Question:
High School Junior, is 9.5 sec. a good time for a 25 yard freestyle?? How should i go about pursuing swimming?
Mike
2008-10-16 20:30:03 UTC
Ok, so i am a High school junior in the sf bay area, i decided to start swimming for the last month of summer, after i remembered i had actually been pretty good at it in 7th grade, but didnt have the self esteem to wear a speedo....But in one month, just swimming laps on my own, i got my 25 free time down to about 9.5-10 sec consistently.

I've heard this is really good, but can someone just give me some perspective?? What does it really mean....i know that the fastest guy in our league, who is also the national record holder for the 50 and 100 free's in his age group does short course 50 in about 19 sec i believe.

So yah, what kind of potential do i have here?? I only swam a month, no formal technique training or drills, etc.I havent done a 50 cuz i dont know how to flip turn.....just to give u an idea of my skill level.

And how should a start prusuing it?? I dont want to join a club right now because of transportation issues and school work...
Three answers:
academicjoq
2008-10-16 22:41:36 UTC
I've coached high school swimming for almost 30 years (many years in the Bay Area - NCS) and despite having many high school All-America swimmers and one who made it to the '84 Olympics, I've never had a swimmer that could crank off a 9.5! If you are doing 9.5 after a month without a coach, you are a diamond in the rough ... a future All-American.



You should ask your buddy for the USA Swimming web site that shows his name as being an age grouper going 19 and having the national record for the 50 and 100 free. According the US Swimming PDF file, only one age group swimmer is under 20 and he is from Redlands, CA which is down by San Bernardino, not the Bay Area. The 100 free swimmer is from Florida. During the last high school swim season, there were two guys under 20, one from Texas and one from Southern Calif.



Regardless, going 9.5 is smoking and incredibly rare. When I was in high school (San Jose) the fastest 25 free I ever saw was from Mark Spitz when, in warm up for the high school championship meet, I heard his coach tell him he went 9.7. I've seen a couple of collegiate swimmers go 9s from a dive. So ... you're a rare one.



Keep in mind, that a high school junior going 9.5 is unprecedented in history. However, no one will know a thing about you unless you swim in meets and the only way you will be able to swim in meets is to join a USSwimming age group team. In addition, college coaches, with the exception of community college coaches, no longer scout high school swimmers at high school meets. Instead, the college coaches all go to the junior nationals and to swim at the junior nationals you must have qualified as a member of a USS Swimming team.



Therefore, I'd highly suggest you do two things. High school swimming, in CA, is a spring sport with practices starting in February. There is also a plethora of excellent age group swim teams in the Bay Area. Find an age group team and join ASAP.



If you email me, I can make you a recommendation. Depending on the area in which you live, I know a lot of the coaches.



10/20/08



I'm familiar w/ your friend's name (He went 20.33 in the 50 which made him 6th in the US for High School and the fastest 10th grader. He also went 45.29 at the CCS championship meet placing him 16th in the US for high school and the 3rd fastest 10th grader- he won both races - not too shabby!). If you live near the Santa Teresa area, near where ValChristian (on the hill near the train station) is located, you also live near Gunderson High (intersection of hi-ways 87 & 85) where San Jose Aquatics is located. The coaching staff at SJA is quite excellent. The club has produced numerous world class swimmers and Olympians.



Although your 9.5 - 10 for a 25 may not have been performed in a regulation pool nor was it timed accurately, you still clearly have talent and getting some professional coaching would be a huge help.



FYI, I used to live in Morgan Hill and coached in San Jose and Gilroy. I'm no longer in the area.
WaterDemon
2008-10-16 20:49:06 UTC
Maybe you should get your time checked in an official pool. I am not sure of the 9.5 second 25 because that is horrendously fast. But even if your off it won't be by a lot. You have big time potential. You didn't have training or anything and your supposedly going 9.5 seconds so keep it up. You should join your school's swim team.
Carla :D
2008-10-16 23:42:57 UTC
yeah!! very good!! im impressed :D


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