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.:)
We're adults.
Honest effort, people. That's all I want.-Rick
I wrote a long post last night about my view as a coach, a USMS participant, and as a competitive athlete. But in the end decided Rick captures it.
I 100% support Fort's race efforts, her BLOG, and her posts here.
I also support myself in my personal principle of not sandbagging.
Even though I do often get burned by big huge sand-baggers...
(sorry to "ATLANTIC" for swimming so slow in Mesa... I sincerely hope I did not displace you from a final heat but I had no idea, at the WAY too early entry deadline date, that I would suck so badly in AZ)
It's true, I do try to visualize a world of sweet perfection...
Where we all look out for each other.
Especially within our sport of swimming. You should try it... feels good.
Take a path that boosts the spirit of our athletes so they continue to love to swim.
Talk to each other.
Osterber says, "We're adults."
So be an adult!
Talk to SWIMMERS racing around you and let them know what you want. Draw them into the race!
You can find a way in this great age of technology.
If you're going for a record or a split request, let them know! It can be cool to be a part of that action.
99.9% of athletes don't read The USMS Forums & Blogs - or know the frustrations about SAND-BAGGING.
Be adults and talk to each other. You might just find a way or convince another swimmer to stick around and swim along with you for life.
Build the spirit of an athlete. Don't break it.
They come to masters swimming - and racing for a million reasons.
Find ANY SINGLE WAY to keep them swimming. And participating in events.
Sometimes that means sand-bagging. Sometimes it means a good head to head race.
Or leaving the meet early or getting some extra rest between events.
I know it doesn't apply to all meets, but (IMHO) most 1-day meets I have experienced run way too fast. Even when we are way ahead of a projected timeline, the meet races on with little rest between events. How about taking time with an announcer who can help the crowd appreciate the action in the pool?
The reason I go to swim meets is to swim, socialize and watch swimming. I know I'm a rare one, but I immensely dislike rushing meets to try to leave early.
And yes - I always enter the max number of events in a meet. :)
LOVE from Northern CAL.
We're adults.
Honest effort, people. That's all I want.-Rick
I wrote a long post last night about my view as a coach, a USMS participant, and as a competitive athlete. But in the end decided Rick captures it.
I 100% support Fort's race efforts, her BLOG, and her posts here.
I also support myself in my personal principle of not sandbagging.
Even though I do often get burned by big huge sand-baggers...
(sorry to "ATLANTIC" for swimming so slow in Mesa... I sincerely hope I did not displace you from a final heat but I had no idea, at the WAY too early entry deadline date, that I would suck so badly in AZ)
It's true, I do try to visualize a world of sweet perfection...
Where we all look out for each other.
Especially within our sport of swimming. You should try it... feels good.
Take a path that boosts the spirit of our athletes so they continue to love to swim.
Talk to each other.
Osterber says, "We're adults."
So be an adult!
Talk to SWIMMERS racing around you and let them know what you want. Draw them into the race!
You can find a way in this great age of technology.
If you're going for a record or a split request, let them know! It can be cool to be a part of that action.
99.9% of athletes don't read The USMS Forums & Blogs - or know the frustrations about SAND-BAGGING.
Be adults and talk to each other. You might just find a way or convince another swimmer to stick around and swim along with you for life.
Build the spirit of an athlete. Don't break it.
They come to masters swimming - and racing for a million reasons.
Find ANY SINGLE WAY to keep them swimming. And participating in events.
Sometimes that means sand-bagging. Sometimes it means a good head to head race.
Or leaving the meet early or getting some extra rest between events.
I know it doesn't apply to all meets, but (IMHO) most 1-day meets I have experienced run way too fast. Even when we are way ahead of a projected timeline, the meet races on with little rest between events. How about taking time with an announcer who can help the crowd appreciate the action in the pool?
The reason I go to swim meets is to swim, socialize and watch swimming. I know I'm a rare one, but I immensely dislike rushing meets to try to leave early.
And yes - I always enter the max number of events in a meet. :)
LOVE from Northern CAL.
