Maccabi USA announced today that they would be sending a team of open-age swimmers to compete at the 2015 European Maccabi Games in Berlin, Germany: a quadrennial event that, despite its name, is open to countries outside of Europe as well.
According to Sam Balaban-Feld of Maccabi USA, the selection process for open group will be:
Our Open Swimming coach, Jim Skirboll, currently the Head Swim Coach at Oakland Catholic, Central Catholic, Fox Chapel Racquet Club and North Hills Aquatic Club , will work in conjunction with our European Maccabi Games Swimming chairman, still unnamed, to identify the top Jewish swimmers.
Together, they go through each applicant and make team decisions based on a number of factors, including official times, swimming experiences, and recommendations from coaches and other authoritative figures.
In the world of Maccabi sport, 2015 is a year of regional competitions, and this season the Americans will be competing at the European Games and the Pan American Games – the Pan American Games also will have a team.
See Also: Maccabi USA Seeking Jewish Swimmers Aged 15 and Up for 2015 Maccabi Games.