Is swimming "eating its young?" Are they being burned out with mindless yardage? Do they have to do volume training for long events? Are we missing masters swimmers who were burned out as youths? As to the kids, what can we do to stop the cannabalism?
Should 11-12 year olds be doing 200 fly in prelim/finals meets? Shouldn't that event just be a timed final so they only have to swim it once? I watched a final of that event last night. One girl literally got out of the pool crying at the 150 point. 2 others looked like they might pass out. Only the winner looked happy in a heat of 8, and this was the "A" final. I'd say these kids are being eaten. Boo.
i think the Tom Dolan Invitational hosts had it right when they changed all 11-12 200 stroke events to timed finals. there's no reason kids that age should be doing prelims *and* finals for 200 stroke events. i know on the age group team i coach, most of our 11-12 don't even do the 200 stroke events till springtime. even the kids who could survive the event now.
with the groups i coach, i luckily don't see too many kids getting eaten, yet... and that makes me happy.
Should 11-12 year olds be doing 200 fly in prelim/finals meets? Shouldn't that event just be a timed final so they only have to swim it once? I watched a final of that event last night. One girl literally got out of the pool crying at the 150 point. 2 others looked like they might pass out. Only the winner looked happy in a heat of 8, and this was the "A" final. I'd say these kids are being eaten. Boo.
i think the Tom Dolan Invitational hosts had it right when they changed all 11-12 200 stroke events to timed finals. there's no reason kids that age should be doing prelims *and* finals for 200 stroke events. i know on the age group team i coach, most of our 11-12 don't even do the 200 stroke events till springtime. even the kids who could survive the event now.
with the groups i coach, i luckily don't see too many kids getting eaten, yet... and that makes me happy.
