The anti-sandbag law:
"if a swimmer enters an event with a time significantly slower or faster than that swimmer's recorded time in the past two years, the meet director may, after a discussion with the swimmer, change the seeded time to a realistic time" (104.5.5.A(10)).
Concerning my Auburn nationals entry, I confess, when faced with a 7 hour 2 stop flight and 3:45 nonstop at an earlier time, I did what any warm-blooded middle-aged American swimmer with low self-esteem would do--sandbag my entry so I could catch the earlier flight, thus diminishing the possible time spent sitting next to a 400 pound Alabama slammer with sleep apnea wearing nothing but overalls and body odor. Of course, I was caught in my bold fabrication and my time was "fixed."
USMS seems to have an identity problem. Are we hard core with rigid qualifying times? It would seem not as 2 of my not-so-speedy family members were allowed to swim four events last year in Puerto Rico. If we are not hard core, why does anybody care that I sandbag? More to the point, why can one person enter a crappy time and another cannot? Just wondering.:)
Parents
Former Member
Sportsmanship: conduct (as fairness, respect for one's opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) becoming to one participating in a sport.
When you sandbag your entry times, arguably you are disrespecting your fellow swimmers, both those in your heat (who entered with legitimate times but will lose by a substantial margin) and those in the faster heats (who will not have the opportunity to compete head to head with you).
Is it sinful? Of course not. Does it make you an evil person? Don't be ridiculous. But it is unsportsmanlike. Nothing more, nothing less.
Not enough rest between your events? Then enter different events. Not enough time to make it to the airport? Choose a different flight. Wanting to go for a PB in the 50? Enter a 50 and not the 500.
The argument that "it's only Masters swimming" begs the question: Then why are individuals sandbagging in the first place?
Sportsmanship: conduct (as fairness, respect for one's opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) becoming to one participating in a sport.
When you sandbag your entry times, arguably you are disrespecting your fellow swimmers, both those in your heat (who entered with legitimate times but will lose by a substantial margin) and those in the faster heats (who will not have the opportunity to compete head to head with you).
Is it sinful? Of course not. Does it make you an evil person? Don't be ridiculous. But it is unsportsmanlike. Nothing more, nothing less.
Not enough rest between your events? Then enter different events. Not enough time to make it to the airport? Choose a different flight. Wanting to go for a PB in the 50? Enter a 50 and not the 500.
The argument that "it's only Masters swimming" begs the question: Then why are individuals sandbagging in the first place?
