NSG qualifying meets conflicting with 2010 Sacto nationals
|
With 2010 being the qualifying year for the 2011 National Senior Games, some Senior Games are overlapping the dates of Sacramento USATF masters nationals. One W50 athlete writes: “The (Washington) State Games . . . are scheduled 23-25 Jul 2010. The (Wyoming) State Games . . . are scheduled for 21-25 Jul 2010. USATF National Outdoors 2010, as you know, are in Sacramento over that same period. Now why would those State Games folks do such a thing? Surely they are aware of a meet of the caliber of Sacramento 2010, and surely they did not deliberately decide to force athletes to choose one vs. the other?” Of course, meet organizers in the states have bigger fish to fry than accommodating masters track, especially when they have a dozen or more sports to contend with. (And maybe the dates of other sports’ nationals took precedence.) But if you’re interested in attending 2010 Sacto nationals and 2011 NSG, you might check your state calendars as well. Any other states with a conflict?
60 Responses
Why would you assume the Sr Games people at the state level have ANY awareness of the USATF Nationals? Just as many competitors at the Sr Games have no idea about USATF, I strongly suspect the same is true for local and state Sr Games organizers.
Sad to say but there is much to be said for the message of Anonymous above. In truth, after more than 40 years of trying, masters T&F has never gotten the outdoor nationals (USATF) to “take off.” Only one meet (Eugene 2003) ever exceeded 1500 entrants, and the last two (Spokane and Oshkosh) apparently did not break 1000.
In fairness, the Sr Games simply towers above the masters outdoor nationals in size, splendor, public visibility, etc. What can be done along conventional paths I do not know. My own preference is for a merger with NSGA.
By the way, Sacramento 2010 is going to be an anomaly, as its attendance will be extremely good by masters standards (should exceed 1500). In 2011, however, when we go to Berea (Ohio), attendance should drop back to about 1000 unless something can be done.
In short, after more than 4 decades of struggling, something radical needs to be tried.
Of course, I meant Eugene 2000 for our high-water mark, not Eugene 2003.
PLT
I agree with Anonymous -no one at the state games level is thinking about USATF national masters meets. IF state games organizers tried to work their meets around the various organizations that host senior sports – track and field, swimming, golf, tennis, softball, basketball, etc – when would they hold their meets? Believe if or not – track and field are but a small part of the senior games menu. And in some states – such as mine – a shrinking part of the state games. State Senior Games organizations have to take the dates open at the venues they need. It is not as if they can shop around very much to find hosting sites.
In any event – one can qualify at ANY state games open to non-residents throughout 2010 for the 2011 national senior games.
And to add to this Ken – my bet is that a number of qualifiers in Washington State and Wyoming have never participated in national masters track and field meets.
PA Keystone Games and Sr Games are always last weekend in July. Although I think Sr Games are on a Thursday, same as Day #1 in Sacramento.
O well !
MA senior games are always in June – usually fathers day weekend, RI – June or even late May, NH – generally in August, ME in September, and for those in the west – Huntsman Games are in October.
From a different perspective: How dare USATF schedule a meet on top of the senior games qualifying meet?
All depends on your point of view.
NSG does not consider USATF. It is all about the dollars. They will pull more people there anyway even if they are a non-sanctioned event!
I agree with Mary Harada, in that NSG qualifications can be done at a neighboring state. I use Kentucky and Ohio 100m and 200m in Ohio then 400m and Long Jump in Kentucky.
Then I wind-up injured the next year and can’t go. I missed the Kentucky Nationals and it was just a two hour drive away from my house.
My state, New Mexico, does not allow out of state competitors at its Senior Olympics. We’ve been trying for years to get this changed and the excuse is
because our State Legislature provides some money to conduct the games.
Why this is a problelm is beyond me, but as Lew Wallace wrote to a friend back east (when he was governor of New Mexico Territory) “Any decision, based on experience gained elsewhere, fails in New Mexico”!!
I have looked at New Mexico (and others) being closed states for some time now and have suggested that the national office add a rules stating that if your state is closed to other competitors, you are not allowed to compete in any other states senior games.
just want to be fair across the board.
I emailed NSGA to ask if they would accept qualifying times/marks from Sacramento Nationals in lieu of a State Games qualification and was told that the current policy will be enforced.i.e. not unless certain events are not held or are restricted in some way…
By the way, on this occasion, USATF scheduled their meet well before the States set their dates.
I guess when attendance is lower than expected the clashing State Games organisers will get to assess their choice of dates.
We need to support our USATF National Championships, which are first class. The Senior Olympics local and national track meets are not first class, do not reflect much splendor and do not offer all events.
Forget about merging with Sr. Olympics. Track will never be given the proper quality of attention within the circus of sports, non-sports activities and financing priorities which Sr. Olympics involve. Forget about expecting as many competitors at USATF track championships held annually as have beeen found at Sr. Olympics National Track meets every other year.
If people in some states have to choose between the nationals in Sacramento or a Sr. Olympics qualifier, they should pick the USATF Nationals and look for another Sr. Olympics meet which allows them to compete and meet minimum standards.
Jack
The problem is, to respond to Jack Karbens, that people have not supported our nationals for over 40 years, and thus there is no reason to expect them to do so in the future. Moreover, the Sr Games absolutely trounces our nationals in terms of attendance even with a limited offering of events and no competitors below 50. Imagine how many people that meet would get for T&F alone if it went down to age 30 and included all events. Ten thousand, 11 thousand? Masters has never gotten over 1503 and nowadays can’t even get more than 1000.
I have heard so much about the splendor of the 2009 Sr Games that it is hard for me to imagine that it was not splendid.
Peter: while numbers are important – so is quality. Frankly I do not think the senior games track meets come close to the quality of USATF National Masters Track Meets. The lack of many events is just a starter.
Why is it ok for the senior games to NOT have hurdles, steeplechase or any running event longer than 1500m? They do not have multievents either -is that a sign of quality? Why is it a sign of quality to have the finals of events run back to back so that competitors cannot possibly perform at anything like their best? And why is it a sign of quality to not have the track meet sanctioned?
Quality vs quantity – frankly I think quality trumps quantiy and frankly the National Senior Games are a bit of a circus.
IF the criteria of a great track meet is numbers of competitors – then certainly the NSG wins. But – have you seen what passes for track meets at some of the state senior games? I have been to better run all-comers meets at my local high school.
Mary: I certainly don’t want to sacrifice quality. I won’t say it’s OK or not OK for Sr Games to have a limited number of events. In addition, I am talking specifically about the National Sr Games (Palo Alto, Louisville, Pittsburgh, etc.), not the state meets. Not having a sanction is meaningless, as is having a sanction. Surely you remember Decatur, a sanctioned nationals? Just how interested were the officials there in keeping track of our long-distance runners? The next year, Hawaii, we ran into problems with lap counting as well (also a sanctioned meet).
In 2006, Charlotte, also a sanctioned meet, we ran into problems once again (third year in a row), not in terms of counting laps but on other issues. All I know is that certain people were absolutely thrilled with the way they were treated at Palo Alto (Sr Games 2009). How many people could say they were thrilled with the treatment they got at Oshkosh? Nice people (Jason Fast and others), but it was a shoestring meet, was it not? And Palo Alto’s event was a big deal, while Oshkosh’s was not. How many people in Oshkosh even knew a meet was going on?
And speaking of quality, I thought I was reading a who’s who of masters sprinting when I looked at the results from Palo Alto. Irene Obera, the first great woman of masters sprinting, Phil Raschker (we all know her), Bill Collins, Oscar Peyton, Audrey Lary, I could go on and on. When was the last time that Irene Obera showed up at a masters nationals? For that matter, when was the last time that Phil Raschker showed up at one of our outdoor nationals? And let’s not forget that 41 of 44 men in the M55 100 at Palo Alto were LESS than 3 seconds off the world record. At Oshkosh, there were 7 men in the entire M55 group (in the 100).
sanctioned meets apparently are necessary if one want to set a record and have it accepted by the record keeping Tsar. Some folks care a whole lot about that and lord knows Peter that much blood has been spilled (metaphorically) on this blog about how records are accepted or not accepted and sanctioned vs non-sanctioned meets.
As for the great turn out in Palo Alto – of course – great location – but some of us did not go to NSG because the dates conflicted with that little meet in Lahti – especially for the folks 60-and up – not for the youngsters! And some of those who turned up – whom you named – do not travel abroad, or did not want to go to Finland _ an expensive destination and not nearly as interesting as the Bay area of the US!
Now I am waiting to see just who all turns up at the next NSG- in Houston, Tx – in July -just before the WMA meet in Sacramento – or is it after? That will be a conflict for those without endless time off from work and with the $$$ to go flying around the country to track meets. Sometimes it is as they say in real estate all about location, location, location.
It is always fun to have these blog discussions with you Peter – keeps the blood circulating in my brain.
Hope you are well – and hope you will be in Boston the end of March
While I’ve competed in several state senior games, I’ve never competed in their national meet. My opinion of their state games is that they are mostly Mickey Mouse events. However in speaking with many of my fellow competitors that have competed in a National NSGA event, they tell me that the national meet is as well run, if not better than the USATF Masters Nationals.
How many T&F athletes compete at the NSGA national event? I’ve seen numbers anywhere from 2000 to 4000+. I quickly added the numbers of entries in my age group (M55) at this years NSGA (271) to the same events at Oshkosh (109). If you add in the 5K/10K/Steeple/Hurdles/Pentathlon, that adds 36 more enrties bringing Oshkosh to 145. That tells me that the NSGA meet is probably twice the size of the USATF event, or about 1600-1800.
In looking at the results from NSGA, the quality of the events were equal to or better than the USATF meet. Certainly the fields were deeper in number of competitors.
I agree with Pete that in the best interests of Masters athletes, it would be great if you could merge both parties. Certainly the NSGA does a much better job of grass roots promoting of age group track. The USATF however, for the most part, does a better job of running local meets (at least in the associations that support masters track).
I also share the same fears that Mary points out-would NSGA include the forgotten events (longer distance runs, hurdles, multi events). I’ve sent e-mails to the NSGA on several occasions asking them to consider adding the multi events to the meet, but not once did I receive a reply back.
Also, would the NSGA included 40-49 year olds? They have started to do so on a local level but would they do so on a national meet level?
Do you suppose that NSGA assumes that if you are over 50, it’s too dangerous to go over hurdles, run long distances and compete in multiple event competitions? What type of mentality governs an organization that thinks like that?
It reminds me of when women weren’t allowed to run over 800 meters in the Olympic Games until a couple decades ago. Just because one runner fell down exhausted at the finish many years ago. But look, the Olympics admitted they were wrong and changed their ways….it’s time the NSGA admitted they are wrong, too.
After all, they will make even more $$$ by adding events to their entry list…and gain more credibility by not excluding legitimate track and field events and legitimate track and field athletes!
Lap counting.grrrrrrrrr. The mistakes have been horrendous. The way to go is to use a chip either tied to the shoe or worn around the ankle. All of us know this is the way. Can USATF be convinced?(I know that’s a loaded question). I now use a contact in the bleachers shouting a number. That number is “laps to go.” Jerry
Senior games has 10K road race and triathlon competitions for men and women so your point is obviously invalid.
With the exception of the NSGA National meet, it seems that most Senior Games meets are completed in one day. In the case of the 2008 California State Championships (qualifying meet for Palo Alto) it was a LONG day. For example, there were a total (men and women) of 66 competitors in the shot put and 72 in the 100 meters.
Hurdles take time to set up and take down. Adding 5 and 10K runs to the program would take up a minimum of 1.75 hours of track time if all ages and sexes run together. A Decathlon by definition would add another day to the program.
Yes, they would get more $$$ by adding these events but I doubt that it would be enough to cover facility rental fees and other costs for the additional day it takes to run them.
Just a guess…
Multi events are track events. Triathlons are not track and field, just for the record. I was basing my letter on all the above people who HAVE attended National Seniors Games and are complaining about all of the above. I have never chosen to participate for the reason that the whole setup seems Mickey Mouse.
In your original post, you were wondering if NSGA “assumes that if you are over 50, it’s too dangerous to go over hurdles, run long distances and compete in multiple event competitions” and then brought up the example of the 800M race. I pointed out that NSGA routinely “forces” folks over 50 to run (and swim and bike) further than 800m.
To make it simple, the answer to your first question is “no”. Based on that answer, your second question is based on misinformation and .
Feel free to compete or not in whatever meets you wish, but please do some minimal amount of research before you bash an entire organization that puts on meets that a) you have no personal knowledge of and b) seem to attract a whole bunch of competitors year after year.
It’s called using an analogy…..holy cow, you haven’t heard of that before?
Not allowing women to run over a certain distance in the Olympics is an example of those in charge “not trusting the fact that they are able to do so in a proficient and safe manner”. That’s the analogy of those in charge of National Senior Games not allowing those over 50 to run the most difficult and possibly injury producing events: hurdles, deca or pentathlon and distance races. It was an observation that has a lot of merit. Can you disprove it?
All of these events are in every track meet. Junior high, high school, college, National Championships of every country, The Olympic Games and both men and women can do every event.
Soooooo……are you speaking for the NSFA now? And telling us all why we can’t run our events on your playground?
The NSGA, of course, I mean
Yes, I’ve heard of analogies but yours (if that’s what it is) was comparing a historical event to something you made up. That doesn’t make your point valid.
Your observation had no merit. Can I disprove it? Yes, I gave examples of events contested by NSGA where people have died during competition (although hopefully not during NSGA competition). Doesn’t get more dangerous than that.
I’m done with you. Hope we provided some entertainment for the rest of the forum!
I’ve always kinda wondered about an organization that has competitions in ballroom dancing, but excludes hurdles and the multi-events. I’ll be 50 in 2010 so I’m going to check out a couple of the Sr. Games meets and see what’s up in the sprints. Too bad no hurdles….**sigh** but I guess all of the time it takes to “set up and take down” does make us a bit of a bother.
I’m isolated in Missouri but I run the various Sr. Games 800 and 1,500 for some speed work. I will never go to the NSG because I prefer to run 5 and 10,000 on the track. At a Sr. Games in Illinois, a cat was wearing his gold medal, hey, why not? He was proud of it, rightly so, and he wanted to talk about it. I had just finished a triple of 800, 1,500, and 3,000 on a HOT(temps)track. His event was Washer Toss. Diversity, you have to “love” it. Jerry
Jerry,
That perked up this weight man’s ears. Was the washer toss a Whirlpool or Amana?:)
The Senior Olympics is “modeled” on the Olympic Games and is a part of the United States Olympic Committee. As such, it has all kinds of events, just like the Olympics. True, some of the events are, to some, a real joke. Lots of “fun” events which don’t necessarily require a high degree of physical effort or conditioning.
Maybe before we laugh all these events off, we might look at all the people who laugh us masters track competitors off as a bunch of old fuddyduddies trying to recapture our lost youth, or still trying to be a jock years after our prime. What’s the difference in the two attitudes?
Many on this board seem to think that the Senior Olympics is a joke, probably because of a few “fun” events like the washer toss, frisbee throw etc.
But, if you want to be a serious athlete and have tough competition, then you can ALSO find it in the Senior Olympics. Granted, all the events of a regular track meet aren’t offered, but, if enough people ask for changes, and go through the right channels, maybe the Senior Olympics will add those events. I’ve learned that our own USATF masters organization is not all that receptive to change. And has conducted several below par National meets.
The Senior Olympics in my state puts on a much better Track & Field meet than does the USATF Masters. In fact, I would compare any of the many Senior Olympics meets that I’ve been to over the past 6 years with any of the USATF meets I’ve been to. Competition is tough, meets are generally well run, though often without wind gauges, and officiating is adequate.
The fun events in the Senior Olympics are often the only events many competitors can participate in. Please cut these people some slack!
What is a “washer toss”? Seriously, I’m not being a smart-ass. Is it a washer like what’s used to secure a nut and bolt?
As a disc golfer, I see nothing easy about a frisbee throw for distance or accuracy. It can be a tough thing to do, especially in windy conditions.
As a hammer thrower, while I’m only 46, I do like that the NSGA has added the hammer to the national championship. Looking at the results, there were some very good hammer throwers there this year too. Hopefully the hammer throw will be added to more state meets by the time I turn 50.
Agree with Mickey Miller that there are those who think of us as living verses of The Boss’s great song “Glory Days”. After NSGA Palo Alto, I had several friends congratulate me on my success in the “Special Olympics”.
At the end of the day, I’m a competitor. Thank God I can still run and throw but if someday all I can do is Washer Toss, then by cracky, I’m going to be the best washer tosser I can be for as long as I can. I will be extremly grateful that there’s an orginization that will allow me to compete.
I will NEVER make fun of ANYONE who is trying to do their best at ANYTHING.
Here’s one set of rules for washer toss
http://www.lsog.net/RulesPDFs/Washer%20Pitching.pdf
Can be modified into a great drinking game (but then again, what can’t??)
I’ve only been to two Senior Games events. The 2008 Bay Area Senior games and the 2009 National Senior Games. In both instances it was USATF officials that ran the track meet. I was wondering in other state’s games who are the officals who run these meets? Are they also USATF officials or another group of volunteers provided by the state games committee. Maybe I was under the false impression that the NSGA uses each sport’s NGB certified officials to run their individual portion of the overall games, both at the state and national level.
Michael V.
Thanks, future washer toss dude, for the rules to washer pitching. Doesn’t look to be my thing, but I’m not into activities like this, or horseshoes or darts (as other examples).
But I like throwing a frisbee, so I may have found another senior games event to enjoy in the future. I think I remember reading that the NSGA has disc golf when I was searching for general info. If so, I’m in! Just as long as it doesn’t conflict with the hammer throw.
Damn right. Tossing used clothes washers. Now, THAT would be an event. (^_^) Jerry
I have a new event….throw the Tiger under the bus.
Liz Palmer and others who take sprint competition seriously should be well aware that at the National Senior Olympics at Palo Alto it was possible to win your heat of a sprint and not be placed in the finals. Is this procedure a violation of USATF rules for Championship meets?
A very inaccurate picture of the history of 40 years of USATF National Masters Championships has been painted. Thousands of first class “People” have supported these meets for the past 40 years. Hopefully these USATF Masters Championships will be held annually for another 40 plus years.
On the other hand, Senior Olympics has been cancelled at times in the past, has had financial ups and downs and could be cancelled again any time it does not generate the sponsors and megabucks needed to be sustained.
Hopefully, USATF does not compromise itself by ever sanctioning the current format for the National Senior Olympics Track and Field Championship.
Well, Jack Karbens has compelled me to respond again. I have NOT painted a very inaccurate picture of the history of the outdoor championships. It’s a meet of small to intermediate size that is absolutely dwarfed by Sr Olympics/Sr Games.
People went to this year’s Sr Games and raved about the experience. Did they rave about Oshkosh? National outdoor masters is a no-growth stock. If people (I mean athletes) would support it it could be something, but they don’t. That’s the probem.
Peter L. Taylor
The best way to get the hammer into the senior games is to volunteer to sponsor and run the event.
It took me three years of lobbying to get the hammer into the Colorado Senior Games and the finally selling point was when they asked me how many volunteers I needed to run the event and I said “none” I don’t want anyone without hammer experience standing out in the field playing catch with the hammer. Also it was understood that I would supply all of the implements.
After we contested the hammer for several years, we added the weight throw by request.
I have found the senior games staff to be very helpful and friendly. If you want to add an event to the games, volunteer to run it. Of course there are some limiting factors such as equipment. i.e. it would be difficult to pole vault without a pit etc…
That’s very good advice, Tim. I’ll start pursuing that in Illinois as I get closer to 50.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
I was curious about your statement: whether only times (not places) in the heats could determine the athletes allowed to advance to the sprint finals. I looked at the USATF Competition Rules and rule 166 states that athletes may qualify by place or by time according to the particular competition regulations or as determined by the Games Committee. So I tried to see if there were any exceptions for national championship meets but I didn’t note anything. If anyone knows otherwise, please share! An official (clerk or starter) will always tell you the “rules for advancement” so you know whether you have to run for place or for time. So although from my experience it usually isn’t done that way, advancing athletes by heat time rather than heat place in a national championship meet seems to be allowable.
Some senior games limit the number of events (track and field)that you can compete in. I compete in 70-74 and am not fragile or sickly and would like to be able to sign up for, for example, 10 or so events. I try to go to only those meets that allow unlimited event participation. I enjoy watching the specialists do their one or two events and getting excellent times and distances but I like to do the whole gamut even at the expense of great times.
I suggest we campaign for the NSG to add the Hokey Pokey as a sport. Because “that is what it is all about”.
And any meet you are in, due to the constant fluctuations of athletes who no show/get injured, etc., you will know before you run whether it’s by time, place or combination of. And if you don’t know, ask the official at the starting line. Nobody needs to be guessing while they are running what they should be trying to do.
Sorry, Mary
The Hokie Pokie is spoken for…
darn it – and I spent the afternoon practicing putting my right hnad in and my right hand out.
Where did you get the idea that the “Senior Olympics” and “is a part of the United States Olympic Committee.”
Not only does NSGA have no relation whatsoever to the USOC, they are legally barred from calling themselves the “Senior Olympics.” If you don’t believe me, ask them. Their president said as much in his opening remarks at the Louisville National Senior Games.
Pete, you weren’t at the same Oshkosh meet as the rest of us, who thought it was an extremely well run event at a marvelous facility. Too bad there weren’t more people there, but we are in the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression and people made choices about where to go for their competitions in 2009.
Also too bad you and others haven’t bothered to come to the USATF Convention to hear some of the tales of the NSG experience that we’ve heard. For example, there were clear rules violations in weights and measures that put in doubt the integrity of the throws competitions (at championship meets the rules prescribe that implements be impounded from the time they are certified until they are delivered to the competition venue for the event; athletes at Stanford had their implements returned to them to take to the venue themselves, sometimes the day before the competition). That doesn’t happen at USATF Championships but does at all comers meets. So in that respect the NSG was more like an all comers meet than a real championship!
Well, my name got called out and so I have to respond yet again. I was at Oshkosh for all 4 days and it was a terrific meet, but it was small potatoes compared to the Sr Games in Palo Alto. I looked at the contestants in the 100 at Palo Alto and thought I was reading a who’s who of sprinters, as I have said before. And their turnout buried Oshkosh.
I have read from another poster that Palo Alto had top-level officials (Olympic Games, open nationals, etc.). The masters championships are truly all-comers meets, not so the Sr Games.
In terms of going to Indianapolis, I live in Virginia and wouldn’t waste 10 cents on going there. As far as giving implements back to the athletes, what are they going to do, reduce the weight of a 16-lb shot to 14.5 pounds? I doubt it.
Peter,
You mention people “raving” about NSGA at Palo Alto? You have a short memory, I remember reading posts here by Dave Ortman and others very disappointed about the scheduling of the sprint races. To the point that many people got injured trying to run a 100 right after a 400, etc. More like “raving” mad from what I read! And what about all the people “calling out” the meet directors who I will not go into renaming again….let’s let that one go for numerous reasons that you can look back on if you want.
If you are truthful about a good reason why Palo Alto, California, within miles of the #1 ranked tourist destination in the world vs. Oshkosh, Wisconsin….which was a last minute location plugged in for the US Nationals….Well…Peter, you figure it out.
You seem to think it was the quality of the meet when you yourself have previously mentioned that the locations selected of US Nationals can predict the turnout ahead of time. NO? So be consistent here with your commentary.
And what’s wrong with all-comers meets, by the way?
Peter — rules are rules. Hammer wires can be changed; discuses can be brought up to weight with washers taped in and then removed. There are good and sufficient reasons why implements are impounded between weigh in and an event. They evidently didn’t do that at NSG.
So, you wouldn’t give 10 cents to go to the Convention where you might have an impact in creating the changes you endlessly blog about. That tells us everything about how much you really care!!! People are in Indy from places a lot farther away than Virginia to make positive contributions. Carping from the sidelines is easy. Getting involved requires at least a smidgen of commitment, which you have clearly demonstrated you do not have.
A smidgen of commitment, Anonymous? How about 33 years of commitment. Please don’t be so ridiculous. And why do I “endlessly blog about” records? Because people have had their records denied when there is no doubt that they set them, that’s why. I’m not a carper, Anonymous. Please stop saying such ridiculous things.
And “rules are rules” is always the mark of someone who is ………(fill it in, Anonymous).
Well, I see I have still another Anonymous above (9:56 pm). People did rave about Sr Games at Palo Alto, Anonymous. They loved the meet. Scheduling of sprints was very poor, as you and I both know. Oshkosh was not a last-minute substitution, Anonymous. Please be truthful about that. It was in there on the schedule for many months. Just be factual, Anonymous. Palo Alto trounced our national championships, Anonymous.
Your comment about location, consistency of commentary, etc. is so incoherent that I can’t respond to it.
A couple of things; yes, implements must be impounded and not doing so lowers the quality of the meet. This is a requirement at national meets, and I’ve seen it done at some regionals.
Next, it is ridiculous to expect Peter Taylor to attend the national meeting without offering to pay 100% of his expenses. He’s not currently an athlete or coach, I believe. But he is, however, a very knowledgeable individual with some great ideas for our sport.
If I understand correctly, there are reps from each association who do receive reimbursement to attend the national meeting. You want to hear from Peter at Indy? Pay his way!
Since I mentioned reps, isn’t one of their responsibilities to represent us as athletes, coaches, officials, etc. at the national meeting? Or is each individual athlete expected to attend? Come on!
Greg
Oshkosh was a replacement for Claremont, Florida.
Let’s see…..where would I rather spend $1,000 or $2,000 visiting…..Palo Alto, California or Oshkosh, Wisconsin? Assuming I don’t have an endless bankroll? Hmmm……let me think…..Well, it looks like California wins. I know you are surprised, Peter but apparently me and the vast majority of masters athletes agree it would be a lot more fun place to visit and compete.
You, yourself use make predictions on masters turnouts based on locations, you can’t deny that.
You think Sacramento will pull more than Ohio. How can you know that? Don’t all the East Coasters have further to go? Yet, still, they will show up because it’s California, Peter.
You get really upset and personal, Peter when someone questions you or even finds inconsistencies in the direction of your comments. Why don’t you use the tactic of just using facts instead of your opinions all the time? Same thing when you call a race. Use facts and call out the winner, if you wish, after they cross the finish line, not before. That’s an opinion of who you think is going to win.
You’ve done it to me and others and it’s not appreciated.
Oshkosh was a replacement for Clermont, Florida, and people knew about it for a long time, Anonymous. Please don’t deny that. California is the most populous state in the US, Anonymous, I hope you know that. Montana has few people and had the lowest attendance in modern history for indoors (1993). All masters outdoors with large attendance have been in either Oregon (because of Eugene) or in a populous state.
And clean up your English, Anonymous. Don’t say “me…agree.” It’s “I …agree.”
Thank you. You are fun to banter with.
My mistake if the National Senior Games are not affiliated in some manner with the United States Olympic Committee. I thought I had read that they were. I apologize if I have misled anyone, that was not my intention.
Thanks for correcting me on this mistake Jerry.
This is from NSGA.COM. Note the use of “Olympic(s)”. Anybody think that the USOC or the IOC would let them say this if it wasn’t true?
The NSGA is…
A non-profit member of the United States Olympic Committee dedicated to motivating senior men and women to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.
An umbrella for member state organizations across the United States that host State Senior Games or Senior Olympics.
Please go to the NSGA and click on each state listed on the left column. At least 22 states have the name “Senior Olympics” on the title of their meet. “Games” is a better name for the activities at these “fun” gatherings.
There is no comparison between an event such as NSGA held every two years for all sports versus an annual championship held separately for only one sport. There is no comparison between an event staged almost exclusively by volunteers versus a series of events staged by sponsors of programs seeking money from seniors and staffed by: paid employees, employees who work for Parks departments and other city and state agencies, and employees of non-profit seniors programs.
Hopefully dorm rooms and cafeteria plans are a priority for USATF meets. This is especially needed by track and field athletes who are in younger age brackets, have limited financial resources, are not retired and/or want to be located close to the track.
NSGA prefers to have fun seekers lined up to spend as much as possible on hotel rooms, restaurants, taxis, parking, sponsors’ products, tours, etc.
Leave a Reply