Future Olympians

I was at the American Swim Coaches Association convention in Las Vegas last week. Obviously everyone was quite euphoric over our swim team’s performance. As usual I have to throw some water on the fire. Let’s not spend too much time patting ourselves on the back for the 2008 performances. Let’s not let typical American naivete pervade our thinking again.  Let’s take a realistic look at today in order to predict the future. Our kids are less active, have poor or few movement skills, is this a base for future high level Olympic performance? Mark Schubert, National Team Head Coach and General Manager,  gave a presentation that sounded like a cheer leading report of our team’s performance. There was very little objective analysis of why things went well and nothing on what went wrong, very little in terms of recommendations for the future. What lesson did we learn? We can bury our heads in the sand and revel in Michael Phelps performances or we can objectively analyze what we need to do to get better. Schubert stated that the world is not catching up to us. I do not know what planet he is on, but they are right at our heels. We need to recognize that our 2016 Olympians’ in all sports are twelve years old today! Go out and look at today’s twelve year olds. How can we project those overweight inactive youngsters into future Olympians, they are physically illiterate, they lack fundamental movement skills. Who is going to address their movement deficiencies? You can’t wait until they reach the elite level, it is too late then, the window of adaptation is closed. We need to get physical education that is both physical and educational. There is time but the window is small. We need to get our sport leaders like Schubert to open their eyes and ears and be aware of the reality of the future. Remember it takes ten years and ten thousand hours to produce a high level performer in any discipline. The future is now with our twelve year olds – wake up!

Comments

[Carl Valle]

Vern,

Thanks for taking the time to get your message about PE.

(1) Education is tough when the pay for teachers is so low. Who is willing to do this without the same benefits of retirement no longer being provided.

(2) Swimming a sport that many times involves parents to get their kids involved for safety and summer fun. Swimming gets kids learning at a young age.

(3) I frankly see land based sports more affected as swimming is very artificial. Many kids that are not athletic outside the pool are great swimmers.

(4) The middle class is the problem as the rich kids train from private (psuedo PE coaches and IYCA "trained" people. and the poor play outside more.

What are your ideas to change things around?

[sul]

Coaches please stop taking the fun out of the youth game. Parents please take responsibility for your kids lack of activity, poor eating habits, lack of rest etc.. I don't think this obesity thing is a secret to anyone. Please let kids be kids!

[Mike Keeler]

Vern,

I was at that talk and loved it! I think the whole experience is too fresh for a full blown analysis of right & wrong. I know that there will be sufficient hand wringing about all the US team's shortcomings in the coming months.

Enjoyed your talk at ASCA as always! Only a 45 minute timespan for your talk is almost a crime!

Mike
USD Swim

[Squat king]

Wow Vern. That is a great honor, to be helping those guys.