High School Swimming in Utah

I'm a huge fan of high school swimming. As an athlete, it provided me some of the greatest memories of the sport. As a coach, I have had the pleasure of being part of some amazing teams at Judge Memorial, and as a result, having seen numerous JM alums graduate from some of the finest colleges in the country.

However, I don't think the current state of high school swimming in Utah is set up in such a way that serves the best interest of Utah Swimming—and its athletes. The environment here seems to be of the (false) belief that Utah Swimming serves Utah high school swimming, rather than Utah high school swimming serving as a component TO Utah Swimming.

Lately, we're beginning to see some of the most prominent swimmers in this state foregoing high school swimming, if the situation is not set up just right for them. And so too, many kids and coaches must constantly brief themselves on the plethora of rules and regulations so they don't find themselves in violation of the Utah High School Athletics Association (UHSAA)—or putting their school in jeopardy of looking like the cheat instead of being a likely victim of confusion and/or ignorance.

How the high school swimming situation in Utah ever got to this point is something I'm still trying to understand. Nowhere else in America have I found a high school swimming having to endure 5 1/2 months seasons which cross three UHSAA sports seasons (fall/winter/spring).

For those states where consistent and numerous top level swimmers are developed (Arizona, California, Florida, Texas to name a few), not one has a high school swimming system that dominates and monopolizes the swim environment like Utah's does. All produce amazing high school programs, but they are fused and fed by amazing and terrific programs affiliated with USA Swimming. In these states, high school swimming has a large number of participation rates, and swimming has never been so popular. The difference? Their seasons are generally no more than 2 1/2 to 3 months long. And unlike a sport such as football, college swim programs depend on USA Swimming-trained prospects, generally not high school swim programs.

The arguments for the five month long season in Utah always seems to be the same. They're valid arguments to a certain extent, but seem shortsighted and even a little narrow minded. I tend to think they're self serving to the coaches as well.

At Judge Memorial over the past 8 years we have not been blessed with club swimmers. Most of the kids come from the country clubs, or kids who may have had some prior club experience but have since gotten involved in other sports (lacrosse and soccer are the most popular). Over the years, we have essentially worked with what we had, and thus, tended to build a program around doing extensive technique work and training for athleticism. High school swimming doesn't require much in the way of distance training, nor versatility. Though we emphasize both, it may take three years for us to see the development of a relatively "new swimmer." However, for the short term, we will generally try to "fill holes" when looking at an event-by-event synopsis.

With that said, you'd think I would be all for having as many months as possible to work with kids so that by the end of that 5 1/2 month cycle, we'd be ready to roll.

Honestly, I could have these kids ready to race in 2 months. The end result wouldn't be a huge difference, because I'd simply take my seasonal plan, pare it down, and still have them ready to go. At the same time, I'd be proactive in that if an athlete really wanted to improve and expand on their abilities in this sport, I'd urge them to find a program where they could do this; that is, a USA swim club, a country club, or both. Whatever gets them in the water, working on their skills.

Isn't that the case with any sport, activity or hobby? The more you do, the better you get? The more you put in, the farther you go? For instance, if you really wanted to be the best bass player ever, would you only pick up the instrument for 2 or 3 months (or 5?) and expect to improve enough to realize the dream? Fat chance...

Since I began coaching 8 years ago, my argument as it relates to Utah high school swimming has always been, "why is the dang high school season so long??..."  3 months is just as conducive as 5. At the end of the day, you still have to get these kids back in shape from their time away from the pool and if it takes you 5 months to do it, what the heck are you doing with all that time?

I know there can be arguments made for those rural schools with little or no means to get kids swimming year 'round, but my argument to that is, that's a convenient excuse... and life is not always fair. Learn to work with the situation you've been handed instead of expecting everyone else to conform to your own perceived needs. In swimming, 3 months really is no different than 5... you still have the get them back into shape, you still start from scratch.

It remains to be said that this 5+ month high school season is NOT in the best interest of Utah Swimming and that the current system needs to be obliterated in favor of something consistent with swimming in other states—never mind every other sport in THIS state. As far as I can see, there is no other sport that covers three school seasons like swimming does. Why?

I could go on and on and on, but the bottom line really comes down to this: is it really necessary that a high school swim season be a 5 1/5 month life? Is that really in the best interest of Utah Swimming? Utah Swimming is more than just high school swimming. By shortening the season, there would be no repercussions as to the excitement that high school swimming creates—these kids will still have lasting memories and they will still be ready to race whether it's 5 months or 3. It's not the length they will recall, it's the brief moments of glory shared that will live with them forever.