Connie,
I have NOT said that only people who compete should have a vote on suits. I said we need to know who is voting which way so that we can see trends.
I have not ever been to an SPMA meeting.
The way this discussion came about was I was talking to several people at Nationals from the Pacific LMSC and they seemed to indicate that their area was still interested in pursuing the tech suit idea. After we returned, I got to talking with my teammates and one thing led to another and here is the discussion.
I actually do not feel that a poll on the forum is a representative sample REGARDLESS of the way the poll comes out. If a poll is worth it to do on this issue, than it should be professionally done and done nationally. How many responses has this poll gotten so far, 90? Out of 50,000 members.
Look, I like the suits and would like to continue with them. I like the way the feel and the way they look. It feels like a game day jersey when you put one on and I like that feeling.
That said, if they never come back life will continue. I will still swim and enjoy it just as much. I plan to swim faster anyway, no matter if we have tech suits or not.
I have not ever been to an SPMA meeting.
The way this discussion came about was I was talking to several people at Nationals from the Pacific LMSC and they seemed to indicate that their area was still interested in pursuing the tech suit idea. After we returned, I got to talking with my teammates and one thing led to another and here is the discussion.
I actually do not feel that a poll on the forum is a representative sample REGARDLESS of the way the poll comes out. If a poll is worth it to do on this issue, than it should be professionally done and done nationally. How many responses has this poll gotten so far, 90? Out of 50,000 members.
Look, I like the suits and would like to continue with them. I like the way the feel and the way they look. It feels like a game day jersey when you put one on and I like that feeling.
That said, if they never come back life will continue. I will still swim and enjoy it just as much. I plan to swim faster anyway, no matter if we have tech suits or not.
Chris,
You asked earlier about why I want to break out the answers to the "poll" questions. It is simple. Just like in a research paper, the author starts out with a particular hypothesis. The research either confirms that hypothesis or not.
I suspect that the majority of obsessive swimmers would want the suits. A smaller majority of competitive swimmers would also want the suits. Triathletes.......I have no clue. Fitness swimmers, I suspect a majority would not want the suits. Those are just my guesses and I might be totally wrong.
The more people that add their voices to the mix the better.
I have a feeling this poll is being gamed
Lets just say there are a whole lot of people who do not even swim any longer - and have not been active in masters swimming in years who are suddenly coming forward to enforce their out of shape opinions.
I want to hear from active swimmers.
My own opinion is that I do not swim because of a tech-suit.
LOVED swimming in it while it was here - happy I tried it and can personally speak to the reality of swimming in the suit.
Will continue swimming in the modified tech-suit that is legal for women.
Hope that the sport of swimming keeps their eyes wide open moving forward.
And I do hope these individuals who are coming forward, will finally get in the pool and actually be a part of the sport of swimming!
Instead of forcing their opinions on those who are actually swimming and working for the good of their sport!
And I do hope these individuals who are coming forward, will finally get in the pool and actually be a part of the sport of swimming! Instead of forcing their opinions on those who are actually swimming and working for the good of their sport!
I'm having a hard time reading between the lines here. Do you think these people are voting against the suits?
Connie,
I have already talked with Patrick several days ago. I met with him this morning and will see him again tomorrow morning. Anything else you would like me to do?
As well, this "new" poll is launched in an effort to quiet swimmers who felt they did not have a voice in the decisions made in masters swimming last year.
Regardless of the outcome, there is no doubt that this USMS Discussion Forum represents only a very small percentage of the membership.
Communication out to coaches who will then speak to their swimmers is the only solution.
However we still don't even have direct communication with a large percent of masters coaches and workout group leaders.
Until that situation improves or happens, there are always going to be athletes paying their USMS dues with no voice in the decisions of the organization.
I'm very happy we finally have a paid Club Development Committee at USMS.
Hope to see them choose coach communication as their #1 priority.
But that is only my personal opinion.
