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.
I agree, Chris. And, like you said on another thread about scholarships and universities, I have to agree there too. Although I benefitted from an athletic scholarship I have more and more reason to question whether an academic institution is serving its own or its students' best interests by focusing so much on athletics. The situation with football has gotten entirely out of hand.
I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine about whether some Division II or III schools may be offering a better education than Division I schools nowadays since they aren't as corrupted by big time athletic money.
I agree, Chris. And, like you said on another thread about scholarships and universities, I have to agree there too. Although I benefitted from an athletic scholarship I have more and more reason to question whether an academic institution is serving its own or its students' best interests by focusing so much on athletics. The situation with football has gotten entirely out of hand.
I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine about whether some Division II or III schools may be offering a better education than Division I schools nowadays since they aren't as corrupted by big time athletic money.
