Exciting, Important, Powerful Changes!
It was an exciting weekend to be a member within the governing body of Illinois Swimming this weekend. Lots of new changes coming to the way championship meets are run and how our 14&under swimmers qualify. We are adopting and modifying some of the practices by our neighbors in Indiana and Wisconsin. All of these changes are excellent for keeping our kids in the water and motivated to keep working as hard as possible with every workout.
This is hopefully going to be the longest email I ever send out but I feel it is important for all of you to understand my own philosophy as the team grows and gets stronger.
Later in the week you all can expect a more comprehensive email to be sent out by Illinois swimming iteslf.
Here are the three most impactful points:
1) Specific age qualifying standards are now being implemented (HOORAY!). This means, for example, an 11 year old boy competing has a separate time standard from a 12 year old in the 100 free. The approved times have been posted under the tab Parent Information > Time Qualifying Standards. Ultimatey meaning our recent age-up swimmers have more opportunities to qualify for Regionals and State.
2)The effort to continue providing the most optimal race environment for the 10&under swimmers has been a challenge even before COVID and decimating our overall numbers across the state. The 10&under State level of competition has been moved to be the Saturday and Sunday on the same weekend of Senior Champs. I have been a huge supporter of our younger elite swimmers having more opportunities to cheer for and be inspired by our high school swimmers to work harder and simply want to. This also provides the unique opportunity of forcing the older swimmers act the part of being role models and having more than just a race in front of them and a cap with a name.
3) Lastly the essence of excitement and competitition only seen in High school swimming is slowly funneling into our meets more and more. The event winning athlete at a regional meet is now being provided the opportunity to swim that event at the state championship level for their group. For example: if a 16 year old girl wins the 200 free with a time of 1:58.42, she is allowed to swim that event at Senior Champs despite not obtaining the actual qualifying time of 1:56.79. YES! This new rule applies to our Senior swimmers too!
That was a lot but I'm super excited for these changes mostly because it opens the door to further adapt and improve the sport in the future as we improve ourselves. Lets keep working hard and get as many kids to regionals this season, it's been a few years but I'm ready for another trophy!
-Coach Alec
