I think one way to get more boys or teenage boys involved with swimming is by getting states to expect the sport of water polo. My state doesn't do it and a lot of other states don't do polo. But if more states adoptive the sport more young men would be involved with swimming at least in the high school level. Most guys at my high school in California during the 1970's played Water Polo in the summer and fall and swam in the spring. They were in better shape in swimming and could work more yardage than if they swam for only 3 months which is common for states without water polo. Water polo is so popular with teenagers in California that they introduce even girls teams in the 1990's. Most boys like a sport which is similar to hockey except that its in a pool instead of an ice rink. Also, US water polo would gain by having a bigger pool to draw from on their national team instead of 80 percent or more just coming from California.
Parents
Former Member
In our school system which does not even have a team, it is all about football, basketball and wrestling. Everything else is secondary. I think THAT is why kids don't go out for swimming. We have to drive into another town so he can practice, and after Thanksgiving it will be with all girls because in Illinois you cannot practice or do meets with the club team during HS season.
There is an 11 year boy on our team that is wanting to quit. Why, because there is only one other 11 year old boy, no relays, stuck with the middle school girls, so another boy leaves. If he leaves then the other boy might leave. It is just a domino.
My son really, really loves swimming, and a boy does not have that passion, it is hard to stick with it. The number one question he gets from boys at school when they find out he swims is "ewww, do you have to where a tight Speedo?"
Sorry to ramble.
In our school system which does not even have a team, it is all about football, basketball and wrestling. Everything else is secondary. I think THAT is why kids don't go out for swimming. We have to drive into another town so he can practice, and after Thanksgiving it will be with all girls because in Illinois you cannot practice or do meets with the club team during HS season.
There is an 11 year boy on our team that is wanting to quit. Why, because there is only one other 11 year old boy, no relays, stuck with the middle school girls, so another boy leaves. If he leaves then the other boy might leave. It is just a domino.
My son really, really loves swimming, and a boy does not have that passion, it is hard to stick with it. The number one question he gets from boys at school when they find out he swims is "ewww, do you have to where a tight Speedo?"
Sorry to ramble.
