Swim Rant

I can't stand that so many kids don't learn lane etiquette. It's not soccer. It's swimming...we don't need to get all bunched up. Coaches need to enforce separation on the starts for younger kids. I see it all the time. They want to get in front, so they don't wait the 5 seconds they are told to. Next thing you have kids crawling over each other and tapping feet and passing the person who just passed them. How can you focus on your stroke? Well speaking for myself, this is something we stress ALL THE TIME!!!!!!! And yet, the attention span of your average 8yo is about.0000000024 seconds. But as in all things, we just keep saying the following: - leave 5 seconds apart - use the clock, don't count to five as you are wrong when you don't use the clock - If you pass someone, then stay ahead of them - It's not a race, it's practice. If we say go fast THEN go fast. sigh

- Getting my new-ish bottle of shampoo out of my swim bag and finding it nearly empty. - Rummaging around for something at the bottom of my swim bag and finding out why my shampoo bottle is nearly empty. I had the same problem several times and solved it by getting a plastic container that was designed to hang on a shower wall and putting it in the bottom of my bag. It keeps all my bottles (shampoo, conditioner, scrub, and shaving cream) upright.

Sleeping to the last possible second, then loading up the car in the dark to go to early morning practice - mesh gear bag, duffel bag, laptop backpack, lunch bag, 1st breakfast/diet coke ... all done in a groggy haze. Then while backing the car out of the driveway there's a *thump* and you realize that you just ran over your duffel bag. And finding the full shampoo bottle exploded all over your work clothes and good shoes.

Sleeping to the last possible second, then loading up the car in the dark to go to early morning practice - mesh gear bag, duffel bag, laptop backpack, lunch bag, 1st breakfast/diet coke ... all done in a groggy haze. So you know about 2nd breakfast then?

So you know about 2nd breakfast then? It's my favorite meal of the day!

I can't stand that so many kids don't learn lane etiquette. It's not soccer. It's swimming...we don't need to get all bunched up. Coaches need to enforce separation on the starts for younger kids. I see it all the time. They want to get in front, so they don't wait the 5 seconds they are told to. Next thing you have kids crawling over each other and tapping feet and passing the person who just passed them. How can you focus on your stroke? We have this one guy at the pool I work out in who is not a swimmer, but he takes up the only lined off lane. He's a weightlifter I guess. All he does is walk down one lap forward, then walk back backward, then sprint a 25 flailing around. But, it's his lane and the pool only has four. So I and the only other guys seriously doing laps have to dodge noodlers who are there for socializing time. We speed by them and sometimes I feel bad for them...but you boufant is going to get wet if you're in a pool. What do you expect? When winter season starts up for my kids, I'll be back at the pool they use. I'll go before practice and get laps in, and my wife will drop them off. I'll stay and watch until they are done.

I must stand up for all the swim coaches out there as far as teaching lane dos and donts....My guess is most coaches talk with swimmers about leaving 5 secs after the swimmer in front of them, etc. But you must understand kids. Perfect example, a few years ago I had the "opportunity" of coaching my daughters 9-11 softball team. At the end of EVERY practice we finished by having each player simulate hitting the ball and running THRU first base, not slowing down to stop on the bag, but running thru the bag, each player did this 3 times. During the season ending tourney, player hits ball, runs to first, slows down as she approaches the bag, and is out on a close play. I hear a parent in the stands. "Why dont they practice running thru the bag!OMG! How simple can it be?!?" sigh.

Mmmmm, Yes, first breakfast is eaten in the car on the way to the pool, just barely enough to quiet the growlies. Second breakfast is much more substantial and enjoyed at work while the computer boots up and email is handled. 4 shots of wonderful espresso and skim milk, big bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal with cinnamon and craisins and maybe some sliced almonds. Oh crud, forgot I am supposed to be whining about something here... Just assuming from your Gandalf avatar and the numbering of breakfasts that you have Hobbital tendencies :)

Got the swim bag and drove to the Y - pool closed for maintenance until 9/6!

Mmmmm, Yes, first breakfast is eaten in the car on the way to the pool, just barely enough to quiet the growlies. Second breakfast is much more substantial and enjoyed at work while the computer boots up and email is handled. 4 shots of wonderful espresso and skim milk, big bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal with cinnamon and craisins and maybe some sliced almonds. Oh crud, forgot I am supposed to be whining about something here...