Swimming has been ruined where I live. YOUNG kids swimming 6 days a week with extremely hard long yardage practices, getting up at 4:45 in the morning to practice, falling asleep in class, moving young kids into senior groups, taking thousands of dollars worth of private lessons, strength training for 12 year olds, never-ending seasons that roll into one-another and flying across the country in a pandemic to waste thousands of dollars at an "elite showcase" when the CDC is begging people not to travel unless it's essential. The sport is broken and the parents are OUT OF CONTROL. My kid is a good swimmer but enjoys other things too. This has created conflict with the coach who questions his commitment and has separated him from his other swimming friends because they are now a little faster and the coach feels they are more committed. Obviously swimmers who practice 6 days a week for years and take private lessons etc should go faster than the ones who don't, right? Is one a better swimmer than the other or does one just practice more? What is the end goal for all these coaches and parents pushing this much intensity? Such a bummer...I just don't get it. Thanks for your post, it is helpful to know I am not alone in these thoughts.
Swimming has been ruined where I live. YOUNG kids swimming 6 days a week with extremely hard long yardage practices, getting up at 4:45 in the morning to practice, falling asleep in class, moving young kids into senior groups, taking thousands of dollars worth of private lessons, strength training for 12 year olds, never-ending seasons that roll into one-another and flying across the country in a pandemic to waste thousands of dollars at an "elite showcase" when the CDC is begging people not to travel unless it's essential. The sport is broken and the parents are OUT OF CONTROL. My kid is a good swimmer but enjoys other things too. This has created conflict with the coach who questions his commitment and has separated him from his other swimming friends because they are now a little faster and the coach feels they are more committed. Obviously swimmers who practice 6 days a week for years and take private lessons etc should go faster than the ones who don't, right? Is one a better swimmer than the other or does one just practice more? What is the end goal for all these coaches and parents pushing this much intensity? Such a bummer...I just don't get it. Thanks for your post, it is helpful to know I am not alone in these thoughts.