Since I have been back swimming I have read a number of threads, comments, articles, where adults are swimming and working out with the local USS age group team.
This has been something I have considered for quite some time for all of the obvious advantages, but I have taken no action because of my slowness, fatness and old ageness.
I can't believe it, but I finally got the nerve up to contact the local USS swim coach to see if I could workout with the team and she said yes! I'm scared and excited all at the same time.
For those of you who swim with the age groupers, is there anything I should know? Any advice?
Boy, that coach sure does foster team unity.
I have seen coaches who do this in age group. The work-out is written for the fastest, and the kids who are slower never, ever make a set, the whole year and it is very, very discouraging for the kids. Age group should have tiered work-outs, because within a group there is always a variance from top National level swimmers to the kid who is swimming 4 days a week for fun and exercise. This coaches mentality loses the bottom kids eventually, and since there are more of them then the high caliber, you lose a good portion of your team. Plus I think you lose the gift that is swimming, that people of varying abilities can do it, enjoy it, and improve within their ability.
Boy, that coach sure does foster team unity.
I have seen coaches who do this in age group. The work-out is written for the fastest, and the kids who are slower never, ever make a set, the whole year and it is very, very discouraging for the kids. Age group should have tiered work-outs, because within a group there is always a variance from top National level swimmers to the kid who is swimming 4 days a week for fun and exercise. This coaches mentality loses the bottom kids eventually, and since there are more of them then the high caliber, you lose a good portion of your team. Plus I think you lose the gift that is swimming, that people of varying abilities can do it, enjoy it, and improve within their ability.
