worlds 2008

I thought this was a joke - if the goal was to have a shortened tournament, how is that possible if countries are entering more than one team in a division?

Questions that then come to mind:
- Is the second team from a country an invitational team? (ie. cannot go for the medals)
- If the answer to above is YES, then I assume that you can choose not to play them?
- Can we then enter a Barbarians team for the tournament?


As far as entering teams for Durban, as far as I am aware (ie heresay and rumour) the Netherlands are still planning to send:
- Elite Men (some less Elite than others)
- Elite Women
- Elite Masters Men (seems unfair that they don't get to be elite too)

There were plans for a Masters Women team, but that fell through unfortunately. And, as far as Juniors go we really need to get off our bottoms and get Junior teams organised. NZ is the shining example of the Junior program delivering you an Elite medal.

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Faster than a speeding puck...

In my personal opinion it is completely rediculous to allow countries entering two teams in one division.
If this is allowed you can't possibly consider this tournament to be a WC, but it becomes a regular tournament where just anyone can join.

As for making the tournament shorter. I think they can still run over two weeks, but when putting all Elite games in one week and masters and juniors in the second. There will still be the cost saving benefit, but Elite teams are not obliged to stay for two weeks if they don't want. Of course less people would be present at the party and part of a worlds charm is seeing old friends again, but quit some players and federations would wine less.

One week Elite one week Juniors/Masters would only work if we weren't such a small community where refs don't play as masters and there weren't other overlaps between staff and teams. Moreover, juniors are the future of the sport - they should be there to witness the Elite competition and play "alongside" them. It does wonders for motivation!

Re this "sending two elite teams" thing, I may be wrong, but as I understand it each country can only send one team in each category. I think the question arises from a rather dodgily worded statement right at the beginning, but I thought that issue had been cleared up now....

Finance

The Turkish competition fee (950 Euros) is quite a bit less than half of the African fee, however the greater difference is flights which are 20% of the price. Turkey will cost UK athletes around £1,000 and Africa around £1,500.

BOA

The BOA did decide it would not sanction its’ athletes attendance at Durban some weeks ago. The BOA did not want to break CMAS rules (and get Fin Swimming and Spearfishing ejected with hockey by getting BUSA ejected from CMAS) or affiliate directly to CMAS (so eliminating the risk of getting BUSA ejected). The BOA chose instead not to sanction its’ athletes going to Durban expecting that it was likely the athletes would go anyway.

BUSA

Graham correctly points out that BUSA is a convenience set-up to represent multiple sports to CMAS with only one CMAS affiliation fee. I am a hockey player and ex BOA Chairman who fulfils the BUSA president rule. I am not a Spearfisher or Finswimmer, but I do try and go to a few meets to keep in touch with them. I have various BOA roles but none are as a Committee Member. The BOA Committee and I do work closely together.
19th January 2008
In Q3 2007 the BOA decided it needed to make a proper decision about CMAS/WAA. The earliest this meeting could reasonably be scheduled was 19th January. This is an open meeting regarding attendance, but only BOA Committee Members will be allowed a vote (that does not include me).

Currently CMAS recognition is very important to a number of initiatives within the BOA.

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GB National Squads Manager (also Open Master & Ladies Elite)

British Underwater Sports Association President

US is offering bid; will present in Durban for decision by group. No likely - WILL be held at Univ of Minnesota which is in Minneapolis in first 2 weeks of August. Two playing areas - nice fairly new aquatic center with large hotel across the parking lot. Wide decks with large bleachers on either side. I'll try to bring photos to Durban.

We have held Nationals there twice.

Dorm rooms including meals for reasonable rate too - walk to pool. Minnesota is at top middle of US - 'Great Lakes' area. Probably no direct flights from out of US - mostly no direct flights from in US!! Weather will be hot and muggy with rain, thunder/lightning occasionally.

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Carol Rose

'elite' is an Olympic term. When USOA joined USOC, we were asked how many 'elite' athletes in each of our uw sports.

Proper term isn't men's masters; it is Open Masters as there are 2 divisions in masters and juniors: open and women.

Open divisions created in masters and juniors to allow countries (such as USA) who didn't have enough women to field (ummm pool?) a womens team in those divisions - to give women a chance to compete at WC.

My USOA open junior team has always had at least 1 or more women. Canada had a woman on one of their open masters team; Philippines came to NZ 2004 with, I think, 4 women. These countries could not/would not have been able to compete in those divisions otherwise - something CMAS does not comprehend - that sport is for the athletes.

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Carol Rose

slight change but associated thread: referee attire
It was decided in Sheffield that I had authority to continue my efforts in standardizing referee attire, so each WC is not different. It is time for a standard. I searched about and had found some 'tops' for water refs. Basically a rash vest - a rash vest, in US, is a skin tight lyra like long sleeved shirt worn by surfers to protect their arms from getting a rash. The term vest in US is far different than in other countries - we see it as something worn under a suit jacket - ie 3 piece suit - pants, jacket and vest. But I digress.

I had some rash vests (about 10) made by a company called Body Bagz. They found a great yellow gold material. Several USA refs have been wearing them for couple of years as has Murray, Simon and Neil Dixon. With a positive from all concerned, we now have official attire:
rash vest - with referee and first name on vest
red polo cap - supplied by ref
gloves - we are trialing some from Simon in Durban
black swim suit - supplied by ref
red swim cap if ref uses wrestling head gear which must be red (ie Duck Roth)

deck refs will wear a yellow/gold polo/gold shirt with referee and name on shirt
dark (navy/black) pants or shorts or swim suit
have whistle/lanyard

We are currently sizing rash vests - typically person wears size smaller than usual as these are skin tight, very snug, no drag. The vests do not ride up.

Any level 3 ref can order rash vests and polo shirts. Priority is those refing in Durban but all orders welcome. Sample shirts, in black, are making their way around the world. They start in Melbourne at Aussie Nationals were NZ and Oz refs will size. Then they travel to SA, on to France, then to GB, then to Holland, then to Canada and home.

Cost per vest and or shirt about $25 (US$) including personalization. Each ref will have set of 2 of everything or more if they like.

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Carol Rose

$25 US???
crazy, you can go to any decathlon store in europe and buy a rash vest off the shelf for about 10 or 15 euros
just order 100 at a time and distribute to refs who are at competition

no need for bespoke tailoring and everyone on the planet trying on for size

i am a L3 ref, i won't be in melbourne to try one on...

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http://snorkelbattlesafari.blogspot.com/

Allow me to rephrase:
- Elite Men
- Elite Women
- Closed Masters

Closed because there are no women in the team.

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Faster than a speeding puck...

ok ok i'm in a grumpy mood this morning i admit it

BUT i think that if sport is for ATHLETES then restricting all grades to individual sexes is a better way to encourage growth in all divisions

what incentive is there for masters or junior women to swell their ranks if those that are really enthusiastic can always just go and play in the men's team?
ditto the masters/junior men - not enough players to fill a roster? go out and find some more men; don't just burgle the female playing stocks of it's top players

all that ends up happening with 'open' teams is that, essentially, club-strength teams arrive at international competitions. athletes who have trained hard don't want to play enfeebled opposition.

how about developing playing stocks domestically to fill a team rather than watering down competition levels internationally


oh, and i'm partly grumpy cos i realised that Jersey have not shown any intent to enter a team in any division in durban

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http://snorkelbattlesafari.blogspot.com/