Tech Suit Policy

Tech Suits have been banned by USA Swimming for any swimmer under the age of 12. 

Tech Suits will be permitted at the following meets only:

•   BRAUN Meet (USA SWIMMERS)

• USA AGE GROUP CHAMPS (8 and unders, Regional, Age Group, Senior)

• USA Swimming Zone or Sectional Meets

• USA Swimming National Level Meets

• Any other meet the coach decides (coaches decision, ask if unsure)

Rationale:

1.    We do not want our swimmers to be dependent in thinking that the only way to swim fast is a tech/fast suit.

2.    There is a trend gaining momentum across USA Swimming to ban tech suits entirely for 12 and under swimmers.

3.    Tech suits create an attitude on a team that you need to have the best to be the best, which simply isn’t the case: for many years Kenyon distance runners would win marathons running barefoot.

4.    Tech suits are intended to be worn at VERY important swim meets (2-3 times a season), not every meet or ever at practice. They wear quicker than regular suits and are made to be much more fragile.  The typical life expectancy of a tech suit is a half-dozen races and cost well into the $400-over price range. We don’t recommend age group swimmers to ever purchase costly equipment, as they are still growing and sometimes misplace things.

Tech suits are not the answer to swimming fast.  They act as a bonus to help with physical drag in the water, as well as mental edge. Scientifically they can reduce physical drag by up to 5% on elite level swimmers, but having proper technique, solid training, and efficiency in the water ALWAYS leads to time drops.