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
many of the posters above poo poo'd the ASA for allowing certain variations (flip turns in short axis strokes, block start for backstroke) that have the potential to increase speed but cling to their their tech suits.
Amen.
USMS is not necessarily the answer to everything.... sorry folks.
Here in Virginia we have two USMS teams that are actually college clubs. I know that one of them only registered for insurance/liability reasons: they couldn't get coverage through their school (they can't practice in their university pool).
At the Univ of Richmond, where I work, we have a masters group comprised mostly of older working stiffs like most of those on this forum, and we have a club team consisting of college students. I have tried to get the two together for practices and the like -- pool time can be scarce -- but the culture is VERY different for the two groups. The masters group are interesting in working out and struggle to fit it in between the demands of job and family.
The students want to be fit too, but a huge reason they swim is for socializing. They are usually not as serious in the water. They do compete a lot: against other club teams. They are not at all interested in masters meets, not even in the city. Half of their posts on the team listserv (I am the faculty advisor so I am copied) concern parties.
I am not saying this is a bad thing at all, just that the cultures are different. I couldn't even get the groups to agree on practice times (the masters people wanted morning and lunchtime, the students wanted evening).
I often get queries from younger swimmers who move to the city, asking about workout groups. Almost always, one of their questions is, "how old are the masters swimmers in each workout group?" I can relate: when I first started swimming masters (in my early 20s), there was a group of 20-somethings on the team and we went out often. I very much doubt I would have stuck with the swim group if everyone else had been over 40 (ie, ancient).
USMS should definitely try to reach out to these people -- if only to remind them that opportunities for swimming in a fun environment exist post-college -- but it is not simply a matter of getting them to send in their membership fees. Mostly what they want is an opportunity to swim with other young people, not with old farts like me.
many of the posters above poo poo'd the ASA for allowing certain variations (flip turns in short axis strokes, block start for backstroke) that have the potential to increase speed but cling to their their tech suits.
Amen.
USMS is not necessarily the answer to everything.... sorry folks.
Here in Virginia we have two USMS teams that are actually college clubs. I know that one of them only registered for insurance/liability reasons: they couldn't get coverage through their school (they can't practice in their university pool).
At the Univ of Richmond, where I work, we have a masters group comprised mostly of older working stiffs like most of those on this forum, and we have a club team consisting of college students. I have tried to get the two together for practices and the like -- pool time can be scarce -- but the culture is VERY different for the two groups. The masters group are interesting in working out and struggle to fit it in between the demands of job and family.
The students want to be fit too, but a huge reason they swim is for socializing. They are usually not as serious in the water. They do compete a lot: against other club teams. They are not at all interested in masters meets, not even in the city. Half of their posts on the team listserv (I am the faculty advisor so I am copied) concern parties.
I am not saying this is a bad thing at all, just that the cultures are different. I couldn't even get the groups to agree on practice times (the masters people wanted morning and lunchtime, the students wanted evening).
I often get queries from younger swimmers who move to the city, asking about workout groups. Almost always, one of their questions is, "how old are the masters swimmers in each workout group?" I can relate: when I first started swimming masters (in my early 20s), there was a group of 20-somethings on the team and we went out often. I very much doubt I would have stuck with the swim group if everyone else had been over 40 (ie, ancient).
USMS should definitely try to reach out to these people -- if only to remind them that opportunities for swimming in a fun environment exist post-college -- but it is not simply a matter of getting them to send in their membership fees. Mostly what they want is an opportunity to swim with other young people, not with old farts like me.
