Anonymous
Post 03/28/2023 13:27     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
For every swim parent who pores over psych sheets, there are an equal number of parents who drop off and don’t attend the meets, parents who alway manage to miss their kids’ events, parents who mean well but take a video of the wrong kid (this has been me more than once), and parents who watch their kids and that’s it. Now that my kids are older and not the youngest age group anymore, I try to volunteer at one session per meet. It makes the time pass quickly and I’m kind of making up for the times when I couldn’t volunteer as much due to having a toddler around, etc.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2023 12:52     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
I print Meet sheets and follow times of all the kids I know. I can’t imagine how boring swim meets are if you didn’t find that fun and interesting.

But I volunteer at a lot of them, because even doing that, they can still get pretty boring.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2023 04:26     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was once waiting for my child who swims year-round team and a group of moms had a printed-out list of all the kids, their time, and comparing/criticizing them. It was so sad.

I'm just excited when my kid doesn't come in last. They like swimming and that's all that matters to me.


This seems like an odd story. I can’t think of anyone who would have a print out of results.


I’m assuming this was a psych sheet or heat sheet, coaches email them out to parents before the meet. They are usually cumbersome to print out because they can be long, but I’ve seen plenty of parents, especially parents of newer swimmers, print them out. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear parents discussing times, but it’s usually like “oh sally is here, she is so good at backstroke” etc etc.


This makes sense. This discussion can be completely normal, depending how it happened. For example:

Mom 1: look at Cal, seeded fifteenth?!
Mom 2: he’ll kill it in his heat. It’s an old time and he’s had a great year so far.

Mom 1: poor cal seeded first.
Mom 2: I know. It’s a great time but it’s an old time and he’s still easing back in from shoulder surgery.

Mom 1: ugh my kid is in the second fastest heat! I think he’s the only one who has done it this year, so his time is new and everyone else’s is old.

Mom 1: Poor Cal- he’s been chasing his best 100 fly time for two years. His mom said he hates it because he’s slower that that by a few seconds and keep getting creamed in his heats.

Anonymous
Post 03/28/2023 01:31     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
From our private, one boy had a guaranteed slot at Princeton from Junior year, or possibly even earlier due to swimming.

By the way, being recruitable for Div 3 is nothing to sneer at in swimming or any other sport. It is hugely reassuring to know that you have an inside track to Tufts or Vassar or Johns Hopkins due to the coach's endorsement, even if you are not a Div 1 recruit to an Ivy.

My kids had Div 3 opportunities, thought then eventually chose to go to to other schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2023 01:01     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was once waiting for my child who swims year-round team and a group of moms had a printed-out list of all the kids, their time, and comparing/criticizing them. It was so sad.

I'm just excited when my kid doesn't come in last. They like swimming and that's all that matters to me.


This seems like an odd story. I can’t think of anyone who would have a print out of results.


I’m assuming this was a psych sheet or heat sheet, coaches email them out to parents before the meet. They are usually cumbersome to print out because they can be long, but I’ve seen plenty of parents, especially parents of newer swimmers, print them out. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear parents discussing times, but it’s usually like “oh sally is here, she is so good at backstroke” etc etc.


Agree, pp hasn't been around swim and posted a big nothingburger.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2023 20:05     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was once waiting for my child who swims year-round team and a group of moms had a printed-out list of all the kids, their time, and comparing/criticizing them. It was so sad.

I'm just excited when my kid doesn't come in last. They like swimming and that's all that matters to me.


This seems like an odd story. I can’t think of anyone who would have a print out of results.


I’m assuming this was a psych sheet or heat sheet, coaches email them out to parents before the meet. They are usually cumbersome to print out because they can be long, but I’ve seen plenty of parents, especially parents of newer swimmers, print them out. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear parents discussing times, but it’s usually like “oh sally is here, she is so good at backstroke” etc etc.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2023 18:59     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:I was once waiting for my child who swims year-round team and a group of moms had a printed-out list of all the kids, their time, and comparing/criticizing them. It was so sad.

I'm just excited when my kid doesn't come in last. They like swimming and that's all that matters to me.


This seems like an odd story. I can’t think of anyone who would have a print out of results.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2023 14:42     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:This meet is so interesting!

1. The 11-12 boys age group, in general, is a hot mess. The boys who hit puberty early are comically bigger and stronger than the ones who don't, especially the tiny 11 year olds who were just 10 a month ago and are in elementary school. I think if you have a boy who is on the later side to puberty, just don't worry because they will get crushed, but it starts to even out later.

2. So many champion 10u from a few years ago are nowhere to be found now in the finals. They are still at the meet, so obviously very good, but they are, for the most part, just somewhere in the pack (some making finals and some not). Others who were still very good as 10u but not top 8, are now top 8 in all their best events. Interesting. (We've been going to this meet for many years so have become familiar with so many kids from teams around the country.)

3. The 13-14 girls age group is generally weak from many teams because the fastest girls at this age are already qualified for and attending NCSA junior nationals instead of age groups.

4. This meet is generally a celebration of the kids with spring/summer birthdays. My own kid benefits from this and has made finals in everything because he is 12 about to turn 13. His friend who turned 13 in February is an amazing swimmer (still qualified as a 13 year old when he was 12) and is here but getting crushed and basically finishing at the bottom. These two are less than 2 months apart in age.

5. Many, many very good teams do not attend this meet at all, so the "national champions" at this meet are amazing talented swimmers but not first in the nation by a long shot.

Anyway, those are some observations from a swim parent from across the years (I have 3 swimmers and here with my middle and youngest). Not a question just something to share!



Some of this is just the current lay of the land, so to speak. We are currently boy-heavy at our club. Our large, prominent club had exactly 2 14yo girls at junior nationals, and still only a handful at age groups. Our club happens to have a wealth of fast 14yo boys. Some of it also depends, at least at our club, if the 14yos are 8th or 9th graders. This impacts which training group they are in and which meets they attend.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 21:52     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is honestly creepy to care about and compare other people’s kids this much, in any sport and at any level.


Have you ever heard of competitive swimming? It’s literally a comparison of times.


And why exactly does a PARENT need to be so involved in comparing times that they are posting on an online forum? I would get a million dollars that neither Katie Ledecky’s parents nor Michael Phelps’ mother ever engaged in such behavior. I’m guessing they got their kids to practices, chères for them at meets, and let coaches worry about the rest. Parents like OP drive their children out of the sport because. Kids are not dumb and something that was wrong now their thing can turn I to something they’re doing to avoid their parents’ disappointment very quickly. I can’t imagine being a coach on this area and in this era of youth sports. Parents need to back waaaay off. This behavior is so much more likely to hurt than help.


They are the ones who refuse to save for college and expect their kids to get full scholarships.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 21:51     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
I was once waiting for my child who swims year-round team and a group of moms had a printed-out list of all the kids, their time, and comparing/criticizing them. It was so sad.

I'm just excited when my kid doesn't come in last. They like swimming and that's all that matters to me.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 21:47     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
As a former competitive swimmer, let me tell you OP that you are definitely That Mom, and the swimmers definitely catch on to it, and make fun of you and are weirded out by you. You’re not doing your kids any favors, believe me. Your reputation as That Mom will carry over onto them if you’re not careful.

It’s one thing when you come over to see your parents and someone else’s mom says, “Great job, Sarah!” Or “Hey, what’s your next event today?” It’s another thing when That Mom makes a pouty face and says, “Awwww, that’s OK Sarah, you’ll get your time down next time” or “Do you know why Coach chose Madison for the relay instead of you?” We knew you and clocked your type from a very young age. Trust and believe. You are fooling exactly no one.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 21:42     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is honestly creepy to care about and compare other people’s kids this much, in any sport and at any level.


Have you ever heard of competitive swimming? It’s literally a comparison of times.


And why exactly does a PARENT need to be so involved in comparing times that they are posting on an online forum? I would bet a million dollars that neither Katie Ledecky’s parents nor Michael Phelps’ mother ever engaged in such behavior. I’m guessing they got their kids to practices, cheered for them at meets, and let coaches worry about the rest. Parents like OP drive their children out of the sport. Kids are not dumb and something that was once their thing can turn into something they’re doing to avoid their parents’ disappointment very quickly. I can’t imagine being a coach in this area and in this era of youth sports. Parents need to back waaaay off. This behavior is so much more likely to hurt than help.


Sorry for typos fixed them above


Swim parents with phones are the worst. They love to compare their kid to others. As an older parent, my advice is to stay away from the parents I. The stands and support your kids by volunteering to time.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 20:57     Subject: Re:Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:A few days ago I was looking at the 2009 age group championships and checked to see what happened to the 11-12 girls in the A finals of a few events. A few girls peaked at that meet. A few quit swimming. Of those that continued to swim they mostly went to Division 3 colleges. Only one girl continued to improve dramatically and made it to the Olympic trials. That girl was Katie Ledecky and obviously she made it not just to the Olympic trials, but the Olympics and record books.


NCSA AGE GROUP CHAMPS started in 2016, is this PVS CHAMPS? Not really an appropriate comparison for what comes of the 12yos.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 20:49     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is honestly creepy to care about and compare other people’s kids this much, in any sport and at any level.


Have you ever heard of competitive swimming? It’s literally a comparison of times.


And why exactly does a PARENT need to be so involved in comparing times that they are posting on an online forum? I would bet a million dollars that neither Katie Ledecky’s parents nor Michael Phelps’ mother ever engaged in such behavior. I’m guessing they got their kids to practices, cheered for them at meets, and let coaches worry about the rest. Parents like OP drive their children out of the sport. Kids are not dumb and something that was once their thing can turn into something they’re doing to avoid their parents’ disappointment very quickly. I can’t imagine being a coach in this area and in this era of youth sports. Parents need to back waaaay off. This behavior is so much more likely to hurt than help.


Sorry for typos fixed them above
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2023 20:47     Subject: Swimming observations from national age group championships
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is honestly creepy to care about and compare other people’s kids this much, in any sport and at any level.


Have you ever heard of competitive swimming? It’s literally a comparison of times.


And why exactly does a PARENT need to be so involved in comparing times that they are posting on an online forum? I would get a million dollars that neither Katie Ledecky’s parents nor Michael Phelps’ mother ever engaged in such behavior. I’m guessing they got their kids to practices, chères for them at meets, and let coaches worry about the rest. Parents like OP drive their children out of the sport because. Kids are not dumb and something that was wrong now their thing can turn I to something they’re doing to avoid their parents’ disappointment very quickly. I can’t imagine being a coach on this area and in this era of youth sports. Parents need to back waaaay off. This behavior is so much more likely to hurt than help.