How common is bullying in swimming clubs?

[Taxing]

Bully the girl in quaetion is only 18 months older but has been at the club quite a while - some have actually questioned whether she should be in the squad, but as someone said the decision on who swims where is made by the coaches and we must trust their judgements on these matters, and I as a layman am really unable to comment.

[Taxing]

Originally Posted by spartacus

jealousy is fine. we all get jealous. its when that jealousy is taken to a different level. ie bullying that the problems occur. yes i would support an 11 year old being in top squad IF they are physically and mentally strong enough.

if the 11 year old is doing better than the 14 year old then thats because at that moment in time they are fitter, better and stronger. Thus they have a right to be in that squad because they have earnt it. Its up to the older ones to up their game. simple as that.That may uspet people around the club but hey thats life we all have to get on with it. Just my opinion Bully

That's an interestig POV spartacus.

My background sport wise is cricket and if a younger bowler was coming thru the ranks it made me double my efforts, and actually found I could also learn from them due to different experiences etc.

Maybe that's just me, but in any team sport you'd think they would want to pull together

[spartacus]

Thats my point taxing, exactly. Who cares whos feathers it ruffles lol.

[Bully]

Originally Posted by Taxing

As it's a small club, the training that the top group undertakes is only 7 hours or so in the top squad so I don't think it does her any great harm.

And only 2 morning sessions, 1 at 7am and one at 8am, and the latest finish is 9pm

How many hours does the squad below Top squad do each week?

What ages does that squad consist of?

How many morning sessions does that squad do?

[spartacus]

no 11 year old is physiacally ready apostle? what do you base that statement on though?

[spartacus]

hope nobody thinks im being argumentative. im just putting my view across

[Bully]

Originally Posted by Taxing

Bully the girl in quaetion is only 18 months older but has been at the club quite a while - some have actually questioned whether she should be in the squad, but as someone said the decision on who swims where is made by the coaches and we must trust their judgements on these matters, and I as a layman am really unable to comment.

In my experience this is the classic formula for jealousy and bitterness, she probably also has a chip on her shoulder?
And in my view is a good reason not to move young swimmers to early, because inevitably their development will slow, and you end up with an older swimmer not going anywhere, nowhere else to go but down or out, and being passed by the next flood of younger swimmers on the same path just rubs salt in the wound.

[Taxing]

Originally Posted by Bully

How many hours does the squad below Top squad do each week?

What ages does that squad consist of?

How many morning sessions does that squad do?

Swimmers are expected to swim 2 of the 3 "main" sessions each week, which are evenings.

There are also 2 morning sessions which fewer attend

Squad below swims around 5 hours if they attend all sessions, and in many cases it's the squad below that do more sessions as they seem keener.

So each squad can do 5 sessions a week, same days, but different durations/times apart from the morning sessions where they are both an hour long

[spartacus]

im not saying move them too early butrif they are ready then they are ready. if you are good enough then you are old enough.

[Leprechaun]

Originally Posted by Taxing

That's an interestig POV spartacus.

My background sport wise is cricket and if a younger bowler was coming thru the ranks it made me double my efforts, and actually found I could also learn from them due to different experiences etc.

Maybe that's just me, but in any team sport you'd think they would want to pull together

Cricket is a fascinating example of team vs individual. Batsmen are most certainly operating as individuals. You'll surely have seen batsmen who'd run a team-mate out. Even if accidental it spawned no end of retributions, and we'll have seen the odd deliberate one over the years.

As a bowler you need your team to take the catches and keep your run-rate down, but at the same time you have to make sure you're still retained as one of the 4-5 bowlers by your own performance. It could get bitchy for sure so some days not everyone wanted to pull together...

Rugby, football and waterpolo, from my experience in them typify team sports and even though you will have stars (prima donnas) they are nothing without the rest of the team operating effectively with them.

I'm not sure I'd ever classify swimming as a team sport unless you're talking synchro. Every one of the swimmers is an individual first and foremost. The Ryder Cup isnt really a team sport. For me swimming isnt that different, you amass points in some team competitions, but they are all based on individual performances. You can have "team spirit" in the swimming "team", but thats common goals, aspirations and support.

[Taxing]

Originally Posted by Bully

In my experience this is the classic formula for jealousy and bitterness, she probably also has a chip on her shoulder?
And in my view is a good reason not to move young swimmers to early, because inevitably their development will slow, and you end up with an older swimmer not going anywhere, nowhere else to go but down or out, and being passed by the next flood of younger swimmers on the same path just rubs salt in the wound.

Interesting point - but how about if I tell you she moved up at the same time as my daughter?

She'd had mild problems before but it's escallated with this girl being back with her friends

[Apostle]

Originally Posted by spartacus

no 11 year old is physiacally ready apostle? what do you base that statement on though?

I base that statement on not making any allowances for them in the set and maybe having to do 8 400's on 5 minutes or 18 100 freestlye's in 1.10 for a girl or 1.05 for a boy.

If they are part of the squad they do the same set. Surely. That's why they are not physically ready.
And that's what the ltad suggests. I'm not making it up.

Our top squad get out of the pool on haevy workout days absolutley knackered. And these are big strong 14-18 year old boys and girls. How do you think an 11 year old will cope.

Like I said I guess it depends if you belong to a small club or come to a performance club like ours.

[Bully]

Originally Posted by Taxing

Interesting point - but how about if I tell you she moved up at the same time as my daughter?

Is this a hypothetical question or what actually happened?

[Taxing]

That's what actually happened

[Bully]

So bare with me on this, your daughter moved up aged 11 and this other girl moved up at exactly the same time aged what?
When they first moved everything was fine?
But recently things have changed?