Last weekend, I was at a USS swim meet and heard parents and coaches complaining about the "distraction" of many swimmers now. They blame this distraction (in addition to the rise of the boy/girl crazy period) on the advent of cell phones and IM-ing, etc. Apparently, at meets, and I've seen it, the kids spent scads of time on their cells phones, phoning friends, phoning kids across the pool, texting constantly (even to kids 5 feet away). Then they go home and IM for hours, checking and gossiping over the instant meet results and who beat who. Now, all the swimmers seem to know each other because, even if they're not on the same team or live in different states, they now can communicate easily via IM-ing and texting. I heard one coach say he's not sure how to get his swim kids to focus in this new techo-age. Obviously, some kids are focused like lasers, but I see an abundance of chatting and cell phone use too. Would kids do better without cell phones at meets? And is technology distracting them? Some seem to be swimming blazingly fast, but are others not swimming up to their potential because of this?
Parents
Former Member
Ah Swimstud we must have gone to the same school of torture... I mean parenting. My daughter age 9 doesnt have a TV in her room -never will, computer is in a common area - so things can be monitored and we told her no cell phone til she drives. Why does she need a phone? :violin: She is either with one of us or a adult that we trust to make decisions or that has a cell phone to call us in emergencies.
We just had a sprint carnival at our Y - ages 5 to 65 - I didnt see any cell phones - lots of snacking and drinks, wet towels and yelling by parents not to run on wet decks. My master mates dont seem to bring cellphones to the deck - I think we are all just glad to get away from obligations for a while.
Maybe the coaches should nix the phones.
Ah Swimstud we must have gone to the same school of torture... I mean parenting. My daughter age 9 doesnt have a TV in her room -never will, computer is in a common area - so things can be monitored and we told her no cell phone til she drives. Why does she need a phone? :violin: She is either with one of us or a adult that we trust to make decisions or that has a cell phone to call us in emergencies.
We just had a sprint carnival at our Y - ages 5 to 65 - I didnt see any cell phones - lots of snacking and drinks, wet towels and yelling by parents not to run on wet decks. My master mates dont seem to bring cellphones to the deck - I think we are all just glad to get away from obligations for a while.
Maybe the coaches should nix the phones.
