Date Posted:Thursday September 28 2006 Author: Be inclusive....not "excluding" Author Host/IP: NoHost / 24.244.159.106 Subject: NATIONALS DATE
The Bahamas National Swimming Championship date is to be recommended by the Technical Committee for approval by Council. The date preferred by the Coaches is the July long weekend.....unfortunatly this date has for the previous several years conflicted with the regional and continental swimming championships such as CISC, CCCAN, CAC and Pan Am Games. While these events do not involve the majority they do involve many of the junior and senior elite swimmers who have worked through many National Championships and other meets to qualify themselves for these competitions.
This date does however nicely coincide with the Clubs learn to swim and age group competitive programmes final few weeks of instruction and training before a much deserved "summer break". This competition offers a real goal for many young swimmers to work towards throughout the three or four preceeding months.
In order to put the best foot forward for the future of the sport it seems obvious that the entire swimming family including age group, junior and senior elite and masters swimmers should be accomodated at the Bahamas National Swimming Championships.
Finding this date isn't an easy task....but surely there must be one time during the twelve month calendar that is free from academics considerations, regional, continental and world swimming events and "cold weather".
The BSF must also consider the necessary support received from generous private and public institutions......that make the Nationals and National teams a reality.....to exclude any swimmer knowing in advance that there is a legitimate conflict already on the calendar because they are few in number shouldn't be OK.....with Coaches, Clubs, swimmers or Parents.....let us FIND the date that works for all.
