I don't know if you have seen any of the stories on Swimming World web site about ASA and CU.
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Anyway, it is a fairly funny situation. I have no idea who Keith Bell is, but ASA seems like an odd organization. They create rules that are supposed to be fun, but then they kick out a team for having fun or poking fun at the organization. Maybe there are more details about why they were kicked-out of the organization that are more sinister, but on the surface this sounds like one family on a power trip which doesn't make for much of an "organization".
I was wondering whether USMS might consider sponsoring a college club championship next year. It would grow membership and it would introduce young swimmers to our organization. Anyone out there from USMS listening?
I have swum in a meet with the CU swimmers and I have to say there are a very nice bunch and I thought they were very respectful. They were as serious about swimming as your average masters competitor. I hate to see them without an alternative for college club swimming because one guy doesn't want them in his "organization". If Keith Bell makes money from a college club championship, I bet USMS could as well and it might increase future USMS membership.
Some of Dr. Bell's ideas do sound fun though. I would love to be able to do any type of turn I wanted and one hand touches.
Just a thought for USMS.....college club swimming.
Tim
Tim -
Are you suggesting that the clubs would all join USMS, and then be subject to USMS rules? Or would you impose NCAA or USAS rules on the meet to keep it more in line with NCAA's?
I also think there might be issues with insurance if not all the swimmers were USMS registered, and the meets were not officially "sanctioned".
I guess the question would then be, would the college club "championships" only be opened to college clubs so designated, or would it become just another national USMS meet?
Food for thought.... other ideas?
Yes, my thought would be that the college club teams become USMS registered as well as all their members. USMS rules would apply. My first thought was a separate USMS nationals meet for any registered USMS college club and maybe you could open it up to any USMS member that is attending college or something just in case they don't have a registered college club. I guess you could also do it as part of our normal short course nationals, but have a separate scoring for the college teams or you could just have a separate meet altogether. A combined meet might be too large though.
It seems like with many colleges don't have opportunities for their students to compete in swimming and I guess if there is a demand, then there should be a supply and USMS seems like a logical organization to step-in. ASA seemed to be growing prior to this incident and they have 60-plus schools involved some of which have Division I programs. Someone commented that it was unfortunate that there is a need for such a championship and it is unfortunate, but probably more and more a reality. These swimmers appear to fit squarely into USMS. They are 18 and over and swim only for fitness and fun and they have no opportunity to compete in an NCAA sanctioned meet. In the Big 12 there are only 3 schools with NCAA mens programs. There is pent-up demand for swimming competition and the comradery that comes along with it. There are a lot of college pools going to waste.
Tim
Tim -
Are you suggesting that the clubs would all join USMS, and then be subject to USMS rules? Or would you impose NCAA or USAS rules on the meet to keep it more in line with NCAA's?
I also think there might be issues with insurance if not all the swimmers were USMS registered, and the meets were not officially "sanctioned".
I guess the question would then be, would the college club "championships" only be opened to college clubs so designated, or would it become just another national USMS meet?
Food for thought.... other ideas?
Yes, my thought would be that the college club teams become USMS registered as well as all their members. USMS rules would apply. My first thought was a separate USMS nationals meet for any registered USMS college club and maybe you could open it up to any USMS member that is attending college or something just in case they don't have a registered college club. I guess you could also do it as part of our normal short course nationals, but have a separate scoring for the college teams or you could just have a separate meet altogether. A combined meet might be too large though.
It seems like with many colleges don't have opportunities for their students to compete in swimming and I guess if there is a demand, then there should be a supply and USMS seems like a logical organization to step-in. ASA seemed to be growing prior to this incident and they have 60-plus schools involved some of which have Division I programs. Someone commented that it was unfortunate that there is a need for such a championship and it is unfortunate, but probably more and more a reality. These swimmers appear to fit squarely into USMS. They are 18 and over and swim only for fitness and fun and they have no opportunity to compete in an NCAA sanctioned meet. In the Big 12 there are only 3 schools with NCAA mens programs. There is pent-up demand for swimming competition and the comradery that comes along with it. There are a lot of college pools going to waste.
Tim
