With the continued growth in USMS membership, I would submit that it's time to eliminate the regional teams at Nationals. Case in point: NCMS sent a "team" of 123 swimmers to Atlanta, enough to enter A, B, C, and D relays in many events (e.g. the mens 35+ 200 free relay in which our club team placed 13th behind eight regional teams). It's been argued that the formation of regional teams allows more swimmers to participate in relays, yet local clubs from North Carolina sent as many as thirty or more athletes and could have entered relays on their own as our club (with eight swimmers) did. Swim with the guys you actually train with.
I very respectfully call BS on this. Ahelee, I know you don't mean to put the onus completely on the swimmer for allowing coaches (or other swimmers?) to engage in that sort of behavior.
But I think of swimmers who are excited to get 1-2 QTs and feel like they've earned a "right" to go to nationals. And then to be told by the coach that they essentially don't belong with the group with which they practice? That's absolutely disgraceful behavior.
Hmmm... maybe I am reading this wrong Chris, but I do say that swimmers allow this to happen.
There is NO WAY that this "disgraceful behavior" should be allowed in masters swimming.
But if the swimmer does not report the behavior or at least make it public, it goes on and on and on.
As we are now realizing with the USA Swimming Banned Coaches list, lack of "reporting" has allowed badly behaving coaches to continue working on pool decks for years.
I've heard from several people, that as an adult masters swimmer, the element of fear is removed.
The adult athlete should be able to stand up to any coach. Old habits are hard to break...
But it seems to also be apathy and unwillingness to get involved in a confrontation in an activity that is for fitness and fun.
Heading into lap swimming lanes or finding another club is just plain easier.
The behavior should not be found in any USMS club. But we (USMS) can't control every piece of what clubs do behind closed doors.
Even a Code of Conduct is simply an honor system to a certain extent.
I very respectfully call BS on this. Ahelee, I know you don't mean to put the onus completely on the swimmer for allowing coaches (or other swimmers?) to engage in that sort of behavior.
But I think of swimmers who are excited to get 1-2 QTs and feel like they've earned a "right" to go to nationals. And then to be told by the coach that they essentially don't belong with the group with which they practice? That's absolutely disgraceful behavior.
Hmmm... maybe I am reading this wrong Chris, but I do say that swimmers allow this to happen.
There is NO WAY that this "disgraceful behavior" should be allowed in masters swimming.
But if the swimmer does not report the behavior or at least make it public, it goes on and on and on.
As we are now realizing with the USA Swimming Banned Coaches list, lack of "reporting" has allowed badly behaving coaches to continue working on pool decks for years.
I've heard from several people, that as an adult masters swimmer, the element of fear is removed.
The adult athlete should be able to stand up to any coach. Old habits are hard to break...
But it seems to also be apathy and unwillingness to get involved in a confrontation in an activity that is for fitness and fun.
Heading into lap swimming lanes or finding another club is just plain easier.
The behavior should not be found in any USMS club. But we (USMS) can't control every piece of what clubs do behind closed doors.
Even a Code of Conduct is simply an honor system to a certain extent.
