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've never seen two grown men cry and carry on for such a long time about something so old. There is no crisis in boy's swimming, the numbers are irrefutable, no matter whose numbers you use. Twice as many girls at a meet versus boys means nothing without some historical context.
Here's an example. I understand the criteria for Scholarstic All American in HS changed in the past year. There are fewer All Americans I am told with the new higher standards. Using your methodology, such as it is, we would assert that kids are dumber and slower this year. Really pointless debate to use one year as an example.
What is your solution?
I've never seen two grown men cry and carry on for such a long time about something so old. There is no crisis in boy's swimming, the numbers are irrefutable, no matter whose numbers you use. Twice as many girls at a meet versus boys means nothing without some historical context.
Here's an example. I understand the criteria for Scholarstic All American in HS changed in the past year. There are fewer All Americans I am told with the new higher standards. Using your methodology, such as it is, we would assert that kids are dumber and slower this year. Really pointless debate to use one year as an example.
What is your solution?
