Swimmers tapper in December and then in March. They usually don’t drop in January and February meets (they are training, off event meets). PVS should release the times before all of the December meets start. |
Just to be clear, what age group are you specifically concerned about? |
My swimmer started tapering by 11/12 |
Thank you! This was informative! |
PVS Board meets tonight. They have the link up.
https://www.pvswim.org/meetings.html |
Most 11/12 kids that are on the fence for JO cuts aren’t tapering. Sometimes they improve consistently, sometimes they plateau, other times they improve at random when you least expect it. Last year for example several of my kids’ friends made big gains in January, after taking a long holiday break, to get their first JO times. They’re still kids, don’t overthink it. |
NP, here. Thanks to those with thoughtful adds. FWIW, cut times are an imperfect system and always out late due to factors mentioned by other poster (right-sizing meets). So, as a parent who has talked through cuts with my swimmer over the years, my advice is to think about which 6 events your kid may want to swim at a championship meet - that is usually the limit (though I recognize it is not always the case, so again, imperfect system). If your kid is well within the time standard, then forgo swimming that event. My kid often likes that approach bc they usually see a drop if they haven't swam the event in a while, which is a treat. If they are close and def want to swim that event, maybe keep trying. Also, think about length of the event. Times in shorter events are going likely not going to be adjusted by a lot bc there are more swimmers clustered at the same times (but a small adjustment may make a difference), where longer events may seem like the standard could shift a little more bc more deviation with times. FWIW, it is the less popular events where I can remember big shifts. Age group LC 200 fly for example has shifted around as much as any event I have seen bc so few kids swim it and PVS has moved the standard around to try and get the number of entries up. Again, imperfect system with different constraints and competing interests. Everyone is doing the best they can. |
http://www.pvswim.org/2324meet/2024-SC-14U-Champs-Qualifying-Times.pdf
The times in red are the ones that are different than last year. All the changes to the girls times were to make them ever so slightly easier, the changes to the boys times made them ever so slightly harder. |
As expected, changes are very limited. Unless your kid is aiming for two specific events in the 11-12 age group (100 free and 50 fly) or is a freestyler in the 13-14 age group last year's times still apply. Only two minor tweaks to the boys time standards, over all age groups and events. |
BUT changing the cut from 31.99 to 31.89 in 11-12 boys 50 fly means two kids who would have qualified last year now have to swim just a wee bit faster before March. Both are qualified in other events though, so either way it won't crash their dream of making it to the big party. |
Don't underestimate the power of an extended rest period. Practices 4x or 5x a week can take their toll over time. Hard practices 2-3 days before a meet can affect a swimmer's performance. It's better for swimmers to do light workouts, and possibly just stretching and/or dry land exercises, to give their bodies a chance to recover fully. |
Well this makes me feel slightly better going into meets next weekend. Kid took time off for Thanksgiving and has been sick. Hoping to get some practice in this week and next. |