The coach at the local Y suggested that 11-12 year olds should shave for a big meet this weekend. I know there are individuals on this site who have children swimming, past and present. How early to shave? I believe 11 years old is too young. How much time can be dropped by an 11 year old wanting to shave. Is it me? Old fashioned? Have times changed in the arena of swimming? How young have kids be encouraged to shave? What was the result?
Seems a bit young to shave and maybe a bit gung ho on the coach's part. Shaving was odd enough in high school let alone at 11 or 12, and as you asked, how much time will they drop because of shaving versus all the other elements (training, weights, etc). I never heard of kids younger than high school shaving for a meet , even big meets, when I was in high school, but then again that was 30+ years ago. Kids have enough to worry about - if the other 11 - 12 year olds in school find out it will be miserable for them - especially if they don't win or drop times. Wouldn't it be better to let the kids enjoy the sport before they get ultra competitive. I don't think I'd push my kids to shave at that age.
I don't think I ever shaved for a meet that young, but I don't really see what the harm is. I certainly aways shaved in high school, so I suspect I started a couple years before this. Kids do have body hair, after all. It might not be like an adult's, but it's there.
I shaved for two meets in my entire swimming career - the "sectional championships" for my high school swim team (Junior and Senior years). I mainly felt weird with leg hairs sticking out the fastskin leggings I had for the meets. I never shaved for age group JO's or even some of the USA swimming AA meets and so on. In my opinion, it just was not worth it.
All this being said, how many 11 year old's have enough body hair to significantly change their swimming times by shaving? Sounds like a mental boost - mostly copying the older swimmers and feeling cool for it.
In my opinion, it just was not worth it.
I never really understanded this stance. You're in the pool training for possibly hundreds of hours, working your butt off, but it's too much trouble to spend an hour shaving down?
As far as hair, there's evidence suggesting it's not just the elimination of hair that gives the benefit.
I didn't hear about shaving down until college(high school in the 60s.)A big part of shaving is the removal of hair to decrease drag,which may not be much of an issue at that age,but another big part is ritual,knowing you have done EVERYTHING to go as fast as possible(not to mention sacrificing your hair to the gods of speed.)
Former Member
Could the coach be saying that to the 11-12's to help them get pumped up? They probably have heard of the older kids shaving for meets and asked their coach about shaving.
Personally, I think I started about 15.
Former Member
Personally, I think I started about 15.
Why did you start at age 15? What were the circumstances? Why not age 14?
Former Member
what age?
9 or 10 if you're italian.
Former Member
what age?
9 or 10 if you're italian.
Northern German mixed with 1/2 Irish. I just answered my own question. Thanks.
