Who Swims?

As a head swim coach for a Tri- County team I am charged with the task each week of deciding who gets to swim and who doesn't. So this process usually starts on a Wednesday night after a "B" meet. "B" meets are the developmental meets for the fourteen year olds or younger. These are the league's participation meets. Everyone swims. I review all of the swimmers best times and check all of the Saturday opponents best times and meet sheets.

Well for a Saturday "A" meet the coaches have a professional responsibility to write a winning line-up. This is especially true when it comes to an undefeated team. If the team remains undefeated in its division, the team moves up to the next division, This works much like the English Primer League in Football. This is an ethical responsibility to place swimmers in events that score the most points.

So does this mean that the coach is placing more value on winning than a particular swimmers feelings? Well fortunately for the coach the swimmers who come to practice the most and work the hardest are the fastest. These swimmers who are trying to win have earned spots in the line-up. They have feelings too. Morally it would be wrong to move another swimmer ahead of another without earning that spot.