“Michael’s vision is to increase swimming in the US"
Former Member
Ok - Phelps is at the top of his career and his popularity - How could he (or anybody else working with him) help to improve swimming in the United States ?
What do we need - grassroot swimcamps ? A Michael Phelps US swimming tour ? Phelps racing various people around the country ?
Can we get 5000 people into a pool + TV coverage for a Lochte + Peirsol vs Phelps showdown ? I am certain Track and Field will have some big money races in Europe following the Olympis. How much would somebody pay to have Phelps race Cavic in 3 weeks ?
Parents
Former Member
On your first idea, nay. This kind of warm, fuzzy thinking is just the stuff of special olympics, which is killing youth sports. Why? Because there is only so much money and time for recreational activities. How many little leagues are still around? Pop Warner? AYSO has grown, but at the expense of excellence in the sport. Kids need to play hard and learn to lose as well as win. That is the stuff of character.
On your second, an emphatic yes!
I'm not a big fan of the warm fuzzy stuff either. Youth baseball and football are run so much better than youth swimming. I remember being 9 years old on the first day of hitting in football practice, the coach told the team at the end of practice that if they were scared, they should go play soccer. There was an emphesis on winning but it was fun, competition is good for kids. But the games "didn't really matter". High school ball is what really mattered. A lot of the same kids palyed on the same youth football team together all the way up untill high school which is good becasue you already have team chemistry going into the next level.
Youth swimming on the other hand is not that appealing, year round uss teams that is. I choose to just stick with summer league swimming and continue playing football in the fall and basketball in the winter. The idea of not playing any sports other swimming again didn't really make sense becasue i liked playing all 3. And waking up at 4 in the damn morning before school seemed kind of dumb too. Why does everyone practice so early. Plus the meets are spread out and you are practicing all the time. I think they should set it up more like college swimming were there is a regional dual meet season with a championship at the end.
On your first idea, nay. This kind of warm, fuzzy thinking is just the stuff of special olympics, which is killing youth sports. Why? Because there is only so much money and time for recreational activities. How many little leagues are still around? Pop Warner? AYSO has grown, but at the expense of excellence in the sport. Kids need to play hard and learn to lose as well as win. That is the stuff of character.
On your second, an emphatic yes!
I'm not a big fan of the warm fuzzy stuff either. Youth baseball and football are run so much better than youth swimming. I remember being 9 years old on the first day of hitting in football practice, the coach told the team at the end of practice that if they were scared, they should go play soccer. There was an emphesis on winning but it was fun, competition is good for kids. But the games "didn't really matter". High school ball is what really mattered. A lot of the same kids palyed on the same youth football team together all the way up untill high school which is good becasue you already have team chemistry going into the next level.
Youth swimming on the other hand is not that appealing, year round uss teams that is. I choose to just stick with summer league swimming and continue playing football in the fall and basketball in the winter. The idea of not playing any sports other swimming again didn't really make sense becasue i liked playing all 3. And waking up at 4 in the damn morning before school seemed kind of dumb too. Why does everyone practice so early. Plus the meets are spread out and you are practicing all the time. I think they should set it up more like college swimming were there is a regional dual meet season with a championship at the end.
