My first kids meet

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:00:59 GMT

Apparently even the Olympians enter these from time to time. Brendan Hansen swam the 200 *** and the 100 back in a USA Swimming unclassified meet at UT last weekend. We were there watching my daughter swim. She actually shared a lane with him during warm up.

RE: My first kids meet

pwolf66 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:05:58 GMT

I actually plan on swimming in the PVS January Open. Should be interesting. Though the 50 and 100 free are on different days so that's not so great. And they don't have 50 Fly :-) "Dude, I'm racing my DAD" Paul

RE: My first kids meet

swimshark — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:06:30 GMT

The coach had no choice but to give into her demands or she was dragging him to court. And when their kid grows up thinking everything will be handed to them and they can't control him they'll wonder why. It was fun. I swam the 50 & 100 free and 50 fly in this meet last year too. I bettered last years times in this meet. Here's a short summary of how it went. Good job Poolrat!!! Alison

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:47:47 GMT

Our local little league coach (volunteer) got threatened with a lawsuit last summer for telling a kid he had to play with the junior league. We live in a resort community... and in the summer we get all types of people...with lots of money...and lots of self righteous attitudes. This particular couple (the wife being a New York city prosecutor) gave the coach a five day notice to provide a written explanation on why their child couldn't play with the varsity team or she was suing him. (The answer was simple...he didn't make the cut, and there were way too many kids that were better than him.) It turns out...The varsity team had a select group of kids who were going to be paid a visit by a couple of major league players who offered to give pointers and throw the ball around. The coach had no choice but to give into her demands or she was dragging him to court. :mooning: I would like to think that such a lawsuit would have made this prosecuter the laughing stock of the courtroom, but most likely she would have won and this volunteer coach would have lost his life savings.

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:27:04 GMT

RE: My first kids meet

swimr4life — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:08:39 GMT

...but Kirk that means little Timmy or Suzy might not be the all conquering hero that gets to be number 1 that their parent's have raised them to believe they deserve...we're all winners...they are no wrong answers...there is no such thing as negative consequences...ad nostradamusum :shakeshead:Soooo true!! This is a pet peeve of mine.... You'd be surprised how many parents actually have this mindset. They want little Johnny to be on the "A" relay despite the fact that he is the slowest swimmer on the team. "But he gets discouraged because he never gets a ribbon." :rolleyes: What will this generation of kids do when they go out into the world and realize that they have to actually work to get anything from life?

RE: My first kids meet

poolraat — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:21:01 GMT

Poolrat, how did it go? Alison It was fun. I swam the 50 & 100 free and 50 fly in this meet last year too. I bettered last years times in this meet. Here's a short summary of how it went. Saturday I swam the 200 free relay, my split was the slowest of the 4 of us but we still placed and it was a good way to warmup for the 50 free. I swam lifetime best times in the 50 free and 50 back (and placed in the back), making the NQT's for Austin next May in these events. Sunday Not quite as fast as Sat. but still some good times. 100 free - Was my 3rd fastest ever. I'm still taking out the 1st 50 too slow. Should go out around 1-2 sec faster. Miissed the NQT by about 1.1 sec. 100 back - Much better (by 4 sec) than what I did in a Masters meet last week and my 2nd best ever. I split fairly even (about 2.5 sec diff) but again, I need to go out faster for the first 50. 50 fly - My 4th fastest swim but again about 1.1 sec out of the NQT.

RE: My first kids meet

swimshark — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:01:11 GMT

Poolrat, how did it go? Alison

RE: My first kids meet

aquaFeisty — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:57:28 GMT

Oooh, definitely fun to get to do relays! Good luck, poolraat!!

RE: My first kids meet

poolraat — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:55:56 GMT

Just found out from the coach of the USA team I'm registered with that I'm swimming relays in the meet this weekend, too. How fun!

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:22:18 GMT

I have heard that some parents are irritated when elite masters swim at important USA meets, sometimes taking a kids' place during finals. This would not be my issue, as senior QTs are outrageously hard, but I think those parents should get over it. Awesome job to both Alison and Fort!! I had to scratch my meet due to my injury, but I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity in the future. One of the guys I swim with (who happens to be a world masters record holder in the 200 BR), says that when he swims USA S meets, he swims the prelims only and then immediately scratches himself from the finals so as not to take the place of a kid who dreamed of making finals. Very nice of him I thought. He said he only had one swim per event in him anyway. (He's a dad of some USA S swimmers, so I see he's thought it through.)

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:44:21 GMT

Totally agree! Interestingly, I'm not sure the kids have any huge objection to masters swimmers swimming in prelim/final meets. They seem to think it's pretty cool and make it a point to watch. Besides, the elite masters are great role models. Les your rollover turn got a "Wow, I've never seen that!" from the girl timing at the Sprint. Whereas I normally get a "Wow, I've never seen it done quite like that before! Hahahahaha!"

RE: My first kids meet

swimshark — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:28:24 GMT

I have heard that some parents are irritated when elite masters swim at important USA meets, sometimes taking a kids' place during finals. This would not be my issue, as senior QTs are outrageously hard, but I think those parents should get over it. I agree. Their times are hard to get. The Open meets are the best since anyone can compete. Alison

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:05:42 GMT

Anyone who complains about another swimmer "taking their kid's spot" in finals definitely needs to get over it. The swimmers that deserves a spot are the swimmers that swam the fastest in prelims, regardless of age or where they live. If they are eligible to swim in the meet, they should be eligible to swim finals as well. ...but Kirk that means little Timmy or Suzy might not be the all conquering hero that gets to be number 1 that their parent's have raised them to believe they deserve...we're all winners...they are no wrong answers...there is no such thing as negative consequences...ad nostradamusum

RE: My first kids meet

swimshark — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:50:15 GMT

Kristina, your team mates idea is good. I wouldn't want to swim the same event twice in a day anyway. Sorry to hear you couldn't swim. I hope for better results next time. Alison

RE: My first kids meet

The Fortress — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:33:39 GMT

Anyone who complains about another swimmer "taking their kid's spot" in finals definitely needs to get over it. The swimmers that deserves a spot are the swimmers that swam the fastest in prelims, regardless of age or where they live. If they are eligible to swim in the meet, they should be eligible to swim finals as well. Totally agree! Interestingly, I'm not sure the kids have any huge objection to masters swimmers swimming in prelim/final meets. They seem to think it's pretty cool and make it a point to watch. Besides, the elite masters are great role models.

RE: My first kids meet

knelson — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:57:47 GMT

RE: My first kids meet

Rob Copeland — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:45:58 GMT

Originally Posted by The Fortress I have heard that some parents are irritated when elite masters swim at important USA meets, sometimes taking a kids' place during finals. This would not be my issue, as senior QTs are outrageously hard, but I think those parents should get over it. The Nevada State SCY Championships are open to all who make the QT's but a few years ago they changed the rules and now swimmers over 19 do not advance to finals. They can only swim prelims. The reason was supposedly to keep kids from being bumped out of finals but probably had more to do with scoring and teams losing points to adult swimmers.The over 19 rule seems to be meant to apply against college athletes. I’ve heard a number of grumbling parents when Georgia or GA Tech swimmers show up to the Georgia state meet; especially when these Olympic medalists or NCAA All-American are from outside the state. Personally (now that my son is one of THOSE college swimmers), I think it is great to see these swimmers raise the level of competition.

RE: My first kids meet

poolraat — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:04:25 GMT

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:40:50 GMT

:bouncing: let me know how it goes!!!! One of my friends told me that she'd come if and only if no one else comes with her. She fears :joker: that someone will laugh at her.

RE: My first kids meet

The Fortress — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:39:08 GMT

Just finished reading this thread, I'm gathering that for those who swam in age group meets the experience was a positive one overall? I'm asking because I'm going to start swimming with an age group team (this afternoon in fact). I haven't really thought about doing a meet, but since master's meets are few and far between I might consider it. We'll see how the practice goes first. :banana: I'd say it was a positive experience. I don't train with a kids' team. I signed up for the meet because I was going to be there anyway watching my kid. Now that she's aged up, we can swim in the same session. I have trouble getting to many local or other masters meets because of my kids' events. This was a convenient way to combine cheering for my kid and her team and getting in a couple swims myself. I swam an event I rarely get a chance to swim. The atmosphere was low key -- it was an "open" meet with no QTs, so pretty mellow. (Sorry for the nerves Alison!) Kids seemed to think it was interesting. Masters are a rarity at our USA meets. But, according to my daughter, the kids on her team said "Cool, I didn't know old people swam and competed." :lmao: Maybe this is the way to get out the word that masters swimming exists as a sport? Perhaps, as Alison notes, there was a little pressure not to mess up big time or have the piano fall dramatically in front of the kiddies. (I don't do many starts either, Art.) But it was worth it to get some more meet experience and times. Wouldn't do it all the time, but every once in awhile seems fun. Give it a try -- especially if there aren't others masters meets available. I have heard that some parents are irritated when elite masters swim at important USA meets, sometimes taking a kids' place during finals. This would not be my issue, as senior QTs are outrageously hard, but I think those parents should get over it.

RE: My first kids meet

swimshark — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:39:49 GMT

Art, my nerves were so bad that I thought I was going to throw up, several times. That's not like me, either. I didn't want to get up there and look like a fool in front of these teens that I swim with. the great thing is that several, who don't normally talk to me, started talking to me. Funky, yes, the meet was a positive experience. I practice with the kids team, too. I have for over a year and love it. They push me harder than any other team I've been on. The kids are really nice (those that normally talk to me) and the coaches are great. They treat me like the kids so yes, I get yelled at at times, too. :) I hope you find it to be positive, too. Next step is to do a meet with them. Alison

RE: My first kids meet

funkyfish — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:57:39 GMT

RE: My first kids meet

Former Member — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:37:32 GMT

Congrats Alison. WOW you did great. I have not yet signed up for a meet. I am still down with this ear grrrrrrrrrrrr Katie

RE: My first kids meet

art_z — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:43:02 GMT

I don't think I could race a kids meet. I get nervous enough just doing lactates with the college kids I train with. Its definitely evident that my lack of practice in starts hurts. I'm lucky if I go off the blocks 10 times in a year.