SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers if they believe teams should wear tech suits for dual meets, or stick with practice suits until taper:
Question: Should NCAA teams suit up for dual meets?
RESULTS
- Yes – 67.4%
- No – 32.6%
Controversy was stirred up last week when the University of Cincinnati withdrew from its dual meet against West Virginia, reportedly due to a disagreement about whether or not the teams would wear technical racing suits during the competition.
The Bearcats didn’t want to wear racing suits, and the Mountaineers did, ultimately leading to Cincinnati opting not compete at all rather than just wearing practice suits at a disadvantage.
There was quite the reaction to Cincinnati’s decision to withdraw, including WVU assistant coach Sydney Pickrem calling it a “huge disappointment for our swimmers” on Instagram.
In addition to teams trending more towards wearing racing suits year-round than they have in recent memory, we’re also beginning to see a change of philosophy in several programs, most notably Arizona State the past few seasons.
Instead of digging themselves in a big training hole and swimming relatively slow in competition throughout most of the season, saving it all for the NCAA Championships in March, we’re starting to see more and more teams race fast every time they hit the water.
Those programs that have shifted that philosophy are almost certainly wearing racing suits in every competition, while some, using Cincinnati as an example, prefer not to wear tech suits outside of a select few meets per year, maybe their mid-season invite, conference championships and NCAAs.
This led us to our most recent poll question, should teams wear tech suits in dual meets?
More than two-thirds of voters, 67.4%, said yes, teams should be wearing race suits in dual meets, while 32.6% say no.
There’s certainly arguments on both sides.
For one, racing in a practice suit not only puts you at an immediate disadvantgae—we should be trying to go as fast as possible while competing, right? Opting for a tech suit simulates how you’ll feel in a race that truly matters, can aid in body position while fatigued, and can act as a good confidence-booster.
On the other hand, some believe that saving the race suit for a particular taper meet can elevate performance significantly more if you haven’t worn it all year. Your feel for the water is enhanced, sometimes giving you a sense that you’re gliding on top of the water after previously having to battle through in a practice suit all year.
Of course, different programs will have different philosophies, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. This is an ongoing debate that will continue to evolve over time, but it seems things are trending towards racing fast all season with tech suits than ever before.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: Does Chris Guiliano put the Longhorn men over the top?
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The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.
Consider this: Are all swimmers able to afford technical suits to race in every meet? Do the schools provide them all season? They are expensive and hopefully the schools provide them.
The philosophy seems personal to me.
However if you have the money for tech suits for everyone, why not race fast for every swim?
Pickerm acknowledging it’s a “Huge disappointment” when people withdraw from competing is absolute peak irony. Truly astonishing to me she posted that.
From an athlete who withdrew from an individual Olympic event she qualified to race in 2021, who withdrew from multiple ISL races last minute costing her team negative points, who withdrew from a world championship team a couple months out of competition, and who was the first swimmer (to the best of my knowledge) to withdraw 50 meters into a world championship final.
“withdraw 50 meters into a world championship final” LOL 🤣
Please pick one username and stick to it in any given thread. Thanks!
I’ve tooted my college swimming sustainability horn dry already, so i won’t rant, but tech suits aren’t cheap and swimming has already been subject to roster cuts due to costliness. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a rise in mid-quality tech suits for dual meets, which will cost less than $100 but still deliver a considerable “kick” in performance. I just don’t see many programs being in a positions to request more money for something that hasn’t been necessary in the past, in light of recent events.
The cool thing about our sport is that you can compete in whatever suit you have. Suits do provide a benefit but it’s not the be all end all. Everyone at the end of the year is on an equal playing field, it’s just a couple of dual meets that people get bent out of shape for. Stop caring about things that do not matter
No need to pick up new tech suits for dual meets, just reuse the same suit from the previous year’s championship season
Cam McEvoy suits up a lot and still drops plenty of time between his in season and taper meets…
The best training is racing, and you should suit up as much as is feasible
I mean it’s freaking 2024… you should suit up every opportunity you get at this level.
Texas has a $1 billion dollar athletic budget. These schools should be able to afford a new suit for every swimmer for every event they swim
If you cant afford it, you have no business being involved in D1 athletics. There is nothing “amateur” about this anymore
Kind of a callous thing to say when schools are cutting teams for the budget. “If you can’t afford it, you have no business being involved in D1 athletics.” Yeah, a lot of schools are deciding they can’t afford it. Asking for another $20,000+ per year when you’re already on the chopping block isn’t a great idea. There are 143 men’s and 200 women’s D1 swimming programs. I’m guessing maybe the top 20 are in a position to demand their ADs take $2.00 away from football/basketball and give it to them.
That said, I’m in favor of the programs that can afford it to use tech suits as often as they can.
I’m actually surprised that 33% of people don’t like fast swimming
Nope!
Nope!