Anonymous wrote:My personal annoyance threshold for 8 and unders and IM is that all their 25s added together shouldn't be over 2 minutes. They have no business signing up for a guaranteed 2+ minute IM during a B meet. It's not a super high bar.

I don’t think it works like that. My 8 year-old combined individual strokes is less than 2 mins. However, his IM is more than 2 mins. Just saying.

You should be more encouraging of little kids swimming this bigger kids event.

My personal annoyance threshold for 8 and unders and IM is that all their 25s added together shouldn't be over 2 minutes. They have no business signing up for a guaranteed 2+ minute IM during a B meet. It's not a super high bar.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, my kid is a year round swimmer and has done IMs many times in practice. As one pp noted, I don’t see many 8 and under in Event 1, 12&U IM. Maybe I should wait. Either way, we are going home early.

OP, we are in the same place and I’m letting my kid decide. I did tell him there will be much older and faster kids in the event but he doesn’t seem to care. He swims club year-round.

OP here. Yes, my kid is a year round swimmer and has done IMs many times in practice. As one pp noted, I don’t see many 8 and under in Event 1, 12&U IM. Maybe I should wait. Either way, we are going home early.

If you’re in a higher division pool and he’s swimming 3 events at an A meet it’s probably worth it to try IM at a B meet. Why not?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Here are some realistic check-points:

Is he a year-round swimmer?

Has he done 100 IM before?

Does he have all-star times in at least 2 of the 4 events?

If the answer is yes to at least 2 of the above questions and he actually wants to do it, then yes, see what the coach thinks.

Other than “has he done it before?” I don’t see how any of those are requirements. Can you explain?

These aren't requirements. Even "has he done it before" isn't a requirement... these are points of consideration as to readiness for 100IM. If you want to set the child up for success, then these are realistic aspects to consider as to whether or not they should try as an 8U.

But, if you want them to be possibly overwhelmed, frustrated and maybe even embarrassed by the experience, then just proceed blindly as you see fit.

My kids started swim young, so they had plenty of experiences as the youngest and slowest kids in their races. It was good for them to build their perseverance and character. Frustration and embarrassment are things I shield my kids from.

I think a kid should be able to swim an event pretty consistently in practice before signing up for it at a B meet, but otherwise if my 8 year old wanted to try I would 100% let them make that choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Here are some realistic check-points:

Is he a year-round swimmer?

Has he done 100 IM before?

Does he have all-star times in at least 2 of the 4 events?

If the answer is yes to at least 2 of the above questions and he actually wants to do it, then yes, see what the coach thinks.

Other than “has he done it before?” I don’t see how any of those are requirements. Can you explain?

These aren't requirements. Even "has he done it before" isn't a requirement... these are points of consideration as to readiness for 100IM. If you want to set the child up for success, then these are realistic aspects to consider as to whether or not they should try as an 8U.

But, if you want them to be possibly overwhelmed, frustrated and maybe even embarrassed by the experience, then just proceed blindly as you see fit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Here are some realistic check-points:

Is he a year-round swimmer?

Has he done 100 IM before?

Does he have all-star times in at least 2 of the 4 events?

If the answer is yes to at least 2 of the above questions and he actually wants to do it, then yes, see what the coach thinks.

Other than “has he done it before?” I don’t see how any of those are requirements. Can you explain?

NP, but since the youngest grouping for IM is 12 U, you generally do not see a lot of kids under the age of 10 swimming it unless they are year rounders that already have the endurance for it. The ability to sprint a 25 at age 8 doesn’t really correlate to doing a 100. That being said, OP if your kid wants to try it and the coach says he can (our coaches won’t let a kid try it until they feel the kid is ready for it) let him, especially since it’s the 1st event and won’t require you sitting around for 3 hours waiting.

Our team gives a "golden [mascot]" patch to the kids who legally swim all of the strokes during the season, so my 8 yo is hoping to try the 100m IM.

It would make sense to try on a light night when the swimmer doesn't have other races. My 8 yo is waiting until a bit later in the season when she's even more confident, but there's also no time like the present.

Anonymous wrote:

Here are some realistic check-points:

Is he a year-round swimmer?

Has he done 100 IM before?

Does he have all-star times in at least 2 of the 4 events?

If the answer is yes to at least 2 of the above questions and he actually wants to do it, then yes, see what the coach thinks.

Other than “has he done it before?” I don’t see how any of those are requirements. Can you explain?

My son always said yes to the IM at 8. It show cased his bravery and endurance. Very few little kids do it. Ask him what he wants to do!

Here are some realistic check-points:

Is he a year-round swimmer?

Has he done 100 IM before?

Does he have all-star times in at least 2 of the 4 events?

If the answer is yes to at least 2 of the above questions and he actually wants to do it, then yes, see what the coach thinks.

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a thought: ask your kid! Let them decide if and when to swim it. Mine has always preferred to swim it at an A meet if even if he’s already swam three events, because IM is after his bedtime at B meets. He is quite tired by the time it starts.

+1

In MCSL, IMs are first, so as long as the other event isn't fly, it could be an early night for him. I've told my kids that for A meets, they'll swim where their coaches need them, without complaint - but they weigh in on whether they want to swim B meets and for which events. Pushing kids too much over this kind of stuff can really take its toll.

Here’s a thought: ask your kid! Let them decide if and when to swim it. Mine has always preferred to swim it at an A meet if even if he’s already swam three events, because IM is after his bedtime at B meets. He is quite tired by the time it starts.

DS is swimming 3 events tomorrow at A meet and will only be swimming 1 event next week at B meet. He’s 8 and this is for MCSL. Should he swim IM at the B meet? He would be ridiculously slow compared to the older kids.