed by the USMS swimmers. Some seemed to be a stretch (modesty), but some appeared to be at least facially valid (zippers needed, SCY is a separate animal, we spent good money, etc. etc. etc.). I don't think it was ever USMS' intention to deviate from FINA on the suits for SCM or LCM. The recommendation was USMS trying to be proactive but obviously the FINA Technical Committee didn't bite. As far as why we follow FINA, I suppose it is because swimming -- even masters -- is an international sport, with international competitions, time compilations and records. A consistent set of rules is needed for such things. Whether that is a compelling reason is a matter of opinion, I suppose, but USAS (of which USMS is a part) is a member organization. Like it or don't, FINA is the international federation that governs all aquatic sports. FINA doesn't give a fig about SCY, though. I do not know why USMS has decided to implement a ban -- if it comes -- immediately, since it would come in mid-season for SCY. For SCM/LCM, mid-January is right at the start of a new season. (I suppose there is a chance that, if the FINA Bureau announces a ban, they will also announce a later implementation date, like they did for the elites.)

They should just implement the ban immediately for SCY meets. It's going to happen, so why not nip it in the bud before too many meets are held? By the way, I swam a meet in briefs for the first time this last weekend and went pretty significantly slower than I did last year in my B70. There are many factors that could have contributed to the decline, but I don't doubt for a second that the suit was a factor. I definitely feel the pain of those that want to keep the suits, but I am going to make peace with the new paradigm as I believe it's the right one.

I think that the FINA masters committee should be even more ashamed of it's self than FINA proper.Why are they waiting until Jan to hold their meeting?(I can answer that,but not without profanity.)They should get their:censor: selves together and meet no later than Dec so whatever they decide(assuming they decide anything) can take effect 1/1/10 when the "elite" rules do.

What percentage of tech-suit people do you think will "...make peace with this new paradigm" or what percentage will simply refused to make peace with it? Yes, people, unlike Midas, who don't believe it's the "right paradigm," will be less inclined to "make peace" with it. The anti-tech suit crowd should have no gripe or need to "make peace." They're getting their old-fashioned "purist" way and don't have to grudgingly acquiesce to or rail against progress anymore. The rest of us who want to cover up our flab and cheat with our magic suits may cause meet attendance to drop. I know many swimmers who are just more comfortable in tech suits, and not just for speed reasons.

What percentage of tech-suit people do you think will "...make peace with this new paradigm" or what percentage will simply refused to make peace with it? If tech suits are banned, I predict that the USMS will NOT boast record high numbers next convention. I don't know. How many folks out there refused to make peace with the (albeit temporary) tech suit paradigm? Some of those people still showed up to meets and swam despite being at a disadvantage. But how many were discouraged by how the suits helped people who never beat them before suddenly kick their tails? Those people don't feature prominently on this board and I'm sure we'll never really know the answer to either your or my question. By the way, I saw very few tech suits at the meet this weekend. And apparently this meet was much more heavily attended than it has been in prior years (according to teammates who attend every year). Maybe that says something about what will or won't happen to attendance when the suits are banned? I think for the most part those with the tech suits are the most hard core, and will likely continue to swim regardless. It was definitely sobering to see my times regressing. Despite thinking it's the right thing to do for a myriad of reasons, giving up the tech suits indeed is not easy even for me.

If tech suits are banned, I predict that the USMS will NOT boast record high numbers next convention. I think for the most part those with the tech suits are the most hard core, and will likely continue to swim regardless. As Midas said, I doubt we'll ever know for sure. But I very much doubt that tech suits are a major factor driving registration numbers, given that a minority of members compete and only a subset of them wear tech suits and feel strongly for them. And for those who love them, are tech suits the main reason they joined masters swimming? Even those who Fort insists are more comfortable in these suits do not wear them for most of their swimming (ie, in practice). More plausible perhaps is that the number of people who compete might be affected. The only thing I know for sure is, regardless of whether the bureau accepts or rejects the committee's recommendation, we'll be hearing gripes for months to come... :)

The only thing I know for sure is, regardless of whether the bureau accepts or rejects the committee's recommendation, we'll be hearing gripes for months to come... :) I'll try to be here for you, Chris.:) As an aside, while I will miss my B70, I'd like to think that I've come to terms with the decision and the loss. I admit that I'm looking forward to being able to yank on my competition suit in something less than 10 minutes of gentle tugging and persuasion, and not spending $400 on a suit leaves more money (much more) for my favorite frosty adult beverages. There are some intriguing aspects to the ban, too. A buddy and I are currently speculating on whether the B70 helped a mutual nemesis disproportionately; we are hoping that in a jammers only world, his times slow to within our reach. But the senseless nature of how we got to this point, and the continued floundering by FINA (and to a lesser extent USMS) really rankles. I'm sure I'll get over it.

"... By the way, I swam a meet in briefs for the first time this last weekend and went pretty significantly slower than I did last year in my B70. I definitely feel the pain of those that want to keep the suits, but I am going to make peace with the new paradigm as I believe it's the right one. What percentage of tech-suit people do you think will "...make peace with this new paradigm" or what percentage will simply refused to make peace with it? If tech suits are banned, I predict that the USMS will NOT boast record high numbers next convention.

I think that the FINA masters committee should be even more ashamed of itself than FINA proper. Why are they waiting until Jan to hold their meeting? (I can answer that, but not without profanity.) They should get their :censor: selves together and meet no later than Dec so whatever they decide (assuming they decide anything) can take effect 1/1/10 when the "elite" rules do. My understanding is that it is the FINA bureau that is scheduled to meet in January at which time they will review the recommendations of the Masters Technical Committee. But how many were discouraged by how the suits helped people who never beat them before suddenly kick their tails? How many indeed. And sadly, it is rumored that these same heartbroken swimmers were turned away when they attempted to purchase one of these suits for themselves.

I think for the most part those with the tech suits are the most hard core, and will likely continue to swim regardless. I agree. Anyone who drops $400+ on a tech suit and then doesn't compete is probably certifiable. However, I think that if one has gone so far as to enter meets in the past - with or without a tech suit - the new reg's probably should not cause one to stop competing. At worst, there will need to be a period of "adjustment" to non suit aided times. Everyone gets an asterisk!