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Congrats JC, my son is learning to drive now:eek: He turns 16 in March! I hope he does as well as you.

Not trying to have any assumptions--but if you're both parents-- I'm guessing you're the type that believes HIS/HER child is an angel and should be included in ANYTHING that you're doing--invited or not. Some things are designed for ADULTS, others for children or teenagers. Yes, the original poster may be an avid swimmer BUT is this the correct forum for us to praise him for getting his DRIVER'S LICENSE? That's a rite of passage for most teenagers not a major athletic accomplishment. By the way Scansy--short of putting some kind of block on JC-Fly--how do YOU propose I weed out what he is posting when he answers in another question? Also--there are plenty of forums for the love of the sport of swimming. Why not look into swimming on the DEJA.com forum? Or what about Swimming on the About.com forum? JC--as a teenager with access to the internet--be inventive--find a forum that directly addresses your specific problems and interests. While you may be a nice kid--I'm looking for adult problems and solutions with swimming and competition. What is appropriate for an grown person to be doing in a workout may NOT be right for a growing teenager. What is medically indicated for an adult is NOT always what is done for a teenager. Heck--if you injure your ACL (look it up)--you'll probably have surgery. If you're 50+---it's usually NOT suggested.

MSGRUPP: anything but isn't this board supposed to be for MASTERS swimmers? And isn't the definition of MASTERS swimmers limited to those over 18 (or is it 21). What happens when we, those in Masters Swimming, don't encourage those younger than 18? Simple. We will end up no younger Masters members, read "new Members." I agree with Scansy and Laineybug. No "Bah! Humbug" should be allowed here! JC, we are more than honored to have you ask for our opinions and anytime you have a questions . . . fire away! I am sure there will be a time we may ask you something, too. We are also very happy that you love swimming. Congrats on getting your driver's license and your birthday, too. I share your b'day also. In two more years, just remember to join us officially. Keep us informed of your progress, like everyone else does here. Who knows ... you might be another Michael Phelps. :D Kindest regards. Go get 'em.

Two years isn't really a long time. I don't think it's unreasonable for someone to be thinking about what he might be doing in two years, even if he is 16 years old. If this kid has found this site, he may be thinking forward to the day that high school swimming is over, and how he's going to continue swimming afterwards. Having a timeline in his head that continues beyond the "end" of his high school swimming career and into college or masters swimming will likely help him train better now, and especially next year, when the excitement, pressures and distractions of being a high school senior might cause him to sluff off. For someone this close to the age at which he might join, is it reasonable to discourage his participation in the discussion and possibly discourage his interest in the organization itself? Furthermore, even if the problems of a 16 year old are different from those of a thirty-something, it's good to have a variety of viewpoints represented. It just might happen that you have a problem you don't know how to fix that you think is unique to your age group, and this kid hears something from his coach that can help you solve it. Or it may just be that his youthful enthusiasm infects one of us old farts enough that he decides to end that month long hiatus he took after work took him out of town, when the momentum of being out of the pool kept him out of the pool and he couldn't find the motivation to face the unruly crowd at the Y. To JC: Congrats on the time and the drivers license, kid. Try to hang on to this excitement as long as you can, and don't turn bitter when you are reading this board in a few years and see some other 16 year old posting when you think you have more important things to read about.

Hey Shaky! WELL SAID! Regards, Mark

msgrupp, you said "Not trying to have any assumptions--but if you're both parents-- I'm guessing you're the type that believes HIS/HER child is an angel and should be included in ANYTHING that you're doing--invited or not." You ARE making an assumption, and we know what happens when you do that. For the record, my two boys are pretty much normal kids - sometimes good and sometimes not so good. They are not included in everything that my wife and I do. I believe it's important for parents to have their adult time. I just don't see how JC posting on this site is a harm. msgrupp, you also said "By the way Scansy--short of putting some kind of block on JC-Fly--how do YOU propose I weed out what he is posting when he answers in another question? " His name appears to the left of his posts just like everyone elses. Just pass by his posts if you don't want to read them. Shaky, as for your post - well said.

Who Dey! Finally, aquageek and I share the same opion...I thought that would never happen! Don't know about all of you, but I'm shocked at the bitterness towards the 16 year old guy who is stoked about swimming and life in general. Frankly, I find it refreshing to have an interested younger visitor. Keep up the good work kiddo! Jerrycat ;)

A driver license is not a RIGHT of passage, it is a privaledge that is earned... I'm amazed that some folks don't remember what it feels like to earn it! Its been 36 years for me and I still remember! So what if it isn't on topic... he has asked questions related to swimming, and because we have treated him with respect in the past, he wanted to share his excitement with us. AGAIN, another great complement! "Hold on to sixteen as long as you can..." LOL, now if I can only remember who sang that! Lainey

I suspect that 16-year old JC_FLY has more in common, physically, to our 20+ year old members than some crotchety 50+ year old member has in common, physically, to our 20+ year old members. Or maybe these crotchety members are the reason we have so few 20+ members? We've spent a lot of time talking about why boys don't seem to swim so much any more. Maybe JC_FLY can contribute some real information to that recurring thread. Some of us, with teenage children, are interested in what teenagers have to say. We may not hear what we should from our own children! Anyway, I hope JC_FLY has the courage to stay here, after being told to leave by what I think and hope is a small minority.

I don't post often, but this hits a little close to home for me. Why should we discourage someone, who obviously shares a love for the sport as we do, from chiming in on this board, based solely on his age? Personally, I have found many 16 year olds to have the maturity level, emotionally and physically, of those who are 18. I applaud our teen poster for having the initiative to seek out this board and to post. For what it's worth, I've a daughter swimmer that age, who is helping me to learn to butterfly. Her swim buddies think it's pretty cool that someone "my age" is competing. Frankly, I think that ideas and enthusiasm from the young (almost) adults are a breath of fresh air, and swimming is an excellent vehicle to help bridge the generation gap(s). And as for this statement... "Look--I don't ask to swim on a competitive basis with the age-group swimmers in the jr high and high school AND they shouldn't ask to swim with the Masters groups." .....while it may be a humbling experience, I have found myself (as a member of USA Swimming) competing against teens many times, primarily because of a lack of opportunity to compete against my peers, and my desire to get some competition experience. Big deal! It made for some good fun and showed the kids that there is swimming beyond puberty without olympic expectations. The exchange between teens and adults is mutually beneficial, and not threatening or intrusive at all. We should exercise caution against treating youngsters harshly. Cheers!