Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?

[Anonymous]

Tech suit today won't make you fast tomorrow. It will probably make you slower because you won't have to do as much work to make times.

Why would you want to buy meaningless non-championship times?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

The OP wasn't asking about your kid, though. There's a wide range of swimming ability, and plenty of kids who work hard and take it seriously, even knowing they're not a "top" swimmer. If a kid works hard and wants a tech suit - and it won't break the bank - saying "you're too slow for a tech suit" is lousy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

The OP wasn't asking about your kid, though. There's a wide range of swimming ability, and plenty of kids who work hard and take it seriously, even knowing they're not a "top" swimmer. If a kid works hard and wants a tech suit - and it won't break the bank - saying "you're too slow for a tech suit" is lousy.

Tech suits will break the bank for most people, especially if they only use them a few times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

The OP wasn't asking about your kid, though. There's a wide range of swimming ability, and plenty of kids who work hard and take it seriously, even knowing they're not a "top" swimmer. If a kid works hard and wants a tech suit - and it won't break the bank - saying "you're too slow for a tech suit" is lousy.

Tech suits will break the bank for most people, especially if they only use them a few times.

I would. Given what it costs to swim competitively year round, the cost of a tech suit isn’t going to break the bank. Our team also has an 85.00 coupon that can be used for a tech suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tech suit today won't make you fast tomorrow. It will probably make you slower because you won't have to do as much work to make times.

Why would you want to buy meaningless non-championship times?

This makes no sense. My swimmer drops time every time they wear one so if they are close to a championship cut time the coach has them suit up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

The OP wasn't asking about your kid, though. There's a wide range of swimming ability, and plenty of kids who work hard and take it seriously, even knowing they're not a "top" swimmer. If a kid works hard and wants a tech suit - and it won't break the bank - saying "you're too slow for a tech suit" is lousy.

Tech suits will break the bank for most people, especially if they only use them a few times.

I would. Given what it costs to swim competitively year round, the cost of a tech suit isn’t going to break the bank. Our team also has an 85.00 coupon that can be used for a tech suit.

This. If you are already paying for club swim, a tech suit isn’t going to break the bank for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

The OP wasn't asking about your kid, though. There's a wide range of swimming ability, and plenty of kids who work hard and take it seriously, even knowing they're not a "top" swimmer. If a kid works hard and wants a tech suit - and it won't break the bank - saying "you're too slow for a tech suit" is lousy.

Tech suits will break the bank for most people, especially if they only use them a few times.

How much do you think club swim costs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

The OP wasn't asking about your kid, though. There's a wide range of swimming ability, and plenty of kids who work hard and take it seriously, even knowing they're not a "top" swimmer. If a kid works hard and wants a tech suit - and it won't break the bank - saying "you're too slow for a tech suit" is lousy.

Tech suits will break the bank for most people, especially if they only use them a few times.

I would. Given what it costs to swim competitively year round, the cost of a tech suit isn’t going to break the bank. Our team also has an 85.00 coupon that can be used for a tech suit.

Swim is far cheaper for us than the other activities our child is in so its all relative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Cleats/spikes are what, under $50, tech suits are $300-400+. It's for the very wealthy and for show. If you have a top swimmer, sure but for the rest of our average swimmers who swim for enjoyment vs. winning and college scholarships it's a waste of money. I cannot even imagine my kid asking for one as there are so many other things they'd prefer for that price.

The OP wasn't asking about your kid, though. There's a wide range of swimming ability, and plenty of kids who work hard and take it seriously, even knowing they're not a "top" swimmer. If a kid works hard and wants a tech suit - and it won't break the bank - saying "you're too slow for a tech suit" is lousy.

Tech suits will break the bank for most people, especially if they only use them a few times.

How much do you think club swim costs?

It's a few thousand for us, not including summer swim. But, ours are also in other expensive activities as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.

I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.

Ask your coach. They see your child swimming on the daily. I did not purchase one for my kid until, they explained why.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you buy an $80 online, not $500.

[Anonymous]

total depends on the kid and their goals and your disposable income. We all spend $$ on stuff others think is wasteful.

My own opinion, for a kid who only has one JO cut, there is probably a lot of technique that can be improved rather than buying a tech suit. But if you have the money/big holiday coming up, could be a very nice gift.

Now, if your kid has a sectionals cut, they will be the only kid at those meets without a tech suit, fwiw. Again probably don't need one, but much more common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:total depends on the kid and their goals and your disposable income. We all spend $$ on stuff others think is wasteful.

My own opinion, for a kid who only has one JO cut, there is probably a lot of technique that can be improved rather than buying a tech suit. But if you have the money/big holiday coming up, could be a very nice gift.

Now, if your kid has a sectionals cut, they will be the only kid at those meets without a tech suit, fwiw. Again probably don't need one, but much more common.

This is pretty sound advice. At a meet the other week in the 13&O there was like one kid in a tech suit, you don't see them in the first few meets. But as kids get close to qualifiers and such, you will see more of them.

Unless they are making sectionals/zones I would not get a tech suit yet.