Tech-Suits Infecting Summer League Meets

How about a speedo brief only summer program??

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!

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.

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.

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. . .

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.