Training volume for age groupers?

I appreciate the most recent posts on combining college swimming with academics. I suppose given my experience in a Div 1 athletic department in college I am biased against combining the two but remain open to the possibility. Sounds like the overwhelming advice is to let him swim more if he wants within reason. Based on what you tell me 4 or 5 a week at his age would be OK. I like the post that suggested that if his increase in volume results in a decrease in GPA then we talk again about the choice. Here is another question perhaps for you coaches and former college level swimmers. If he wants to swim in college what level is best for combining school and swimming? What has been your experience? I know a great deal depends on what he wants to do in school and how fast he swims in high school of course. Just wondering about your experiences. Regards Spudfin I am convinced that 4 or 5 times a week will not harm your child physically unless he swims for an abusive team/coach (they do exist). I think there is likely to be a big difference swimming for an elite Div 1 program vs. other Div1 schools or other levels. Ian Crocker did an interview for the Olympics and he seemed to regret at least a bit how much of his college years were dedicated to swimming. My son almost chose Emory - a Div 3 elite academic school. The swimmers are all strong academically yet they are a fast serious team. The university ultimately values academics over athletics so the priority is in the right place. Emory didn't want to even talk to my son about swimming until he was accepted. I think elite Div1 schools regularly find ways around the NCAA training rules and suck more time from their athletes than other programs. If I could make one more suggestion - it is that by the time your child is ready for college it is wonderful to have choices. Swimming could be one of the choices and might be a great experience for him. Maybe not. But if he doesn't advance his training he won't have that choice.

I appreciate the most recent posts on combining college swimming with academics. I suppose given my experience in a Div 1 athletic department in college I am biased against combining the two but remain open to the possibility. Sounds like the overwhelming advice is to let him swim more if he wants within reason. Based on what you tell me 4 or 5 a week at his age would be OK. I like the post that suggested that if his increase in volume results in a decrease in GPA then we talk again about the choice. Here is another question perhaps for you coaches and former college level swimmers. If he wants to swim in college what level is best for combining school and swimming? What has been your experience? I know a great deal depends on what he wants to do in school and how fast he swims in high school of course. Just wondering about your experiences. Regards Spudfin I am convinced that 4 or 5 times a week will not harm your child physically unless he swims for an abusive team/coach (they do exist). I think there is likely to be a big difference swimming for an elite Div 1 program vs. other Div1 schools or other levels. Ian Crocker did an interview for the Olympics and he seemed to regret at least a bit how much of his college years were dedicated to swimming. My son almost chose Emory - a Div 3 elite academic school. The swimmers are all strong academically yet they are a fast serious team. The university ultimately values academics over athletics so the priority is in the right place. Emory didn't want to even talk to my son about swimming until he was accepted. I think elite Div1 schools regularly find ways around the NCAA training rules and suck more time from their athletes than other programs. If I could make one more suggestion - it is that by the time your child is ready for college it is wonderful to have choices. Swimming could be one of the choices and might be a great experience for him. Maybe not. But if he doesn't advance his training he won't have that choice.