So, you're approached by the mother of a 6-year old female swimmer. Her daughter is the youngest of 3 children and the only girl. Her older brothers are quite accomplished in their respective age groups. The mother explains that her daughter looks up to her older siblings and, like them, wants to swim topless since it's working for them.
Should this be allowed? Will she break any rules? Believe it or not, this was a real question (not here in AMS). Let's have some fun with this. Add your comments as to what you think about this. Should the Referee allow the young girl to swim without a top?
Looking forward to your comments!
Swimsuits worn for competition must be non-transparent and conform to the current
ReplyDeleteconcept of the appropriate.102.8.1.d Since nudity is a cultural norm, I would believe it is up to the meet/deck referee to determine if the suit meets the "concept of the appropriate". Glad I'm a S&T and Starter. Outside my jurisdiction. :>) Mike Kosco
I'm interested to know what the ruling was in this case. Coming from a six-year old, this is an innocent and unselfconscious request. However, the "current concept of the appropriate" probably means for most people that a young girl would wear a girl's swim suit, at least in a public setting like a swim meet. While the parent's request for her daughter to be able to dress in attire like her brothers may seem harmless, and there may be virtually no anatomical differences between girls and boys at this age, I would worry about the perception by others at the meet (swimmers, parents, spectators), and in particular, would worry about the possibility of photos being taken and ending up in the wrong hands. Therefore my ruling would be that the swimmer should wear a suit for girls.
ReplyDeleteScott Pauley
I've been asked by a few of you to, in Paul Harvey's words, tell you the rest of the story. The fact pattern described above was actually shared with me by Dan McAllen, our USAS Rules & Regs Chair. He said, "Regardless of age, the current concept of appropriate (102.8.1D) is a suit with a top. That is based on what all other girls in the meet were wearing not only in this meet, but to everyone's recollection in every other USA Swimming meet in this LSC and geographical area. Basically, the idea was unheard of. So she did compete in a top, and her mother was very happy about that. What is interesting about the rule is that the concept of appropriate varies greatly from place to place. I can assure you that the two piece suits teenage girls wear in Southern California would shock many others around the country, yet do not even draw a second look here. When I ask myself the question whether a suit is appropriate, I look around the deck and see 75% of the girls wearing one at least as skimpy, so I can only assume that is the standard. What other measuring stick does one have that doesn't impose one's own judgment and personal standards?"
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the rest of the story. Did you come to the same conclusion?