50s are not real swimming races

First thing: What a troll. but in case anyone reading this thread thinks your opinion is one shared by all. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. Wow, lots of kids compared to other kids? Seems that if a majority of a group is swimming fast then there isn't much of that group left to be compared to. Have you ever thought as to why that is? It's not because 'anyone can swim a fast 50' as you seem to think, it's because children mature at much different rates not to mention you can have as much as an 363 day difference in ages for 2 swimmers who are techinically the same age. Many factors contribute to swimming ability: physical, proprioceptive, neurological maturity are just several factors. I coach a 10yo boy who is very fast but has the some of the worst body control that I have seen. We work on body position/control all the time. Why is he so fast? Well it helps that at 10 he's a full head taller than any of the other 10 year olds he swims against. Does that make him a better or worse swimmer? No, it just makes him a unique set of one. Just like every other swimmer. I also coach a 10yo girl who has some of the best technique I've seen but still hasn't gotten the concept of sprinting. Each to his own. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) I sure hope you mean 13 as in the 11-12 AG in USA Swimming, 50s are contested in every stroke plus there is still the 100 IM. My question is at what age are we masters swimmers when we start thinking 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke are OK to race again? It is not OK. It brings our sport down to a level where people who train only 100s or less and focus on 25s are taking over our pools. No more I say!!! I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!! :worms: :bolt: Wow, who elected you king of USMS? If you don't like 50s, then don't enter them. I'm a sprinter and as such I prefer the all out, get after it nature of 50s but that doesn't mean that any distance over a 100 has to be banned, I appreciate those folks who swim the longer events (not that I understand them but that's a different point :angel:). Each to his own as the saying goes, USMS offers a wide range of pool events so that everyone who wants to participate be it sprinter, middle-distance or distance oriented can. Next time you find yourself frowning on the sprinter folks, try this little set: 10x50 stroke of your choice on 2:00 interval - goal on each is best time +5s (from a push) or best time +2s from a dive. Have fun and let me know how you did.

First thing: What a troll. but in case anyone reading this thread thinks your opinion is one shared by all. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. Wow, lots of kids compared to other kids? Seems that if a majority of a group is swimming fast then there isn't much of that group left to be compared to. Have you ever thought as to why that is? It's not because 'anyone can swim a fast 50' as you seem to think, it's because children mature at much different rates not to mention you can have as much as an 363 day difference in ages for 2 swimmers who are techinically the same age. Many factors contribute to swimming ability: physical, proprioceptive, neurological maturity are just several factors. I coach a 10yo boy who is very fast but has the some of the worst body control that I have seen. We work on body position/control all the time. Why is he so fast? Well it helps that at 10 he's a full head taller than any of the other 10 year olds he swims against. Does that make him a better or worse swimmer? No, it just makes him a unique set of one. Just like every other swimmer. I also coach a 10yo girl who has some of the best technique I've seen but still hasn't gotten the concept of sprinting. Each to his own. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) I sure hope you mean 13 as in the 11-12 AG in USA Swimming, 50s are contested in every stroke plus there is still the 100 IM. My question is at what age are we masters swimmers when we start thinking 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke are OK to race again? It is not OK. It brings our sport down to a level where people who train only 100s or less and focus on 25s are taking over our pools. No more I say!!! I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!! :worms: :bolt: Wow, who elected you king of USMS? If you don't like 50s, then don't enter them. I'm a sprinter and as such I prefer the all out, get after it nature of 50s but that doesn't mean that any distance over a 100 has to be banned, I appreciate those folks who swim the longer events (not that I understand them but that's a different point :angel:). Each to his own as the saying goes, USMS offers a wide range of pool events so that everyone who wants to participate be it sprinter, middle-distance or distance oriented can. Next time you find yourself frowning on the sprinter folks, try this little set: 10x50 stroke of your choice on 2:00 interval - goal on each is best time +5s (from a push) or best time +2s from a dive. Have fun and let me know how you did.