Poolside Chat - parents of competitive swimmers continued

[Glittertwins]

Getting a bit close to the end of the previous one!

It was well run but there not as many swimmers as possibly predicted. The original entry times were very fast and they were dropped significantly. It's also outside of summer nationals window so not an event people would expect to perform at but I think the biggest problem was the huge time gap between end of heats session and the finals - there were large numbers of finals drop outs and simply no shows at the final which to me is worse especially when it leaves one swimmer by themselves. I know they wanted it as a big pro meet but relying on things online made it harder for parents to see what was going on regarding finals.
That said, the atmosphere was good, the top swimmers who were there were absolutely fab with photos and autographs, such nice and chatty people.

I think it's a shame more wasn't done to incorporate para swimming. Although they accepted entries from para swimmers the conditions weren't clear and there weren't any qualifying times which would reflect classifications.

It would be great to get the British para swimmers in and get other para swimmers racing them.

Ds would have been up for that!!!

Para swimmers had to meet the times, no dispensation at all - they could have done better there. Brock Whiston had an amazing 200m breaststroke heat and final. Broke the SB9 record in the heat and smashed it in the final

I read it like that too about qualifying times.

That's great she broke the BR.

Ds would love to break the 100 free one.

But it's 56.2 and his on is 58.2. That's a lot of time in swimming 🫣🤣🤷‍♀️

He's got time to do it, it's still very possible

It does seem a shame they couldn’t have done more to encourage more para entries by adapting the times, it could have been a great opportunity like the Commonwealth games where the para events were mixed in

Plenty of event and time space to do it

Agree.

It's getting so much better inclusivity wise though which is a positive.

Swim England now do integrated programmes.

Winter regionals had para swimming and masters nationals for the first time this year

I just hope that the private events start to include it more to somehow. Even if they do multi classification. But absolutely they need to do some adjustments for entry times even if that's based on para points and the points are higher level.

My ds just about gets the freestyle qualifying times for level 1 competitions as an S9 swimmer. The lower classifications wouldn't stand a chance. But they would if they said the equivalent para points for our AB entry time is 650+.

Sorry - just having a moan!!!!

I think that's a really good idea to have the para classification points as the qualifier rather than the time. If I get sent a feedback form I shall add that (and anything else you might want adding)

Incidentally he would have made the QT for the 100m free as the times got well and truly relaxed.

They definitely should do something based on para points. We went to a level 1 meet that had a number of para swimmers at so I assume they must have done that as I don’t think they would have met the standard entry times, and our regionals also included para swimmers.

A lot of meets accept them at discretion of club.

But yes using para points is a good way to do it. We certainly look at points etc when running level 1s because these are regional/ national standard swimming times.

I would be good to have an accepted standard formula used by all clubs rather than "discretion".

I

Counties and regionals etc generally use the table that's floating around with different times for different level events for different classifications.

British Champs now all entered. Might see you there @itsgettingweird as we're there the whole week.

We're not at British this year.

But glad you've managed to get ds entered. Best of luck to him.

That's a shame

Ds swimming at worlds (hopefully as still waiting for confirmation of wild card)

Unfortunately he's just off individual qualifying time but it's a step in the right direction!

Ooh, that's a much better development, fingers crossed he makes it!

It'll be part of the relay team. So still swimming 100m free!!!!!

We've had his request for hat type and race suit size and style so hopefully that's a good sign 🫣🤣

More race stuff - he's saving you a fortune 😆

Yeah I did say I'm not sure they'll send new stuff again but there are specific hats for these champs.

He only has 1 pair of legs 🤣🤣

New set every time from what I've seen.

Ooh well done to both Not So Mini Weird and Mini Glitter (sorry not sure if he is mini or not)

DS swam an open water event again today came 2nd despite the weeds trying their best to drag him under and he was the only child in the race! Got an awful rash now though so full of anti histamines and ice cream so hopefully that does the trick.

Well done to him in beating so many adults. Hope the rash dies down soon though!
You are right, he's not so mini now. He's finally taller than me, something he takes great fun in lording over too!!

Wow - amazing 🤩

I'm imaging the scene from Harry Potter with the underwater plants 🫣🤣

The way DS tells it that is almost 100% exactly what happened 🤣