There are plenty of downsides. First, especially with girls, we know they drop time like it is free until about 13 or so. Then, things happen and time drops can be few and far between. Suiting your under 12 up is double pointless since they are going to drop time anyway and they will equate that to the suit. When they hit 13/14 and they don the suit and nothing happens, what will they think?
Probably the biggest benefit of the suits is compression and 12 year olds don't need that generally.
By 13/14 I do think suits are important, combined with the right championship meet prep.
I like this post.
Also, many teams have rules to prevent use/overuse of tech suits by kids such as limiting tech suit use to champs meets or banning them altogether for 12&Us.
There are plenty of downsides. First, especially with girls, we know they drop time like it is free until about 13 or so. Then, things happen and time drops can be few and far between. Suiting your under 12 up is double pointless since they are going to drop time anyway and they will equate that to the suit. When they hit 13/14 and they don the suit and nothing happens, what will they think?
Probably the biggest benefit of the suits is compression and 12 year olds don't need that generally.
By 13/14 I do think suits are important, combined with the right championship meet prep.
I like this post.
Also, many teams have rules to prevent use/overuse of tech suits by kids such as limiting tech suit use to champs meets or banning them altogether for 12&Us.
