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
I hate the focus on college scholarships. I realize that some parents need financial assistance to send their kids to college because tuition is now outrageous outside of in-state schools. But it's this focus on scholarships that creates loco parents who push, push, push. College is not just about sports, although participating in college sports can be very rewarding. Kids who truly love our niche sport will stick with it. If they don't love it, they won't be able to survive the grueling workout schedule. Personally, I see my daughter picking up a field hockey and lacrosse stick right quick. Myself, I went to a school that didn't give athletic scholarships and swam anyway.
I hate the focus on college scholarships. I realize that some parents need financial assistance to send their kids to college because tuition is now outrageous outside of in-state schools. But it's this focus on scholarships that creates loco parents who push, push, push. College is not just about sports, although participating in college sports can be very rewarding. Kids who truly love our niche sport will stick with it. If they don't love it, they won't be able to survive the grueling workout schedule. Personally, I see my daughter picking up a field hockey and lacrosse stick right quick. Myself, I went to a school that didn't give athletic scholarships and swam anyway.
