Howdy,
Just for kicks and grins, should USMS be United States Masters Swimming. After all, very few of us are "Masters." Synchro has "grand masters" for those adult members who were nationally ranked when they were younger. I like the idea of having a category that separates the elite from the rest of us lap swimmers.
But, aside from that, what else could we call ourselves?
a) United States Senior Swimming
b) United States Adult Senior Swimming
c) Adult Senior Swimming
Any other ideas??
PW
Is the word Masters is intimidating, what about using the word Mature? United States Mature Swimming! We could keep the USMS acronym, and nobody is likely to confuse (in this context) the word Mature with "mastery" or "elitism." If anything, maturity suggests a certain level of barnacle encrustation that I suspect lots of my swimming comrades can identify with.
I think it *can* be intimidating to people, but the onus is on clubs and groups (with the parent organization's help) to advertise themselves as however non-intimidating they want to be. If I recall, there's a couple of groups I've perused whose pages make it clear that they tend to attract a faster group, and they may not be the best for beginners. Just like other adult rec sports - some pick-ups and leagues are better suited to the novice or the casual weekender, and some are more geared for the ex-olympians/pros/whatever. It's all about what's around and being able to say 'hey, we might be the workout group for you, but look, you can check on USMS.org and find some other ones.') By the same token, it's fun to have a particular identity and an image to be proud of. People look for ways to belong.
Is the word Masters is intimidating, what about using the word Mature? United States Mature Swimming! We could keep the USMS acronym, and nobody is likely to confuse (in this context) the word Mature with "mastery" or "elitism." If anything, maturity suggests a certain level of barnacle encrustation that I suspect lots of my swimming comrades can identify with.
I think it *can* be intimidating to people, but the onus is on clubs and groups (with the parent organization's help) to advertise themselves as however non-intimidating they want to be. If I recall, there's a couple of groups I've perused whose pages make it clear that they tend to attract a faster group, and they may not be the best for beginners. Just like other adult rec sports - some pick-ups and leagues are better suited to the novice or the casual weekender, and some are more geared for the ex-olympians/pros/whatever. It's all about what's around and being able to say 'hey, we might be the workout group for you, but look, you can check on USMS.org and find some other ones.') By the same token, it's fun to have a particular identity and an image to be proud of. People look for ways to belong.
