UGH. What an awful response. My kids started swimming in summer league (like more kids) at age 7. For my son he was terrified. There weren't many boys so he was asked to swim in an A meet on the relay team. He was a SHY introvert. But racing and bettering his times changed him, he loved it. Every time he got in the pool he just wanted to hit the wall first and beat his time. He wasn't like that for soccer or basketball. Those sports made him neurotic. But, swimming was his jam. If something happened and he didn't get a time because of an error, it would devastate him. I am by no means a tiger mom about this, this is him. His sister spent the first few years just having fun and goofing off. But, last real season, she suddenly got the I want to beat my times bug. It is a thing. |
| Having read this whole thread, but I was going to suggest to our NVSL pool that we use 2 people from the same household as best we can for timing. Husband/wife; older sister/parent. This would allow for two timers. I know it may not always work out, but I think we could do it most of the time. |
| *Not having read this whole thread... |
| Maybe it is time for teams to invest in touch pads. Sure it’s 1K a lane but a 6K expense that you could use for yrs would be worth it. We have them for the big NVSL meets. |
Even so, isn't just one timer better than no swim meet at all? Everyone needs to be flexible. I don't see the big deal even IF there is some bizarrre occurrence and the timer misses the time for ONE swim...ok? what difference does it make in the long run? Its nothing like not keeping score in other sports, b/c there is a timer. |
| Missing one time is more like....your kid's one basketball goal not counting b/c a foul is called on his teammate. Not like not scoring the entire game! |
Like all-stars? It only uses timers, no touch pads. Which meet uses pads? |
How can teams do that now? Membership will likely be down this season and it isn’t like we can increase fees significantly while offering a lot less or a whole lot of unknown (will there be b meets? Will there be sufficient space and rules in place for a mini swim team, etc). |
Many teams (I'd guess most) can't afford to buy those touch pads. Some clubs will be happy to just survive the year financially. Don't you need gutters at the edge from which to hang them? |
Except there are only so many meets and it is a very intense season. Missing a time is a big deal. And some kids only swim in one or two A meets during the season. |
I agree that most pools will be struggling this year. |
That does depend on where you swim. I’ve never felt it is intense and our swimmers can pretty much swim in each A meet if they are available. Heck, sometimes we are asking neighbor kids who are members of the club if they will fill a spot for at least that Saturday. |
| The only people who care are the kids who are gunning for all-star times and pool records and those kid’s parents who take swimming too seriously |
What team are you on? I actually know people that would like to join a pool with a team like that. |
Not true. We are are a family of swimmers. We also run and play a few other sports. EVERY sport or event we do we try to do better. Applies to academics as well. I want my kids to do their best. Swimming is great because doing your best is very personal and means beating your time. |