Pull The Plug

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be controversial, but more should bow out sooner.

It is not controversial at all. Three groups exist:
1. Those who can
2. Those who can not
3. Those who think they can

Sadly, the third is the largest in all youth sports, and it is the third group that makes youth sports, including swimming, so painful to tolerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can understand this post. My kids are ok at swimming, they enjoy it and it's good exercise and they've made friends. However, it is insanely expensive. It's a huge financial sacrifice for our family, and not sure it's worth the ongoing financial burden for kids who are just ok at it. We have looked extensively for cheaper options, and other than RMSC, it's all so expensive. I dread telling my kids that we can't continue. I wish RMSC had more openings and wasn't so competitive, but it is what it is.

try RMSC Rockville site... people may say that's the most competitive site of RMSC, but they do take more swimmers... I've seen kids made that team with a variety level of skills...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your reasons for wanting them to be done. Are they no longer enjoying the sport but don’t know what else to do? Is it a team issue that switching teams would help solve? How old is the kid?

I just see no upside to it. The time commitment is extremely demanding given the returns at this point. I get it….teamwork, organization, friends but at what cost? There is no future where this gives back what has been given.

If your kid is on board, there are plenty of step down options at most clubs where they practice 2/3 times weekly and mostly swim with school teams.

This. We specifically picked my kids club team for this reason- it offers a wide range of commitment options for him as he ages (as low as a 1x week commitment). Some other top clubs in our area do not offer that- one such club does not offer anything less than a 4x week commitment once kids hit age 11.

[Anonymous]

They should have had a pull the plug desk at these mid season meets last weekend. DPs if your DC is 16/17 and makes no C Finals, or is unable attain a Sectionals cut, please do us a favor. Leave. Lane space is precious in the DMV. In the absence of reclassing, those who want to swim competitively need as much space as they can get. Dead weight is what it is. Useless. Help us help you. Period.

[Anonymous]

Can we go back to why why OP finds swim culture toxic? Can you elaborate OP?

[Anonymous]

Though I guess I may have answered my own question about toxic culture with the post right before mine about "deadweight." Jeez what a jerk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should have had a pull the plug desk at these mid season meets last weekend. DPs if your DC is 16/17 and makes no C Finals, or is unable attain a Sectionals cut, please do us a favor. Leave. Lane space is precious in the DMV. In the absence of reclassing, those who want to swim competitively need as much space as they can get. Dead weight is what it is. Useless. Help us help you. Period.

My kid is one of the slowest swimmers. You know what, I don't care what you think. They earned that spot and will continue till they graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have had a pull the plug desk at these mid season meets last weekend. DPs if your DC is 16/17 and makes no C Finals, or is unable attain a Sectionals cut, please do us a favor. Leave. Lane space is precious in the DMV. In the absence of reclassing, those who want to swim competitively need as much space as they can get. Dead weight is what it is. Useless. Help us help you. Period.

My kid is one of the slowest swimmers. You know what, I don't care what you think. They earned that spot and will continue till they graduate.

I don't mind swimmers of all abilities in the sport as long as they want to be there. The only thing that gets me a bit are swimmers skipping steps and signing up for things they're not ready for, slowing things down. (One example, swimmer had never done the 500, had a time ~3 minutes in the 200 and signed up for the thousand.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have had a pull the plug desk at these mid season meets last weekend. DPs if your DC is 16/17 and makes no C Finals, or is unable attain a Sectionals cut, please do us a favor. Leave. Lane space is precious in the DMV. In the absence of reclassing, those who want to swim competitively need as much space as they can get. Dead weight is what it is. Useless. Help us help you. Period.

My kid is one of the slowest swimmers. You know what, I don't care what you think. They earned that spot and will continue till they graduate.

I don't mind swimmers of all abilities in the sport as long as they want to be there. The only thing that gets me a bit are swimmers skipping steps and signing up for things they're not ready for, slowing things down. (One example, swimmer had never done the 500, had a time ~3 minutes in the 200 and signed up for the thousand.)

It's not for you to decide and why not? How is that a big deal? My slow swimmer can easily do a 500. We rarely do meets due to other activities but for HS swim they crush the 500. You don't know if they are skipping and and its a bit creepy you are monitoring other kids so carefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have had a pull the plug desk at these mid season meets last weekend. DPs if your DC is 16/17 and makes no C Finals, or is unable attain a Sectionals cut, please do us a favor. Leave. Lane space is precious in the DMV. In the absence of reclassing, those who want to swim competitively need as much space as they can get. Dead weight is what it is. Useless. Help us help you. Period.

My kid is one of the slowest swimmers. You know what, I don't care what you think. They earned that spot and will continue till they graduate.

I don't mind swimmers of all abilities in the sport as long as they want to be there. The only thing that gets me a bit are swimmers skipping steps and signing up for things they're not ready for, slowing things down. (One example, swimmer had never done the 500, had a time ~3 minutes in the 200 and signed up for the thousand.)

It's not for you to decide and why not? How is that a big deal? My slow swimmer can easily do a 500. We rarely do meets due to other activities but for HS swim they crush the 500. You don't know if they are skipping and and its a bit creepy you are monitoring other kids so carefully.

DP, I understand the point PP was making. Swim meets are an incredibly long slog as it is and it is crappy when a coach enters a kid in an event that they clearly are not ready for. If you take 3:00 to swim a 200, you should not be entered in the 1000 which will take you over 15 minutes to finish. That being said, it’s a great thing that swimmers of all abilities have the opportunity to compete in this area. I have to think the person who posted that non-sectional level teens should quit is trolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your reasons for wanting them to be done. Are they no longer enjoying the sport but don’t know what else to do? Is it a team issue that switching teams would help solve? How old is the kid?

I just see no upside to it. The time commitment is extremely demanding given the returns at this point. I get it….teamwork, organization, friends but at what cost? There is no future where this gives back what has been given.

People like you have taken the joy out of teen sports. I'm glad my kid is in college and swims with students that love to swim and no, they aren't breaking records. Shame you have sucked the joy out of an amazing, inclusive sport for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may be controversial, but more should bow out sooner.

It is not controversial at all. Three groups exist:
1. Those who can
2. Those who can not
3. Those who think they can

Sadly, the third is the largest in all youth sports, and it is the third group that makes youth sports, including swimming, so painful to tolerate.

The third group is who pays for the proportional coaching the first group receives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The third group is who pays for the proportional coaching the first group receives.

That is the business model to a t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never. DS swam club for 6y and never even made a B cut. He was always among the bottom 20 out of a field of 100s. But he enjoyed swimming, he had friends, he was active...

He is now active with his college club swim team. It is a great social outlet for him.

Sometimes we do things for the enjoyment. Not what they can do for us.

This sounds just like my oldest DS. Someone has to come in last place in races and my DS was often that kid. But he loved being part of his club team and made really great friends. So we kept paying and he would get up at 4:00am to practice three times a week. In high school, he was super busy so he only did a couple of meets instead of every month.

In high school, he became a "swimmer coach" on our NVSL summer team and a junior coach with NCAP. Then he joined his college club team and was able to get a part time job coaching with the local USA swim team. He became a certified coach and made really good money for a college student working 10 hours a week. DS is now in the working world and still swims for fitness. If you ask him today, he would tell you his club swim experience was his favorite activity and he doesn't regret anything about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have had a pull the plug desk at these mid season meets last weekend. DPs if your DC is 16/17 and makes no C Finals, or is unable attain a Sectionals cut, please do us a favor. Leave. Lane space is precious in the DMV. In the absence of reclassing, those who want to swim competitively need as much space as they can get. Dead weight is what it is. Useless. Help us help you. Period.

My kid is one of the slowest swimmers. You know what, I don't care what you think. They earned that spot and will continue till they graduate.

I don't mind swimmers of all abilities in the sport as long as they want to be there. The only thing that gets me a bit are swimmers skipping steps and signing up for things they're not ready for, slowing things down. (One example, swimmer had never done the 500, had a time ~3 minutes in the 200 and signed up for the thousand.)

It's not for you to decide and why not? How is that a big deal? My slow swimmer can easily do a 500. We rarely do meets due to other activities but for HS swim they crush the 500. You don't know if they are skipping and and its a bit creepy you are monitoring other kids so carefully.

DP, I understand the point PP was making. Swim meets are an incredibly long slog as it is and it is crappy when a coach enters a kid in an event that they clearly are not ready for. If you take 3:00 to swim a 200, you should not be entered in the 1000 which will take you over 15 minutes to finish. That being said, it’s a great thing that swimmers of all abilities have the opportunity to compete in this area. I have to think the person who posted that non-sectional level teens should quit is trolling.

Here is an idea, be supportive vs. be that parent talking in the stands making fun of the kids. Good for them if they try a 1000. Not everyone is there for competition and for a swim scholarship. Some are just doing it for fun and the accomplishments to trying.

Don't like it, don't watch. Simple.

Some kids are better distance swimmers than shorter, mine is.