Below are the number of entrants for each event at the Junior Nationals for 2008. What do these figures mean for men's swimming long term? The number of boys in the sport trails girls quite siginficantly in many events. In relays where a team tends to show its depth, boys are out numbered by girls nearly 2:1
If things continue or get worse we've got problems ahead of us in 2 Olympics.
It's a good thing collegiate budgets aren't cutting mens swimming these days.... :-)
ncsassociation.homestead.com/PsychFINAL.htm
.............Women Men
1650/1000... 78.. 75
Med. Relay... 97.. 51
100 free... 264.. 140
100 ***... 179.. 102
200 back... 173.. 111
200 fly... 149.. 91
800 fr rly... 81.. 43
50 fly... 170.. 106
50 ***... 151.. 82
200 free... 252.. 159
400 IM... 183.. 106
400 free rly... 84.. 45
100 back... 194.. 152
500 free... 188.. 112
200 ***... 152.. 82
100 fly... 242.. 161
200 fr rly... 84.. 45
50 back... 135.. 115
200 IM... 268.. 169
50 free... 282.. 153
800/1500 fr... 98.. 67
400 med rly... 105.. 54
My personal opinion; boys these days are far more interested in playing video games.
You think I'm joking? I just had a conversation with the head coach of a Div I top 10 team and one of the biggest problems they have with the men's college swimmers as well as the boys on their club team is an almost insatiable obsession with spending hours playing this stuff....to the point that its talked about constantly at practice, in the weight room, etc. etc.
It takes a lot of commitment, hard work, patience and focus to be an athlete on any level and more and more it seems fewer kids (mostly boys) have it.
I have a boy, 20 tomorrow, and I totally agree with this. I am glad to see the group that is coming over to play these days(I hope they do not think they can take my TV when the move out day comes), is taking breaks and going out running.
My personal opinion; boys these days are far more interested in playing video games.
You think I'm joking? I just had a conversation with the head coach of a Div I top 10 team and one of the biggest problems they have with the men's college swimmers as well as the boys on their club team is an almost insatiable obsession with spending hours playing this stuff....to the point that its talked about constantly at practice, in the weight room, etc. etc.
It takes a lot of commitment, hard work, patience and focus to be an athlete on any level and more and more it seems fewer kids (mostly boys) have it.
I have a boy, 20 tomorrow, and I totally agree with this. I am glad to see the group that is coming over to play these days(I hope they do not think they can take my TV when the move out day comes), is taking breaks and going out running.
