I think it was Ande that said "it's not how fast you swim, it's how fast you slow down." I read that a few years ago and keep on coming back to it as I have watched my kids grow in their USA Swimming careers. When kids are around 8-10, many of the races are 50s. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) - and magically many of the kids with bad technique who seemed fast start losing to kids in the 100s and 200s with superior strokes. 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:
I got 2 things out of the initial post: 50's of strokes are not worthwhile events because they are no longer offered to age groupers once you turn 11 (really 13), and that some kids can do well in 50's with poor technique.
Paul addressed the second point well, but I think many may get the message that 50's are not "true" events as in US swimming, once you turn 13, you don't swim those. I think US swimming drops them as they are not contested in the olympics. But don't other countries continue to swim those events in ages 13 and beyond? (and 100 IM?)
I think the solution is to add them for the age groupers/college swimmers. This would decrease the negative perception that some have of these events, and maybe the US would compete better in these events at worlds/ world cup.
I've seen USA meets where the older kids swim the stroke 50s, including at Junior Nationals.
I think they should offer 50s more frequently. It would provide an opportunity for sprinters who don't want to train 10x a week in the pool. Perhaps it would help reduce the burnout/drop out rate as well.
I got 2 things out of the initial post: 50's of strokes are not worthwhile events because they are no longer offered to age groupers once you turn 11 (really 13), and that some kids can do well in 50's with poor technique.
Paul addressed the second point well, but I think many may get the message that 50's are not "true" events as in US swimming, once you turn 13, you don't swim those. I think US swimming drops them as they are not contested in the olympics. But don't other countries continue to swim those events in ages 13 and beyond? (and 100 IM?)
I think the solution is to add them for the age groupers/college swimmers. This would decrease the negative perception that some have of these events, and maybe the US would compete better in these events at worlds/ world cup.
I've seen USA meets where the older kids swim the stroke 50s, including at Junior Nationals.
I think they should offer 50s more frequently. It would provide an opportunity for sprinters who don't want to train 10x a week in the pool. Perhaps it would help reduce the burnout/drop out rate as well.
