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
I don't have an issue with teenage kids using cell phones, providing they can be responsible about their usage of course. As for distractions at swim meets, so what?! They are KIDS! Is it about kids having fun or about the parents getting bragging rights about their kids times?
Feel free to keep things like cell phones from your kids but be prepared for the unintended consequences of such rules. I can assure you that the kids whose parents do not allow them to use these devices are made fun of and feel left out. Who do you suppose they blame this on? My guess would be their parents. I am not saying to give your kids whatever they want but something as simple and harmless as a cell phone seems like the wrong fight to choose IMHO.
I don't have an issue with teenage kids using cell phones, providing they can be responsible about their usage of course. As for distractions at swim meets, so what?! They are KIDS! Is it about kids having fun or about the parents getting bragging rights about their kids times?
Feel free to keep things like cell phones from your kids but be prepared for the unintended consequences of such rules. I can assure you that the kids whose parents do not allow them to use these devices are made fun of and feel left out. Who do you suppose they blame this on? My guess would be their parents. I am not saying to give your kids whatever they want but something as simple and harmless as a cell phone seems like the wrong fight to choose IMHO.
