Divisionals really shows why the unfair birthday rule matters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/katie-ledecky-returns-to-her-summer-swim-league-to-sign-autographs--and-set-records/2014/07/05/023f7b54-0392-11e4-8fd0-3a663dfa68ac_story.html

The great thing about summer swim is that it is for everyone. But then parents go and ruin it by calculating kids ages down to the month and claiming an unfair advantage.

Katie Ledecky, Phoebe Bacon and Erin Gemmill have an unfair advantage over my kids - they are phenomenal swimmers. I seriously doubt their birthdate has anything to do with it.

Moral of the story - teach your kids that life isn't fair and to do the best with what gifts you do have.

So you admit the birthday rule is unfair.

I give up - if that’s your takeaway from my post you quoted, there is no hope for you. Life is not fair, this is a concept kids should learn early - work with what you got. I’ve got one kid that’s short - it hasn’t stopped them from succeeding in their chosen sports. They have played another sport for a coach with a clear height bias - I’m not sure my kid is even aware but if they do they don’t say anything and here’s the key WE AS PARENTS ARE NOT GOING TO POINT IT OUT OR WHINE ABOUT IT. We are trying to raise self sufficient adults who can hopefully be adults who contribute to society in a meaningful way. That’s the goal - not all stars.

You will undoubtedly be that parent calling the potential employer asking why they didn’t hire your 30 year old for some job, because clearly they are the most qualified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with a college swimmer returning to the summer league because they can for one more year. Turnabout is fair play, if it’s ok for club swimmers to swim in the summer rec league, the D1 swim can too. They meet the age requirements, so why not?

The problem with this entire issue is there are a bunch of parents who pay a boatload for their kids to swim year round and they expect for their kids to crush summer rec swim - having had the advantage of hours in the pool and good coaching throughout the winter. Then they get mad that some kid who also does all those things too (or is just simply a summer swimmer who happens to be a strong athlete) benefits from the birthday cutoff - never recognizing or acknowledging the hypocrisy that their kid has a huge advantage over a large portion of the summer rec swim population because they choose to do club swim and can afford it.

The advantage created by a summer birthday is nothing compared to that created by club swimming.

Exactly! My son has an early fall birthday so in theory the birthday rule favors him. He has done summer swim for several years now, and last year he didn’t even bother competing at meets because all the year-round swimmers won everything year after year. Summer swim stopped being fun. This year we changed clubs, and went to a more relaxed lower level club. He enjoyed swimming again. He made it to all stars, where he got crushed by year round swimmers. At first he was upset, but we explained that to make it to all stars when he’s not a year-round swimmer is amazing and he should be proud of himself.

Yes, the summer swim birthday rule helps your son. It is absurd to say, however, that it is similar to your son being disadvantaged when he swims against club swimmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with a college swimmer returning to the summer league because they can for one more year. Turnabout is fair play, if it’s ok for club swimmers to swim in the summer rec league, the D1 swim can too. They meet the age requirements, so why not?

The problem with this entire issue is there are a bunch of parents who pay a boatload for their kids to swim year round and they expect for their kids to crush summer rec swim - having had the advantage of hours in the pool and good coaching throughout the winter. Then they get mad that some kid who also does all those things too (or is just simply a summer swimmer who happens to be a strong athlete) benefits from the birthday cutoff - never recognizing or acknowledging the hypocrisy that their kid has a huge advantage over a large portion of the summer rec swim population because they choose to do club swim and can afford it.

The advantage created by a summer birthday is nothing compared to that created by club swimming.

Exactly! My son has an early fall birthday so in theory the birthday rule favors him. He has done summer swim for several years now, and last year he didn’t even bother competing at meets because all the year-round swimmers won everything year after year. Summer swim stopped being fun. This year we changed clubs, and went to a more relaxed lower level club. He enjoyed swimming again. He made it to all stars, where he got crushed by year round swimmers. At first he was upset, but we explained that to make it to all stars when he’s not a year-round swimmer is amazing and he should be proud of himself.

I’m thinking you mean he made it to divisionals. All stars is tomorrow so he hasn’t had the opportunity to be ‘crushed’ yet.

All Stars was last week in our league. This weekend is mid-caps. Hint - different leagues do all stars at different times.

I always find it bizarre when someone enters a thread that is primarily about something local- e.g. NVSL, then answers as if they are talking about the same thing- and when pressed for how their answer doesn't make sense, responds in a sarcastic manner in some variation of 'there are other places in the world.' No idea what mid-caps means- I don't think your experience is representative of what we are really talking about here b/c you are using words in a totally different way.

Not only is NVSL not the only swim league in the area it’s not the only large swim league in the area. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Winner of three events at all stars today: college swimmer back to swim rec swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Winner of three events at all stars today: college swimmer back to swim rec swim.

Winner of Girls 11-12 50 Back: Just turned 12. Had the fastest 50 Back girls time in the entire meet. Beat 13-14 and 15-18 winners. Would have gotten 9th in 13-14 Boys. (Won Girls 11-12 Free too.) Also, currently #1 in the **entire U.S.** in 50 Back SCY and 100 Back SCY, and #2 in the **entire U.S.** in 50 Back LCM. Also top ten in entire U.S. in almost everything else.
Stop talking about age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Winner of three events at all stars today: college swimmer back to swim rec swim.

Winner of Girls 11-12 50 Back: Just turned 12. Had the fastest 50 Back girls time in the entire meet. Beat 13-14 and 15-18 winners. Would have gotten 9th in 13-14 Boys. (Won Girls 11-12 Free too.) Also, currently #1 in the **entire U.S.** in 50 Back SCY and 100 Back SCY, and #2 in the **entire U.S.** in 50 Back LCM. Also top ten in entire U.S. in almost everything else.
Stop talking about age.

Yep, and the girl who got 2nd in that event doesn’t even swim club, is a young 12, and her converted time would put her around top 100 in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

What All Stars are you talking about where you can swim 3 events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What All Stars are you talking about where you can swim 3 events?

CSL can, but none of the 15-18 boy winners are college swimmers. The one 15-18 boy who won three events is not in college (he just graduated from high school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Winner of three events at all stars today: college swimmer back to swim rec swim.

Many of the fastest 15-18 swimmers didn’t swim all stars yesterday due to Futures taking place the same weekend. The 15-18 races were therefore not a good data point for this silly argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Winner of three events at all stars today: college swimmer back to swim rec swim.

Winner of Girls 11-12 50 Back: Just turned 12. Had the fastest 50 Back girls time in the entire meet. Beat 13-14 and 15-18 winners. Would have gotten 9th in 13-14 Boys. (Won Girls 11-12 Free too.) Also, currently #1 in the **entire U.S.** in 50 Back SCY and 100 Back SCY, and #2 in the **entire U.S.** in 50 Back LCM. Also top ten in entire U.S. in almost everything else.
Stop talking about age.

NP. I mean this kindly - you are way too invested in summer swim. It is a kids sport - a rec one at that. Focus your energies on upcoming zones or something.

[Anonymous]

Interesting data point: in MCSL today, in girls 13-14, free, back, breast and fly were won by 13 year olds. For sure some 14s at futures but these girls threw down some good times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with a college swimmer returning to the summer league because they can for one more year. Turnabout is fair play, if it’s ok for club swimmers to swim in the summer rec league, the D1 swim can too. They meet the age requirements, so why not?

The problem with this entire issue is there are a bunch of parents who pay a boatload for their kids to swim year round and they expect for their kids to crush summer rec swim - having had the advantage of hours in the pool and good coaching throughout the winter. Then they get mad that some kid who also does all those things too (or is just simply a summer swimmer who happens to be a strong athlete) benefits from the birthday cutoff - never recognizing or acknowledging the hypocrisy that their kid has a huge advantage over a large portion of the summer rec swim population because they choose to do club swim and can afford it.

The advantage created by a summer birthday is nothing compared to that created by club swimming.

Exactly! My son has an early fall birthday so in theory the birthday rule favors him. He has done summer swim for several years now, and last year he didn’t even bother competing at meets because all the year-round swimmers won everything year after year. Summer swim stopped being fun. This year we changed clubs, and went to a more relaxed lower level club. He enjoyed swimming again. He made it to all stars, where he got crushed by year round swimmers. At first he was upset, but we explained that to make it to all stars when he’s not a year-round swimmer is amazing and he should be proud of himself.

I’m thinking you mean he made it to divisionals. All stars is tomorrow so he hasn’t had the opportunity to be ‘crushed’ yet.

All Stars was last week in our league. This weekend is mid-caps. Hint - different leagues do all stars at different times.

I always find it bizarre when someone enters a thread that is primarily about something local- e.g. NVSL, then answers as if they are talking about the same thing- and when pressed for how their answer doesn't make sense, responds in a sarcastic manner in some variation of 'there are other places in the world.' No idea what mid-caps means- I don't think your experience is representative of what we are really talking about here b/c you are using words in a totally different way.

I find a bizarre that you find it bizarre that someone participates in a thread about swimming and the title that thread did not include the name of the league. That means it’s open to anybody to comment about their experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with a college swimmer returning to the summer league because they can for one more year. Turnabout is fair play, if it’s ok for club swimmers to swim in the summer rec league, the D1 swim can too. They meet the age requirements, so why not?

The problem with this entire issue is there are a bunch of parents who pay a boatload for their kids to swim year round and they expect for their kids to crush summer rec swim - having had the advantage of hours in the pool and good coaching throughout the winter. Then they get mad that some kid who also does all those things too (or is just simply a summer swimmer who happens to be a strong athlete) benefits from the birthday cutoff - never recognizing or acknowledging the hypocrisy that their kid has a huge advantage over a large portion of the summer rec swim population because they choose to do club swim and can afford it.

The advantage created by a summer birthday is nothing compared to that created by club swimming.

Exactly! My son has an early fall birthday so in theory the birthday rule favors him. He has done summer swim for several years now, and last year he didn’t even bother competing at meets because all the year-round swimmers won everything year after year. Summer swim stopped being fun. This year we changed clubs, and went to a more relaxed lower level club. He enjoyed swimming again. He made it to all stars, where he got crushed by year round swimmers. At first he was upset, but we explained that to make it to all stars when he’s not a year-round swimmer is amazing and he should be proud of himself.

I’m thinking you mean he made it to divisionals. All stars is tomorrow so he hasn’t had the opportunity to be ‘crushed’ yet.

All Stars was last week in our league. This weekend is mid-caps. Hint - different leagues do all stars at different times.

I always find it bizarre when someone enters a thread that is primarily about something local- e.g. NVSL, then answers as if they are talking about the same thing- and when pressed for how their answer doesn't make sense, responds in a sarcastic manner in some variation of 'there are other places in the world.' No idea what mid-caps means- I don't think your experience is representative of what we are really talking about here b/c you are using words in a totally different way.

I find a bizarre that you find it bizarre that someone participates in a thread about swimming and the title that thread did not include the name of the league. That means it’s open to anybody to comment about their experience.

I think you are being purposely obtuse. The thread states that the OP made their observation at Divisionals - which occurred the weekend the post was made. Do all regional leagues have a meet called Divisionals the same weekend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with a college swimmer returning to the summer league because they can for one more year. Turnabout is fair play, if it’s ok for club swimmers to swim in the summer rec league, the D1 swim can too. They meet the age requirements, so why not?

The problem with this entire issue is there are a bunch of parents who pay a boatload for their kids to swim year round and they expect for their kids to crush summer rec swim - having had the advantage of hours in the pool and good coaching throughout the winter. Then they get mad that some kid who also does all those things too (or is just simply a summer swimmer who happens to be a strong athlete) benefits from the birthday cutoff - never recognizing or acknowledging the hypocrisy that their kid has a huge advantage over a large portion of the summer rec swim population because they choose to do club swim and can afford it.

The advantage created by a summer birthday is nothing compared to that created by club swimming.

Exactly! My son has an early fall birthday so in theory the birthday rule favors him. He has done summer swim for several years now, and last year he didn’t even bother competing at meets because all the year-round swimmers won everything year after year. Summer swim stopped being fun. This year we changed clubs, and went to a more relaxed lower level club. He enjoyed swimming again. He made it to all stars, where he got crushed by year round swimmers. At first he was upset, but we explained that to make it to all stars when he’s not a year-round swimmer is amazing and he should be proud of himself.

I’m thinking you mean he made it to divisionals. All stars is tomorrow so he hasn’t had the opportunity to be ‘crushed’ yet.

All Stars was last week in our league. This weekend is mid-caps. Hint - different leagues do all stars at different times.

I always find it bizarre when someone enters a thread that is primarily about something local- e.g. NVSL, then answers as if they are talking about the same thing- and when pressed for how their answer doesn't make sense, responds in a sarcastic manner in some variation of 'there are other places in the world.' No idea what mid-caps means- I don't think your experience is representative of what we are really talking about here b/c you are using words in a totally different way.

I find a bizarre that you find it bizarre that someone participates in a thread about swimming and the title that thread did not include the name of the league. That means it’s open to anybody to comment about their experience.

I think you are being purposely obtuse. The thread states that the OP made their observation at Divisionals - which occurred the weekend the post was made. Do all regional leagues have a meet called Divisionals the same weekend?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

lol NVSL people think they’re the center of the universe.