Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we talking a 6 year old “swimming up” into 8u? Because that’s not really swimming up—there’s no 6u division at meets. Our kid swam up as a 6 year old because they happened to be really fast in one stroke and even won a points for the team. I’m sure it displaces an older kid but I don’t see a problem with it. If it’s an 8 year old swimming up into the 10s that’s different and would really suck for the 9/10 who got replaced.

no, it is the older boys and girls 11-18

It’s an interesting question. It’s not against the rules and I have to wonder if our team did this, if we’d be more competitive. We do have younger swimmers going faster in in younger age groups. But it wouldn’t sit right with the older parents IMO, especially if it’s not the difference between winning and losing a meet.

I think that this should only be done if it make a difference in winning and losing. And everyone will know if the meet scores are tight.

We are a small team in MCSL. My kid swims the 9-10 age group because she’s good and can get 4-6 points for coming in 1st or 2nd.
Her same aged friend doesn’t qualify for A meets in that age group. The 11-12 group doesn’t have enough swimmers so are swims up, it’s a way for her to still participate and earns a few ( minimal) points for the team.

Anonymous wrote:Our NVSL team swims up swimmers in A meets only to fill empty lanes (when there is no one in that age group to swim the event). We would never leave off a swimmer (absent some sort of discipline issue) to swim someone up from a younger age group.

As a former team rep, I am actually surprised that some teams do that as part of strategy to win, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I've been an NVSL team rep for a long time (and consider myself a card carrying crazy swim parent) and there would be a shit storm on our team if younger kids were allowed to bump older kids and swim up in A meets. Summer swim is supposed to be fun. The younger kids look up to the older kids. I wouldn't want older kids to stop participating because they are getting bumped out of meets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we talking a 6 year old “swimming up” into 8u? Because that’s not really swimming up—there’s no 6u division at meets. Our kid swam up as a 6 year old because they happened to be really fast in one stroke and even won a points for the team. I’m sure it displaces an older kid but I don’t see a problem with it. If it’s an 8 year old swimming up into the 10s that’s different and would really suck for the 9/10 who got replaced.

no, it is the older boys and girls 11-18

It’s an interesting question. It’s not against the rules and I have to wonder if our team did this, if we’d be more competitive. We do have younger swimmers going faster in in younger age groups. But it wouldn’t sit right with the older parents IMO, especially if it’s not the difference between winning and losing a meet.

Anonymous wrote:Are we talking a 6 year old “swimming up” into 8u? Because that’s not really swimming up—there’s no 6u division at meets. Our kid swam up as a 6 year old because they happened to be really fast in one stroke and even won a points for the team. I’m sure it displaces an older kid but I don’t see a problem with it. If it’s an 8 year old swimming up into the 10s that’s different and would really suck for the 9/10 who got replaced.

no, it is the older boys and girls 11-18

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m ok with it if the kid swimming up isn’t taking someone’s spot. If it’s to win points, even better. I don’t see who is hurt by this?

OP here, I have said previously, older kids get bumped. and we aren't talking about slow older kids, just slower. They wouldn't be getting blown out.

If the older kid could grab points, the same as the slightly faster younger kid - then I don't get it at all. There would be no real reason to do this besides favoritism. So older kid swims 50 free in 43 seconds and the younger kid swims it in 42 seconds - that would not make sense.

Now if the older kid was doing 50 free in 43 seconds, and the younger kids was swimming 50 free in 37 seconds - then it would completely make sense. Swim the younger kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m ok with it if the kid swimming up isn’t taking someone’s spot. If it’s to win points, even better. I don’t see who is hurt by this?

OP here, I have said previously, older kids get bumped. and we aren't talking about slow older kids, just slower. They wouldn't be getting blown out.

That stinks. I don’t think we have the luxury of that problem on our team.

Anonymous wrote:I’m ok with it if the kid swimming up isn’t taking someone’s spot. If it’s to win points, even better. I don’t see who is hurt by this?

OP here, I have said previously, older kids get bumped. and we aren't talking about slow older kids, just slower. They wouldn't be getting blown out.

Are we talking a 6 year old “swimming up” into 8u? Because that’s not really swimming up—there’s no 6u division at meets. Our kid swam up as a 6 year old because they happened to be really fast in one stroke and even won a points for the team. I’m sure it displaces an older kid but I don’t see a problem with it. If it’s an 8 year old swimming up into the 10s that’s different and would really suck for the 9/10 who got replaced.

Anonymous wrote:I’m ok with it if the kid swimming up isn’t taking someone’s spot. If it’s to win points, even better. I don’t see who is hurt by this?

Agree. Is the older kid in the meet still? Then it is okay.

I’m ok with it if the kid swimming up isn’t taking someone’s spot. If it’s to win points, even better. I don’t see who is hurt by this?

I think it's lousy for the bumped older swimmer. If coaches are trying to optimize points, it might be a matter of the older girl being a tenth of a second slower.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your team swim up kids in an older age group to win meets? Ours does regularly. We would win either way.

Just wondering.

Question If swimming up swimmers was the difference between winning and losing a tight meet - would it be okay then?

OP here, I dont' think it should be done. I think unless your team has holes, kids should swim their age. I understand it is my opinion.

I don't have an opinion on this. I see both sides. I get it is summer league, but it should also be about competition. Teams should try to win if they have the ability.

I could see swimming up younger swimmers might be tough on them and put a lot of pressure on certain swimmers. But if you have some talented swimmers you should try to challenge them too, and swimming against slower peers might not do it. But swimming them up might embarrass some slower older kids. But I would think that a slow older kid getting blown out in an A meet would do that as well.

I don't think that any kid should assume that they have a spot just because they are a warm body on any team. A lot of considerations here, and probably no right answer.