What role, if any, should USMS play in saving college swimming? How about USA Swimming? Are either currently doing anything about the shrinking base? What can they do?
Aside from the participants themselves (including coaches), both institutions seem to be the greatest benefactors of keeping college swimming around:
USA Swimming benefits because its membership believes it has the ability to earn a scholarship or admission to a college or university that they might not otherwise. They may continue in the sport when there is the belief that they may be rewarded down the road. Some may continue training for significant International competition while not losing time on their education by competing and training while in college.
US Masters Swimming benefits because they have a significantly larger recruitment base because of existing college swimming programs.
My :2cents::
Swimming is actually a sport that will probably suffer less than others - club swimming has a strong tradition in this country, and so college age athletes will simply train with the local club near their school. Other sports - which may have a weaker "club" structure - may be in worse shape.
The challenge for clubs will be their business model.
Time to figure out how to take over operations from the local city or parks & rec department, and run the pool "profitably" themselves!
"athletes will simply train with the local club near their school."
I could see that helping the situation quite a bit.
No doubt lots of rules would have to be changed and coaching egos mellowed...
Swimming may not have many other options.
My :2cents::
Swimming is actually a sport that will probably suffer less than others - club swimming has a strong tradition in this country, and so college age athletes will simply train with the local club near their school. Other sports - which may have a weaker "club" structure - may be in worse shape.
The challenge for clubs will be their business model.
Time to figure out how to take over operations from the local city or parks & rec department, and run the pool "profitably" themselves!
"athletes will simply train with the local club near their school."
I could see that helping the situation quite a bit.
No doubt lots of rules would have to be changed and coaching egos mellowed...
Swimming may not have many other options.
