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:
Parents
Former Member
Wow! Never did I expect to get such a hostile response from so many people. Zen! Do many young swimmers swim 50s? Undeniably, yes. Do swimmers swim 50s (other than free) between 13-18? No. Do many masters swimmers revert to 50s and forego most 100s and 200s? Yes. These are all true statements, so why is this such a sensitive issue? Even some of the people who were the most aggressive in their responses were in violent agreement with me. Many times, there are young swimmers who have poor technique and muscle through 50s, but cannot repeat that success in 100s or 200s.
Many people who race 50s in masters meets swim their workouts with the 50 races in mind. Got it. I've been a swimmer and a coach for over 40 years. I've got two kids. One has been in the finals at my state's USA Swimming State Championships. She made the finals in 3 events. 50 back, 50 *** and 50 fly. My other kid is a zone swimmer in one event. 50 free. I love 50s. They are fun.
But even last weekend I was at an invitational. A boy on my kids' team who hasn't been to a workout in months swam a zone time in a 50. The first thing he said to the coach was, "See!? I don't have to practice to swim fast!" Guaranteed that he couldn't do the same in the 400IM without going to practice.
Wow! Never did I expect to get such a hostile response from so many people. Zen! Do many young swimmers swim 50s? Undeniably, yes. Do swimmers swim 50s (other than free) between 13-18? No. Do many masters swimmers revert to 50s and forego most 100s and 200s? Yes. These are all true statements, so why is this such a sensitive issue? Even some of the people who were the most aggressive in their responses were in violent agreement with me. Many times, there are young swimmers who have poor technique and muscle through 50s, but cannot repeat that success in 100s or 200s.
Many people who race 50s in masters meets swim their workouts with the 50 races in mind. Got it. I've been a swimmer and a coach for over 40 years. I've got two kids. One has been in the finals at my state's USA Swimming State Championships. She made the finals in 3 events. 50 back, 50 *** and 50 fly. My other kid is a zone swimmer in one event. 50 free. I love 50s. They are fun.
But even last weekend I was at an invitational. A boy on my kids' team who hasn't been to a workout in months swam a zone time in a 50. The first thing he said to the coach was, "See!? I don't have to practice to swim fast!" Guaranteed that he couldn't do the same in the 400IM without going to practice.
