tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784767945961794741.post7318684369169792402..comments2024-03-25T05:14:43.028-04:00Comments on Physi-KULT running: Where have all the (serious) runners gone?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784767945961794741.post-48748988158576029622009-03-31T10:36:00.000-04:002009-03-31T10:36:00.000-04:00Your points re: the differences in sport culture b...Your points re: the differences in sport culture between hockey and swimming are certainly well taken. The thrust of my argument, however, was that neither of these sport cultures is appropriate for running; and yet, in the last few years, I've seen evidence of well meaning but uniformed parents attempting to apply a hockey, swimming or gymnastics development model to running. Indeed, this model has arrived in running-- via the "minor track" program in Ontario and elsewhere-- and the results, I would argue, are predictable: our kids are generally not interested in pursuing the sport beyond their collegiate years. I'm sure many kids are turned off of these other sports by this age too; however, since so many more kids try these other sports (in the case of hockey), or because they are less competitive globally (in the case of swimming), the drop out rate affects them much less seriously than it does running, where the high drop out rate is basically killing the sport at a senior elite level in this country.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01961146409986258631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784767945961794741.post-70590492499798016122009-03-27T23:07:00.000-04:002009-03-27T23:07:00.000-04:00Reacting a bit to the statement: "If we are to exp...Reacting a bit to the statement: "If we are to expect more young athletes to reach their 20s with an interest in pursuing the sport ... we have to ensure that their involvement in the sport remains relatively casual and seasonal up to the age of at least 16. In running, it has been shown by literally hundreds of examples world-wide, it is possible to begin serious training as late as age 19 or 20 and still achieve world class results."<BR/><BR/>This seems to be true for running, but I don't think that this has been shown to be true in other sports such as swimming.<BR/><BR/>In a later statement about "parent-centred, hyper-competitive culture of sports like minor hockey, gymnastics, or competitive swimming" lumping minor hockey and competitive swimming together as a sort of counter-example to parent involvement in sport seems to be too broad a brush. Minor hockey is a whole other category of insanity where parents "own" clubs, coach, and determine which kids even participate for their own social reasons. The comment certainly applies to minor hockey. However, in age-group swimming, parents are generally not coaching but are needed as swimming is expensive, with high facility costs, as well as needed for officiating - without an army of volunteer parents, one could not even run swim meets. I can only think of one Canadian example of a swimmer that competed at the olympic level that started late in life (17 years old): Rick Say - sort of a Kevin Sullivan in reverse. While it may require 8-10 years to develop a runner to full potential, the development time in swimming is more like 12-15 years!<BR/><BR/>Another thing is the reward system. Compared to running and swimming, making a living from hockey is relatively easy. Swimming is probably worse than running - while the rewards from track and field and swimming may compare, there is no equivalent of road racing in swimming. In road racing, runner can at least offset their costs. When a Canadian set a world record for the first time in 7 years at spring nationals 3 weeks ago, who knew? It did not make most newspapers. For her 200 breast stroke SC world record, Annamay Pierse did get a car from GM (sort of) a Pontiac Wave worth $9,995 new. Compared to hockey, swimming is an econo-sport, it seems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com