Duel in the pool - USA vs Europe - Sky Sports 2 now!
Discussion
Just a heads up if anyone is interested.
Duel in the Pool in Glasgow on sky sports 2 now. Its USA vs Europe. I went to the last one in Manchester and we got stuffed, hopefully the Euro turn out is a bit more meaty this time. Glasgow pool is the one that will also host the Commonwealths so heres hoping this dry run of sorts goes well. Also it short course (25 m pool) which is a nice change. Puts more emphasis on the turns.
For anyone unfamiliar with this type of event, it is relatively new in this neck of the woods. There are no individual events, just 4 swimmers from each team maximum and they race for points. So while it is of course nice to win, if the other team come 2,3,4 and 5 you aren't going to be winning overall.
In the US they have this kind of event regularly where universities will face off against each other. This is why the US swimmers are so strong, they are competing with their team mates very very regularly, training and learning to race. Unfortunately its not something that we could replicate that well in this country, being as there is, less than a handful of universities with world class level swimmers.
Duel in the Pool in Glasgow on sky sports 2 now. Its USA vs Europe. I went to the last one in Manchester and we got stuffed, hopefully the Euro turn out is a bit more meaty this time. Glasgow pool is the one that will also host the Commonwealths so heres hoping this dry run of sorts goes well. Also it short course (25 m pool) which is a nice change. Puts more emphasis on the turns.
For anyone unfamiliar with this type of event, it is relatively new in this neck of the woods. There are no individual events, just 4 swimmers from each team maximum and they race for points. So while it is of course nice to win, if the other team come 2,3,4 and 5 you aren't going to be winning overall.
In the US they have this kind of event regularly where universities will face off against each other. This is why the US swimmers are so strong, they are competing with their team mates very very regularly, training and learning to race. Unfortunately its not something that we could replicate that well in this country, being as there is, less than a handful of universities with world class level swimmers.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 20th December 19:12
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 20th December 19:13
They should do this at regional level it would get those who come in the top 4 in the regions year round competition in a top class squads, give them more chance to swim with and against some of the better swimmers around the country. It would be so much better than the speedo league (do they still do that) we did year in year out.
If they did this from age group level as well it could bridge some of the fall out we get from junior to senior ranks, and give more credibility to the regional championships to be more than just another qualifying event for the nationals.
The depth of competition at club and county level isn't enough to really drive the standard of competition we need, open meets, grand prix's are hit and miss and nationals twice a year isn't really enough. The pressure at team events is different and it can be a much more supportive as well as honest type of environment to compete in.
If they did this from age group level as well it could bridge some of the fall out we get from junior to senior ranks, and give more credibility to the regional championships to be more than just another qualifying event for the nationals.
The depth of competition at club and county level isn't enough to really drive the standard of competition we need, open meets, grand prix's are hit and miss and nationals twice a year isn't really enough. The pressure at team events is different and it can be a much more supportive as well as honest type of environment to compete in.
Yeah I was just thinking that we may not have the depth of collegiate swimming they do in the US to do this sort of thing. I think there are maybe 3 or 4 universities with world class level squads (Loughborough, Bath, Swansea....Stirling? can't remember). So I think it would probably get old quickly.
But you are right, no reason why private clubs can't be involved as well. We also have a good few of those with world class level swimmers and it would then give the "almost theres" and the younger swimmers a chance to get to race these guys. Though there is a danger it'd be a white wash if the teams are miss-matched.
Yes they still do speedo league. Its called the Arena league now though and I still do it! works out at a compeition a month for the duration of the season. We also have leicester league as well and there are dedicated masters events which are big fun. At our club, the masters guys are actually the fastest people so in the 15 years + age group, we make up the numbers. But then we are only a small club and the best young un's get fed into the City of Leicester.
At the end of the day though, the US has 4-5 x the population, they have lots of good clubs and university teams and so there is just more chance of finding and developing the Lochte's and the Phelps'. Its a numbers game in part.
We have done well tonight, winning overall so far. However, before people get excited, the European champs were last week, so the European guys are arguably well tapered. Not uncommon to be swimming even better the week after you are meant to have peaked! I would hazard a guess the US are basically just swimming through their training. Not that they won't be taking it seriously, but preparing too much for this would likely mess with their time table. They're always on form come worlds and olympics.
But you are right, no reason why private clubs can't be involved as well. We also have a good few of those with world class level swimmers and it would then give the "almost theres" and the younger swimmers a chance to get to race these guys. Though there is a danger it'd be a white wash if the teams are miss-matched.
Yes they still do speedo league. Its called the Arena league now though and I still do it! works out at a compeition a month for the duration of the season. We also have leicester league as well and there are dedicated masters events which are big fun. At our club, the masters guys are actually the fastest people so in the 15 years + age group, we make up the numbers. But then we are only a small club and the best young un's get fed into the City of Leicester.
At the end of the day though, the US has 4-5 x the population, they have lots of good clubs and university teams and so there is just more chance of finding and developing the Lochte's and the Phelps'. Its a numbers game in part.
We have done well tonight, winning overall so far. However, before people get excited, the European champs were last week, so the European guys are arguably well tapered. Not uncommon to be swimming even better the week after you are meant to have peaked! I would hazard a guess the US are basically just swimming through their training. Not that they won't be taking it seriously, but preparing too much for this would likely mess with their time table. They're always on form come worlds and olympics.
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