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.:)
... and to think that all of this venom on account of a diligent and devoted young man just trying to swim one of his favorite events and still get home in time for nana's birthday.
Then should the organization think about changing the name? United States Adult Swimming? Or something that doesn't imply that one has to have "mastered swimming"
But this might have all sorts of other connotations! I wouldn't want people to think our rulebook would be found in an Adult bookstore, now would I? :afraid:
I wouldn't want people to think our rulebook would be found in an Adult bookstore, now would I? :afraid:
(I can't believe I'm posting this... :blush:)
No, but rule interpretation would certainly be a lot more ...ummm... interesting.
S
I think you are correct, Jim.
Isn't that the same wording
they have used since
it was adopted in 2001?
Still, it says nothing
about competition per se.
That is correct, and it was done on purpose. Although USMS was founded by and for competition swimmers, its growth is largely made up of recreational and non competitive swimmers. The mission statement consciously avoided reference to competition in order not to scare away prospective members whose primary goal was health and fitness. Our name alone already scares away many (Masters!) who are interested, but do not feel qualified only because of the title.
Then should the organization think about changing the name? United States Adult Swimming? Or something that doesn't imply that one has to have "mastered swimming"
Not sure how we got here, but Wook's right, the Masters/mastery misconception is pretty common. Rather than rename the organization, maybe just think about ways to combat the misconception. When I'm talking to someone who seems to have it, I say "IT :cane: JUST :cane: MEANS :cane: WE'RE :cane: OLD!"
That is an idea that is well worthy
of more serious thought.
Maybe break the competition part of USMS
away, and reunite with USS, which runs
competition a LOT.
I hate to see the time that my annual dues
are spend on beginners and aqua-aerobics,
and we have to have a bake sale to fund nationals.
Back to our roots ?
Scott
Scott,
I think you should be more grateful to these non-competitive swimmers. You hate to see your annual dues be spent on beginners? Quite frankly it is the opposite. I'm sure 80% of the membership doesn't want their dues spent so a small percentage of the organization can race. You don't want to spend your dues on them but you are expecting them to fund Nationals? :dunno:
Jeff
You can get some idea of expenses and revenue by looking at the 2011 budget that was proposed at convention:
www.usms.org/.../budget_proposal.pdf
And here is a short document on budget priorities:
www.usms.org/.../budget_priorities.pdf
Personally I think we are stuck with the name "masters" since it is used internationally and we have used it for so long. But I agree that we need to fight the perception that one must be a "master swimmer" in order to participate.
While it can be useful to have a discussion on these forums about USMS mission and direction, I am not sure how representative we are of the general membership.
Maybe it it time to re-evaluate where competition for "Masters" is going.
In 2012, LCM nationals is being held in the Olympic trials pool in Omaha, 2 days after trials finish.
Are there more of us now than there were 20 years ago ?
Double (almost triple) the number.
Are we great at recruiting beginners at the expense of competition ?
We are not very good at recruiting beginners at all. But we still try new things to get them. There is no connection or cost to competition for this.
Do we have this huge administration that costs lots of money
just to serve a group of folks we have little in common with ?
Just the opposite. Non competitive dues subsidize competitive activities. And the National office consists of about 8 people. Not huge. Little in common? You don't swim to stay or get fit, feel good and live better? We have way more in common than not.
Don't most cities with pools teach beginning swimming ?
Not by a long shot.
What about adult swimming in a local YMCA ?
What about it? If you are referring to competitive training, it is often tough to start a program, since the local board must approve any program changes. Many on the board are the very people who get up and "swim" in the mornings in their own lanes and hate to share.
What amount of money is spent per competition swimmer
vs the "other 80%" of the USMS membership ?
Lots more on competition.
How many of our 50,000 + "members" actually swim in
competition ? 10% ? 20% ?
Actually, according to a survey taken in 2006, it is closer to 40%, counting all of the OW, local meets and nationals.
I hate to wake up one day to find that USMS
no longer serves "Masters."
Won't happen in your lifetime.
Our name alone already scares away many (Masters!) who are interested, but do not feel qualified only because of the title.
Then should the organization think about changing the name? United States Adult Swimming? Or something that doesn't imply that one has to have "mastered swimming"
Would it be proper in a mixed gender meet to provide a check off box on meet entry forms for female swimmers to get preferential lane assignments? Maybe they could be seeded one heat lower to allow them to get out ahead of us 230 pound plus swimmers and the choas we create with our wake. Personaly, I would love to get bumped up a heat for the competition aspect value in itself.
