My son is a 10th grader. He is the best swimmer on his team, he is struggling with continuing on. At times he likes it, other times he really dislikes it. Small school Div 3 in Michigan. He is not a phenom swimmer, could maybe swim in college which he does not want to do (which I understand, especially for a walkon or a partial scholarship, you need to really love the sport). Not likely he will be involved in any other sport in HS. He likes weight lifting so he will stay in shape via personal work outs lifting and some running. He has a life guard job (very part time) but will be around the water.
He swam club from 3rd to 7th grade taking springs off. Took 8th grade off and then swam HS for 9th. He is a big kid. 6' 3" 215 pounds with size 16 flippers. Mostly a sprinter but can swim all strokes any distance. 23.39 50 SCY is his best time. No prep for this season, just weight lifiting and some running this past summer. No club swimming.
Team and Coaches would miss him. Coaches are very understanding and are very flexible in dealing with swimmers as individuals. They really look at swimmers as individuals and customize their program to the type of team and swimmers they have.
I am thinking he will not be back next year. I think he will regret it later. But in the end he must want to do it.
Any thoughts on how you felt about HS swimming? any motivating tips?
I was a club swimmer for 15 years before I went on to swim in college. The emphasis of high school season from my perspective was to have fun and swim some off events that I would generally not swim during short and long course USS swim seasons. Swimming (any sport) should always be about having fun and competing. If you aren't willing to consistently put in the work, or if you do not enjoy it then you should move on and find something else. As you progress in swimming from age-group, juniors, senior, university, international the commitment and time required only increases.
I will admit that after I graduated from college and my swimming career ended I was so burnt out that I had trouble getting into any type of pool for any reason. After my last practice in college, the seniors had a ritual of burning all there swimming equipment as a way to release yourself from the bonds of swimming. It took me 6 years to finally get back in the pool and swim again. I have swam (for fitness, I have no desire to ever race another human being again) consistently for three years now and I have fallen in love all over again with the sport.
My advice to your son is to do what he likes and excel at it. There is no reason to press him to do something that he doesn't like and that he will ultimately regret.
I was a club swimmer for 15 years before I went on to swim in college. The emphasis of high school season from my perspective was to have fun and swim some off events that I would generally not swim during short and long course USS swim seasons. Swimming (any sport) should always be about having fun and competing. If you aren't willing to consistently put in the work, or if you do not enjoy it then you should move on and find something else. As you progress in swimming from age-group, juniors, senior, university, international the commitment and time required only increases.
I will admit that after I graduated from college and my swimming career ended I was so burnt out that I had trouble getting into any type of pool for any reason. After my last practice in college, the seniors had a ritual of burning all there swimming equipment as a way to release yourself from the bonds of swimming. It took me 6 years to finally get back in the pool and swim again. I have swam (for fitness, I have no desire to ever race another human being again) consistently for three years now and I have fallen in love all over again with the sport.
My advice to your son is to do what he likes and excel at it. There is no reason to press him to do something that he doesn't like and that he will ultimately regret.
