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
Here is another question: swimming and school are largely separated until college. Why should they suddenly be joined? Why can't college students still swim for USS teams? It is less convenient, granted, but there are many many good sports out there that are not common varsity sports. Why should our educational system bear even part of the burden of training this country's future Olympians?
Chris, club swimming is terribly expensive. College is terribly expensive. My experience is most college kids simply cannot afford to club swim. We are a college town, and have inquiries from kids,especially boys since there is no men's team, but the cost of age group swimming is prohibitive. 115 a month, plus joining fees, plus USA fees, usually are too much for the college kid struggling with college expenses. State schools are costing 20k for room and board, and that does not include books.
Here is another question: swimming and school are largely separated until college. Why should they suddenly be joined? Why can't college students still swim for USS teams? It is less convenient, granted, but there are many many good sports out there that are not common varsity sports. Why should our educational system bear even part of the burden of training this country's future Olympians?
Chris, club swimming is terribly expensive. College is terribly expensive. My experience is most college kids simply cannot afford to club swim. We are a college town, and have inquiries from kids,especially boys since there is no men's team, but the cost of age group swimming is prohibitive. 115 a month, plus joining fees, plus USA fees, usually are too much for the college kid struggling with college expenses. State schools are costing 20k for room and board, and that does not include books.
