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
It is my OPINION that many colleges with smaller swim teams would have done away with both men's and women's swim teams had Title IX not pressed them to keep a women's team. Swimming simply does not generate revenue, which seems to drive so many athletic departments these days. Again, this is only my opinion.
It is also my opinion that boys in high school, at least the naturally athletic boys, are pulled toward more mainstream sports. Which boy is more popular in high school, the star quarterback or the star swimmer? Chances are that the kid who is a great football player would make a damn good swimmer (maybe not as much with the big guys - although I'm not taking away anything from their athleticism - I'm talking about the guy that's 6'-4" and runs a 4.4 40). And tell me that Division I football players don't put in as much time as swimmers perfecting their skills, strength and knowledge of their position. Girls lack a numbers-intensive sport like football and are left with fewer choices. Perhaps that can explain a higher growth rate for women than men in swimming.
It is my OPINION that many colleges with smaller swim teams would have done away with both men's and women's swim teams had Title IX not pressed them to keep a women's team. Swimming simply does not generate revenue, which seems to drive so many athletic departments these days. Again, this is only my opinion.
It is also my opinion that boys in high school, at least the naturally athletic boys, are pulled toward more mainstream sports. Which boy is more popular in high school, the star quarterback or the star swimmer? Chances are that the kid who is a great football player would make a damn good swimmer (maybe not as much with the big guys - although I'm not taking away anything from their athleticism - I'm talking about the guy that's 6'-4" and runs a 4.4 40). And tell me that Division I football players don't put in as much time as swimmers perfecting their skills, strength and knowledge of their position. Girls lack a numbers-intensive sport like football and are left with fewer choices. Perhaps that can explain a higher growth rate for women than men in swimming.
