Here's a thread for the ladies to discuss anything that relates to women and swimming. For example, feel free to discuss how disgustingly ugly fastskins are, how the "curse" can kill a meet, how suits don't fit, how swimming wrecks your hair, how hormones unhinge you, etc.
Now that's bizarre and something you'd expect to hear at the gymnastics center. That's a crazy soccer mom right there, crazy crazy crazy. Without being too graphic, what are the adverse affects of AF on teen swimming. Is it more of a desire to regulate and limit time away from the pool? Is starting an otherwise healthy 12 year old girl on the pill even a good idea? I hate to hear stories like this.
Not precisely sure, but it is my understanding that it is fairly common for girls to plateau (especially in breaststroke) in the 13-14 age group when AF often arrives. I've certainly seen the phenomenon among my 13 years old's peers and discussed it with other moms. The curves associated with AF also alter your pelvic area and can alter your stroke, I guess.
Seems like a very bad idea to start a 12 year old on unnecessary drugs. Maybe in addition to avoiding AF, they think the hormones will help? The kid just made her first senior nats cut, and the push is on.
If for no other reason than to benefit swimming, then this qualifies in my book as child abuse. I had always assumed swimmers were immune from strange stuff like this, but I clearly am naive.
If for no other reason than to benefit swimming, then this qualifies in my book as child abuse. I had always assumed swimmers were immune from strange stuff like this, but I clearly am naive.
Not totally immune, apparently ... The "arms race" is in full swing, and I know quite a few kids that are home schooled for the sole purpose of getting in more swim practices and sleep. However, that is the first AF story I've heard, I must admit.
If for no other reason than to benefit swimming, then this qualifies in my book as child abuse. I had always assumed swimmers were immune from strange stuff like this, but I clearly am naive.
Swimmers? Yes. Parents of national level swimmers? Maybe not so much.
Swimmers?
Do you have any idea how much time swimmers spend talking about technical suits and how many they have?! I thought I was an addict, but some of those kids have an extensive collection!! They also follow the Smith model -- bragging about how little they practice or, conversely, bragging about how broken down they are from all their practices.
Sacrificing for your kids is one thing, sacrificing your kids is another. What kind of doctor will endorse this? I'm sure there will be one doctor that will say yes to this mother.
I know one lady who home skoolz her kids so she can get in more workouts (not sure how that works). While pretty deplorable, at least she's honest about it.
Heard some interesting gossip at an age group meet about an extremely fast 12 year old. Seems that Mom and coach are considering putting her on birth control pills to prevent the appearance of AF, so she can keep going great guns and not have any plateaus. What next?!
That is totally crazy. It's weird enough to think that parent and coach are considering BCPs as a PED whether or not the kid needs them for BC. But I don't even see how they would work as a PED. BCPs work in part by making your body seem just a little bit pregnant. So rather than slowing or preventing the physical changes that will accompany puberty for this kid, they will hasten some of them. And BCPs usually make you put on a little body fat, even if you are really trying not to put it on.
On the other hand, if the kid is really working out the way a kid that fast probably works out, her body fat without BCPs is likely to be so low that she will menstruate what, twice a year? I started swimming doubles at 12, and I don't think any of the girls I swam with in my teens ever had their periods during our most intense training of the year (August to November).
Got one for my birthday. Fits great, love it.
As if the Dara thread weren't enough ... Heard some interesting gossip at an age group meet about an extremely fast 12 year old. Seems that Mom and coach are considering putting her on birth control pills to prevent the appearance of AF, so she can keep going great guns and not have any plateaus. What next?!
Parent and coach taking charge of controlling a pre-teen's body? Yuck! Sounds like a recipe for anorexia!
What does everyone do with their old suits once they are no longer wearable? Would anyone consider recycling them by donating what is left of them to a worthwhile charity project? If so I have a great use for them!:angel:
I have a couple of old suits that are no longer fit to wear in public (only a couple because I only began swimming a year and a half ago). They sit in a drawer waiting for somebody to say they have a use for them.
Geek was wondering whether it was appropriate to call women "girls." I attempted to explain that we are sometimes referred to as "girls" when joking around -- "You go girl" etc. So Geek coined the term "fegirl" instead of "female." I like his new word, so plan to keep using it. :)
My wife explained to me that it was okay to call women, "girls", as long as you call men, "boys". I've actually gotten pretty good at calling men, "boys", but I still call women, "women"! I kind of like the fegirl term though.
Do you have any idea how much time swimmers spend talking about technical suits and how many they have?! I thought I was an addict, but some of those kids have an extensive collection!! They also follow the Smith model -- bragging about how little they practice or, conversely, bragging about how broken down they are from all their practices.
I work part time at a bike shop which also sells Speedo products. We set up a tent and tables at most every local USA-S meet. I find it amazing how many parents shell out 100-200 bucks on technical suits because their kid got an A/AA/AAA/AAAA time. It blows my mind. You would have thought it was the end of the world when my dad had to buy me a new pair of running shoes at the end of each cross-country or track season because they were worn out and broken down.
When I was coaching in the early 90's there was a little girl on our team who made an 'A' time (at age 9, I believe). Her parents shelled out $80 for what was the hot suit at the time (Aquablade, maybe? It zipped up the back). My favorite part of the story, though, is that they bought this tiny 9 year old girl a size 36 or something so it was all baggy. :rofl:
