And it implies that the USMS brand is too weak to attract these swimmers without the suits.
USMS recently passed a rule that the suits would not be legal past May 31. If in Sept they pass another rule saying they are now legal, how is that not flip-flopping?
If "coverage" is such a big issue than either the SCM and LCM seasons will be marginalized even more than ever -- b/c swimmers don't want to give up their crutches (I mean suits) -- or there will soon be a push to allow the suits in meters.
I agree that FINA doesn't care about SCY, but USMS seems to care about FINA rules enough to follow them in SCY.
I suppose I also just don't like the idea that this reasoning is based largely on the idea that old fart masters swimmers have such awful bodies that they need to be covered.
I think coverage is the real issue. Attracting Olympians is nice, to be sure, but I agree that should hardly be the sole incentive for changing masters rules since masters is for us all.
Well, I think it's a flip, not a flip flop. :D Everyone is entitled to one "motion for reconsideration." I think FINA issued a lot more contradictory rules -- total ban, partial ban w/specific criteria after "study," every suit in the known universe allowed, every single real tech suit and bodysuit (even those legal under the partial ban and legal since 2000) banned. So far, tech suits have still been legal in USMS. And, as SwimsWithAFist notes, there are other rules where USMS diverges from FINA. So USMS cares about FINA, but not slavishly so apparently. I find it encouraging that our ED is not slavish and can think independently about marketing USMS. Go Rob!
If coverage is such a big issue that SCM & LCM will truly be marginalized, then that argument suggest the suits are truly popular. To the extent that is relevant, that weighs in favor permitting them in SCY. In any event, SCY has always been the most popular course in the US and there has traditionally been fewer competitors in the other courses. I'm not sure whether that's because everyone likes SCY or because the vast majority of meets are in SCY.
I don't much like the idea that we have "awful" bodies either. But, let's face it, most of us don't look much like Cullen Jones or other 20 somethings.
Chris, I thought you were against equal coverage? Seems like a one way advantage to the guys to me. I still think bodysuits and zippers should be allowed with or without "rubber."
And it implies that the USMS brand is too weak to attract these swimmers without the suits.
USMS recently passed a rule that the suits would not be legal past May 31. If in Sept they pass another rule saying they are now legal, how is that not flip-flopping?
If "coverage" is such a big issue than either the SCM and LCM seasons will be marginalized even more than ever -- b/c swimmers don't want to give up their crutches (I mean suits) -- or there will soon be a push to allow the suits in meters.
I agree that FINA doesn't care about SCY, but USMS seems to care about FINA rules enough to follow them in SCY.
I suppose I also just don't like the idea that this reasoning is based largely on the idea that old fart masters swimmers have such awful bodies that they need to be covered.
I think coverage is the real issue. Attracting Olympians is nice, to be sure, but I agree that should hardly be the sole incentive for changing masters rules since masters is for us all.
Well, I think it's a flip, not a flip flop. :D Everyone is entitled to one "motion for reconsideration." I think FINA issued a lot more contradictory rules -- total ban, partial ban w/specific criteria after "study," every suit in the known universe allowed, every single real tech suit and bodysuit (even those legal under the partial ban and legal since 2000) banned. So far, tech suits have still been legal in USMS. And, as SwimsWithAFist notes, there are other rules where USMS diverges from FINA. So USMS cares about FINA, but not slavishly so apparently. I find it encouraging that our ED is not slavish and can think independently about marketing USMS. Go Rob!
If coverage is such a big issue that SCM & LCM will truly be marginalized, then that argument suggest the suits are truly popular. To the extent that is relevant, that weighs in favor permitting them in SCY. In any event, SCY has always been the most popular course in the US and there has traditionally been fewer competitors in the other courses. I'm not sure whether that's because everyone likes SCY or because the vast majority of meets are in SCY.
I don't much like the idea that we have "awful" bodies either. But, let's face it, most of us don't look much like Cullen Jones or other 20 somethings.
Chris, I thought you were against equal coverage? Seems like a one way advantage to the guys to me. I still think bodysuits and zippers should be allowed with or without "rubber."
