News
Performance Suits under review at Age Group events in Scotland 9 May 2009
Last night the National Swimming Committee met and during discussion on performance enhancing swimsuits, without reservation, agreed with the Coaches Technical Panel that the swimsuits are detrimental to the swimming development of age group swimmers.
This is for a number of reasons, including -
- Swimmers, parents and coaches looking for quick gains and progressions
- Unrealistic gains made by swimmers out-with the training norm
- Swimmers, coaches and parents relating performance improvements to the suits
- Swimmers, coaches and parents relating performance improvements to training rather than the suits
- Swimmers, coaches and parents relating performance improvements to maturation and physical development rather than the suits
- Suit changing stroke mechanics through the developing athlete eg body position
- Pressure is placed on parents to purchase a suit (ranging from £150+) leading to racing based on who can afford a suit and who can’t
It was decided that the use of such suits should be restricted across Scotland as soon as it is practicable and a proposal is being prepared to in effect ban their use in age group events with swimmers being limited to traditional costumes and briefs/trunks when competing in those events. There would be no restriction on choice of swimsuit, other than that imposed by FINA, on swimmers competing in open events.
The proposal is still in its early stages and there is still some consultation and due process to carry out. It's adoption is by no means certain and there may well be changes but the purpose of keeping you informed at this early stage is so that parents can be told that this is likely to happen and so that they can be informed and understand that at some point in the future they should expect their age group swimmers to have only limited opportunity to wear the most expensive suits if they choose to buy them now or even if they have already bought them.
I would like to stress that this is not imminent and that I'll keep you posted as best as I can.
regards
Brian Gilchrist
Swimming Convenor
This is for a number of reasons, including -
- Swimmers, parents and coaches looking for quick gains and progressions
- Unrealistic gains made by swimmers out-with the training norm
- Swimmers, coaches and parents relating performance improvements to the suits
- Swimmers, coaches and parents relating performance improvements to training rather than the suits
- Swimmers, coaches and parents relating performance improvements to maturation and physical development rather than the suits
- Suit changing stroke mechanics through the developing athlete eg body position
- Pressure is placed on parents to purchase a suit (ranging from £150+) leading to racing based on who can afford a suit and who can’t
It was decided that the use of such suits should be restricted across Scotland as soon as it is practicable and a proposal is being prepared to in effect ban their use in age group events with swimmers being limited to traditional costumes and briefs/trunks when competing in those events. There would be no restriction on choice of swimsuit, other than that imposed by FINA, on swimmers competing in open events.
The proposal is still in its early stages and there is still some consultation and due process to carry out. It's adoption is by no means certain and there may well be changes but the purpose of keeping you informed at this early stage is so that parents can be told that this is likely to happen and so that they can be informed and understand that at some point in the future they should expect their age group swimmers to have only limited opportunity to wear the most expensive suits if they choose to buy them now or even if they have already bought them.
I would like to stress that this is not imminent and that I'll keep you posted as best as I can.
regards
Brian Gilchrist
Swimming Convenor
