We’re delighted to reprint a letter from Coach Paolo Di Paola published in the December issue of Swimming Times, the official magazine of British Swimming.
I have read with interest the article on Age Group and Youth Champs -’Revamp for Age and Youth Champs’ – in the last issue of Swimming Times and would like to comment on the age of day rule. As a coach I feel that this rule is as unfair as any other option because we will always have swimmers who are older than others in the same age group no matter what rule we decide to use and implement. The problem is that age on the day is in my opinion the messiest option available and creates all sorts of collateral issues. For instance, has anybody ever thought that such a rule might allow some swimmers to swim in the same age for two years in a row in the same major competition?
Let’s give an example. This year the British Age Group Champs will start on July 22nd which means that a swimmer who turned 13 on the 20th will race in that age group for the 2011 edition. Next year the same competition might be scheduled a bit earlier in the month and maybe finish let’s say on the 19th – dates for competitions do change depending on the season – therefore that same swimmer would race again in the 13yo age group for a second time in 2012. I don’t think that would be fair at all on the other competitors as well as not doing any favour to the swimmer in question who might see him/her self thrown straight into a 15 yo age group the following year should the dates change again or should be eligible for youth champs.
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