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.
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Former Member
Well, back in the olden days, club teams did get more notice than the high school team did because the high schools for one had poor girl programs. Shirley Babashoff was rarely thought in conncetion with Fountain Valley high school but with Phillips 66 in her earlier career and Mission Viejo in her later career. Same for Gary Hall Sr, father of current Hall. He was thought of in connection with Phillips-66 in his early career not Rancho Alamos high and Cinncinnati Marlins in later career. Also, he was connection with his college team Indiana. Indiana University in the mid-1960s' and early 1970's was a great powerhouse in college swimming. prior to 1980, the club teams had big news if they were Santa Clara in the 1960's or Long Beach or Mission Viejo in the 1970's. Maybe, going back to the club teams and emphazing pre-high school swimming again would help boys and girls in their interest.
Well, back in the olden days, club teams did get more notice than the high school team did because the high schools for one had poor girl programs. Shirley Babashoff was rarely thought in conncetion with Fountain Valley high school but with Phillips 66 in her earlier career and Mission Viejo in her later career. Same for Gary Hall Sr, father of current Hall. He was thought of in connection with Phillips-66 in his early career not Rancho Alamos high and Cinncinnati Marlins in later career. Also, he was connection with his college team Indiana. Indiana University in the mid-1960s' and early 1970's was a great powerhouse in college swimming. prior to 1980, the club teams had big news if they were Santa Clara in the 1960's or Long Beach or Mission Viejo in the 1970's. Maybe, going back to the club teams and emphazing pre-high school swimming again would help boys and girls in their interest.
