Competitors that want to compete without a Team or Council?

[Bañados]

For those guys or gals that have a Team but not a council or want to compete and don't have a team please contact us.

nationals09@socal.rr.com

We will make every effort to aligned you with a Council of divers and a team.

Cheers

[Adelito]

please pm me, i may have some spots available in my club

[Spearo_Fla]

Whats the point? This opens a big can of worms.

[rojodiablo]

Whats the point? This opens a big can of worms.

Some people have a tough time getting guys together for a team. The goal is to have participation, and if your desired team falls through, but you still wanted to compete, you could get your chance.

[Spearo_Fla]

Thoughout the year many councils and clubs hold tourneys to determine most eligable members. These tourney's give the clubs revenue to send members to represent the club. If the nationals are just opened to whomever wants to go to them, then many clubs will have no reason to hold tourneys, therefore may send less. What's the point of a team if they truely don't represent the club.

[Bañados]

John,

The reason I posted this is for people belonging to councils and clubs that did not have a team to be able to compete in the nationals.


Nationals is not open to anyone. Divers have to first proof themselves in their own turf and in their own regional competitions.

Competitors have to pay Council fees and USOA fees.

This year everyone that compete paid their USOA dues and Club/Council dues.

Also EVERYONE that competed paid $30 each towards TEAM USA competing in VENEZUELA and CROATIA.

[Spearo_Fla]

This is an age old issue, that I'm sure you are aware of. Divers in Florida that can't make top divers in their respected club, so they go to Mass. to represent that council or club. In reality anyone who wants to go, can go to Nationals and they did very little to prove themselves in their geographical area or with there club. Of course everyone has to pay USOA and some club fees, but on the other hand this year you had a member of the Longfins competing on the same team as the President of Palm Beach? Nether club is in a council. For years members of clubs in South Florida have represented UW Hockey clubs in the North East.

This has to be finalized at some point. There are so many individuals that would like to go and compete in the Nationals but are screened out at a club level, then there are those who know the way around the system.

There is good and bad no matter what we do. The USA team is based on top divers not teams. Should Nationals be the same way? Do teams really matter when best divers are the ones we want to go to World? Should divers only represent clubs they are geographically living near? Should John the only "Extreme Diver" be paired up with someone from California on a team? Here is another example; lets say as President of Extreme Divers I want representation at every nationals from now on. All I have to do is sign on divers in California, Hawaii, N.E. and Florida. These divers will know their water the best and be able to scout the best for the club. They should place in top ten percent and the club will be "Extreme Divers"

[Bañados]

John,

This is "new" to me , this was my first nationals as competitor and as an organizer.

I can see your point. May be is time for new councils to be formed under the USOA to have proper club representation and have those qualified teams compete in the nationals.

Next year's nationals will be in Arkansas and there is enough time for the clubs to became new Councils.

As you may know the USOA will come up with their 2010 USOA rules sometime early next year, anything that you would like to be change in the USOA Nationals rules, this is that is the time to be brought up. I will attached this years rules with this Thread.

I know this year a new council was added for those clubs and divers from the south (Missisipi, Alabama). Not listed below


Here is your list of USOA Councils and Clubs in the U.S

California

CEN-CAL Skindivers
Greater L.A. Council of Divers
Channel Islands Council
San Diego Council

Florida

Broward Longfins
Florida Skin Divers Assoc.
(two co-chairs)
Palm Beach Freedivers
Miami Freedivers
Extreme Freediving Club

Guam

Marinas Federation of Divers

Hawaii

Hawaii Skindiving Club (Ali Holo Kai)
Hawaii Freediving Council

Mid Atlantic

Mid-Atlantic Longfins Spearfishing Club

Midwest

Midwest Diving Council
Oklahoma Council

Northeast

Massachusetts Freedivers
New York State Divers Assoc.
Long Island Divers Assoc.
New Jersey Council
Rhode Island Freedivers
Rugby Club
Fins and Friends (Jamestown)

Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountain Spearfishing Association


Cheers