Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:12:21 GMT

At my meet last night there were some kids on the other team that looked like they were sponsored by team tyr. One was wearing and older tyr tech suit and another kid was wearing the newest tyr suit with a tyr cap.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

tjrpatt — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:39:16 GMT

This makes me think of the parents who throw cash, sports cars, tech gadgets, motorcycles, boats, homes, lavish birthdays and weddings, luxury vacations, and jewelry (to name a few) at their children. I'm sorry but when thinking about a tech suit purchase for JR, I have to laugh. The worst are those parents that spend millions on their bratty kids 16th birthday. I was lucky to get cake on my 16th birthday(heck, I don't think that I got that) let alone a lavish party and an appearance by Bow Wow Omarion McCartney Efron Tishdale Cyrus Swift. If you want to buy your kids tech suits, buy them the older models at discount prices. Don't waste 500 bucks on a LZR so little Timmy or Tiffany can win his/her 25 free at Summer League Champs.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:17:12 GMT

Tech suits create excellent opportunities for parental bribery. I was standing in line at Team Aquatic Supply a few months back when a little girl perhaps 10 years old came out of the dressing room in an older model discontinued suit. Her parents approved of the fit and price. Then she walked over to the try-on rack, examined an up-to-date model and asked if she could try it on. Dad said "No, it's too expensive." Little girl replies: " Amanda has one." Dad: "Amanda is a better swimmer than you. If you can beat her in a race next weekend, I'll buy you one of those suits." :D

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

aquageek — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:36:37 GMT

You're kidding, right? It's just a decision for you or me. What exactly do parents think they are telling their kids when they provide expensive tech suits for minor age group meets? Daddy can solve all problems by tossing a bit of money at the problem? It's not a morals issue, these suits can be purchased for fairly inexpensively these days. Stop telling me that spending money how I see fit is in any way being a bad parent. Geez, it's really annoying. Worry about yourself for goodness sakes. If I want to buy my kid a tech suit for Summer League and it's allowable, that's my decision and really none of your business.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:43:17 GMT

Fort, I missed two meets the year before and still got the All-Around Around. I know that I didn't have enough points the year before as well. I don't really care, I just want giving examples of crazy summer league antics. That could be a solo thread - crazy summer league antics.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:29:22 GMT

I always hated the politics of summer league. :D:D I remember reading a Peanut's/ Snoopy comic strip in which Charlie Brown said that there's nothing worse/ more crazy than stage mothers and swimming moms. Ditto for me. Was a great learning experience as a youth to watch the worst come out in some parents.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:23:43 GMT

My kids are club swimmers who swim summer league. They swim with an excellent club team and a very large, competitive summer league; most of the club swimmers here swim summer league. From what I have seen, the club kids generally wear regular practice (i.e., team) suits at the weekly meets, and many of them wear technical suits at the county championships. Why not -- the county meet is USAS sanctioned so the times count (at least for the 50 and the 100 free, and for the 50 stroke events for the younger kids), and the meet is swum at one of the top pools in the country. The championship heat is generally made up of all year-round kids, and the USAS coaches actually give the kids a couple day mini-taper (basically no dryland and they get out of practice early the day before the meet). It makes sense to try to get best times.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:22:40 GMT

You're kidding, right? It's just a decision for you or me. What exactly do parents think they are telling their kids when they provide expensive tech suits for minor age group meets? Daddy can solve all problems by tossing a bit of money at the problem? This makes me think of the parents who throw cash, sports cars, tech gadgets, motorcycles, boats, homes, lavish birthdays and weddings, luxury vacations, and jewelry (to name a few) at their children. I'm sorry but when thinking about a tech suit purchase for JR, I have to laugh.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:28 GMT

I can't believe that people would fathom wearing tech suits at Summer League Meets. I was sort of shocked myself when I started masters in 2000 and saw everyone with tech suits on. I was under the impression at the time that those suits were reserved for Phelps-type people. Obviously, I've since changed my opinion. and I am now embarrassed to say that I did taper for a Summer League Championships one year when I was 15(and I didn't really care about JOs that year since I moved into the Senior age group). Why? I rested a couple of days for a summer league champ once. Broke a county record that held for 20+ years. Perhaps it was a great time in our life to be rested and ready to race. . . I had a fabulously exciting race that came down to the wire. I'll always remember it! I loved summer league and I think that I love masters as well due to my feeling that the two swimming experiences are very similar. I don't see any shame in being a glorified summer leaguer. We're not all cut out to be NCAA Div I swimmers!

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Former Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:55:30 GMT

Yes, BUT... winning is fun, even in summer league where it doesn't matter. I love this! And the statement can apply to masters too. I'm wondering what the difference is between us masters wearing the tech suits and the summer league swimmers wearing them. My experience is that the coaches of the year round swimmers do not allow their swimmers to wear tech suits to summer league meets. And the summer swimmers who are not looking to have a career in swimming (it's just for fun) may get a nice boost out of feeling and being faster. . .

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

aquageek — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:54:29 GMT

That could be a solo thread - crazy summer league antics. I have to say Summer League meets are much less intense and more geared towards fun. We do it as family fun. JO + meets are where you see some extra loco antics. I did have to yank a shrimp out the other night who was either going to drown or about to throw up in the pool. The parents where cheering him on and I went over and said, "get this child out of the pool NOW." He was doing that cough, gag, burp thing.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

tjrpatt — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:29:30 GMT

Tom, all around awards are given based on points scored. If you miss a meet, you likely won't get it. A lot of USA-S swimmers miss meets here because they're at a swim camp. Move on, boy! Don't be dwelling on that old stuff! Fort, I missed two meets the year before and still got the All-Around Around. I know that I didn't have enough points the year before as well. I don't really care, I just want giving examples of crazy summer league antics.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

knelson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:26:23 GMT

I've been wondering about Chris' comment as well. Why is it that you should/can only be serious or compete seriously from say 15-30? Sure, that's when you're fastest perhaps, but why is that the only time winning is important? Other than that, it's "just" masters or just summer league or just rec sports or just for fun. I agree. I find it a little irksome when people try to tell you what you should and should not take seriously. The old "just for fun" argument makes no sense. Competition is fun!

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

orca1946 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:23:01 GMT

How about a speedo brief only summer program??

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Muppet — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:14:43 GMT

If a kid is wearing a tech suit for summer league, they are missing the point. These leagues are for fun and as an introduction to competitive swimming for novice swimmers. Yes, BUT... winning is fun, even in summer league where it doesn't matter. Summer teams are dominated by swimmers who swim year-round. Even if any particular age group has only one or two winter-swimmers, there are still limited spots at the "A" meets. The novice swimmers are relegated to the sidelines and swim mostly "B" meets where anyone can swim. I believe that every summer league has the intention to introduce kids to competitive swimming in a fun and relaxed environment, but the reality is often that in order for the kid to have a good time, they often have to be swimming year-round. As a non-winter swimmer, if I earned the 3rd of our team's 3 spots in an A meet, I was fighting not to come in last place. It was like that for most of my summer league career, and my experience was not always fun nor was it always a good introduction to competitive swimming. I'm not saying I hated it (I'm still swimming, aren't I?), but my fun level was a lot lower than it could have been if I'd been swimming more than 8 weeks a year. Perhaps I have a bit of a warped view growing up in a densely populated area with two HUGE summer leagues and two of the US's biggest and best USA-S clubs, but I'm sure some of this translates to other areas of the country as well.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

aquageek — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:58:41 GMT

The swim parents on our summer league team are quite balanced and nice. But then we aren't in Division 1 either. Our team is Division 1 but we like to treat Summer League as a six week tailgate. Sometimes the swimming seems to interrupt the socializing.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

The Fortress — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:37:22 GMT

Swimming moms have nothing on gymnastics moms. Gymnastics moms are all crazy, every last one of them. I have one close friend who's not a psychotic gymnastics mom. She can barely stand to go the events. But she has a life too and competes in her sport. Having a life/hobby seems to be key to not being a swim mom, or gymnastics mom or -- even worse -- a soccer mom. Recently, it was revealed to me that one of the dad's on my kid's soccer team had to go on some medication to prevent him from exploding at his kids' sporting events. Living through your kids is just not a good idea. The swim parents on our summer league team are quite balanced and nice. But then we aren't in Division 1 either.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

aquageek — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:30:55 GMT

Swimming moms have nothing on gymnastics moms. Gymnastics moms are all crazy, every last one of them.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

The Fortress — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:08:51 GMT

But it occurs to me that the attitude displayed here towards summer league is very similar to that of Craig Lord towards masters swimming, and which undoubtedly angered many forumites: it is only for fun, it isn't "serious," winning isn't important, people who want to win and buy a tech suit are somehow deranged, etc. Just an observation, make of it what you will. By the way: here in Richmond, although year-round swimmers generally take a very relaxed attitude towards summer meets, club rivalries can get a little intense, and the championship meet is pretty darn fast in the top heats. I don't see many tech suits (aside from FS II tanks) at our summer league meets until the all star championship. Then, all the USA-S swimmers have tech suits. I think I saw a LZR in the 50 free last year. I've been wondering about Chris' comment as well. Why is it that you should/can only be serious or compete seriously from say 15-30? Sure, that's when you're fastest perhaps, but why is that the only time winning is important? Other than that, it's "just" masters or just summer league or just rec sports or just for fun. Life, however, is not lived solely between these years. Isn't life now just as important as life was then? Shouldn't we be looking forward and not back? Why stop striving simply because you're an adult? Yeah, life is more complicated now, but that doesn't mean we are relegated to "just" status. Tom, all around awards are given based on points scored. If you miss a meet, you likely won't get it. A lot of USA-S swimmers miss meets here because they're at a swim camp. Move on, boy! Don't be dwelling on that old stuff!

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

smontanaro — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:54:09 GMT

Seriously, give it up. How about it is just a decision? You're kidding, right? It's just a decision for you or me. What exactly do parents think they are telling their kids when they provide expensive tech suits for minor age group meets? Daddy can solve all problems by tossing a bit of money at the problem?

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

tjrpatt — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:30:18 GMT

I was sort of shocked myself when I started masters in 2000 and saw everyone with tech suits on. I was under the impression at the time that those suits were reserved for Phelps-type people. Obviously, I've since changed my opinion. Why? I rested a couple of days for a summer league champ once. Broke a county record that held for 20+ years. Perhaps it was a great time in our life to be rested and ready to race. . . I had a fabulously exciting race that came down to the wire. I'll always remember it! I loved summer league and I think that I love masters as well due to my feeling that the two swimming experiences are very similar. At the time I wasn't embarrassed. The funny thing is that when I won the 100 IM at my Summer League Champs(my first year in the 15-18 age group). The guy that I beat was like "Oh, I could have won if I tapered!" But, this guy did like a 2:00 in the 200 IM and at the time, I was only doing a 2:06 or something and plus, I was more of the 400 IM. I will never understand why that guy couldn't beat me in the 100 IM whether I was rested or not. Then, the next year he didn't even swim at the champs. When I broke a 20+ year IM record in my summer league in my last year, people congratulated my teammate more who got second. Plus, he was tapered. I broke the record on just taking it easy the day before, WTH? I guess that people were ticked off that I broke the record, freaking haters!!!! I always hated the politics of summer league. I didn't get the All-Around award my last year because I missed a summer league meet because I was in Buffalo trying to get a Junior Cut. If my team lost this dual meet(they still won), they would have blamed me instead of the lazy older girls who didn't train during the winter. They trained but with a keg!!! Also, the worst were people would get mad at you if the local newspaper interviewed you and not them.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

aquageek — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:21:55 GMT

The Summer League our neighborhood is part of requires teams to have team suits and these are the standard fare Speedo or TYR lycra, which aren't cheap but aren't the price of the tech suit. Styles are changed every other year, which is about right. Chris' last paragraph is really what we see also. There are definitely two classes in Summer league - the Summer leaguers only and the year round ringers. The first heat can be some good fast swimming.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

Chris Stevenson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:29:33 GMT

Let me preface this by saying that I think tech suits should be banned from summer leagues. But it occurs to me that the attitude displayed here towards summer league is very similar to that of Craig Lord towards masters swimming, and which undoubtedly angered many forumites: it is only for fun, it isn't "serious," winning isn't important, people who want to win and buy a tech suit are somehow deranged, etc. Just an observation, make of it what you will. By the way: here in Richmond, although year-round swimmers generally take a very relaxed attitude towards summer meets, club rivalries can get a little intense, and the championship meet is pretty darn fast in the top heats.

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

aquageek — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:13:46 GMT

Maybe not the right thing. Skip Seriously, give it up. How about it is just a decision?

RE: Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

smontanaro — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:55:04 GMT

I'm wondering what the difference is between us masters wearing the tech suits and the summer league swimmers wearing them. Presumably as masters swimmers our decision making machinery is already mature and mostly fixed. Not so with young kids. Regardless how it is reached, the decision to buy or not buy a tech suit for a young swimmer (and the ultimate result on the medal stand) teaches them something. Maybe not the right thing. Skip