Scottish Age Groups

[Off His Block]

Heard on the grapevine that Scottish Age Groups will now be changed to age on day instead of age as at 31st Dec. Anybody Know anything about this? Personally I think this is a lot fairer to swimmers with birthdays late in the year.

[lane4]

You are correct! It will be age on the first day of the meet. However, I sort of feel that with double age bands it seems to defeat the object of age on the day. Age on the day will be okay though providing the date of the meet stays the same every year and we do it every year from now on. If your birthday comes around about the dates of the meet and the dates change earlier or later you could end up swimming in the same age group for 2 years running or missing out an age group altogether. We will see what happens I guess? What really gets me though is the price of a swim at Scottish National events: £6.50. They are killing the sport with this and I know from very good sources that they do not need to charge as much as this, especially at Toll Cross. Much of it is a money grabbing exercise.

[Off His Block]

Thanks for confirming that it will be age on day, and I agree double age groups do not help. We should be giving every assistance and encouragement to our young age group swimmers. However, I feel 'age on day' of competition is still a step in the right direction and yes, £6.50 per event is indeed a step in the wrong direction!
Why do the powers that be contrive to make swimming a 'difficult' and 'expensive' sport?

[Allets]

From when is this age on the day meet starting?
I think it is definitely fairer on the swimmers that are born later in the year.

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My name is Backwards
sdrawkcaB si eman yM

[Off His Block]

Originally posted by Allets:
From when is this age on the day meet starting?
I think it is definitely fairer on the swimmers that are born later in the year.


The Scotish Age Group Championships will be
held on 5th/8th July 2001 at Tollcross Glasgow. (one of the best 50m pools in Britain). However I have also heard that the ASA age groups held at Ponds Forge Shefield in July, might also be age on first day of competion. Can anyone confirm this?

[Volunteer]

The change to Age on the day is in response to a suggestion by the new GB Director of Performance Bill Sweetenham. I would imagine that the ASA will push this forward as much as SASA have. It is hoped that it will filter down to District and Club competitions as well.

[outside smoker]

Looks like a very heavy entry from all over GB for Scottish Age Groups. Should make for some fast and exciting swimming. Pity its after the closing date for ASA Age Groups in Sheffield - a bit more liaison between SASA and ASA would be a help methinks.

Age on the Day has certainly spiced up some events that would have been a predictable foregone conclusion.

Finals for 400s too - whcih should be a good experience for the younger age groupers.

Still a bit steep on entry fees mind you.

[James S]

I agree. It is a shame that the closing date for the ASA Age Groups is before the Scottish Age Groups. There are few enough long course meets as it stands to get qualifying times. Lets hope they all get it right next time.

Glad to hear the competition is still attracting from all over GB though.

[swimbabe]

Yes. Utter short sightedness to make ASA Age Groups closing date 1 day before the Scottish Age Groups start. Surely someone from the SASA HQ raised this with ASA?

I believe ASA are going to be doing meets as 'Age on LAST Day of Meet' not Age on First Day. This has been considered a fairer system somehow.