As I’ve written about here, recently I’ve started coaching again. The group is somewhat less experienced than what I’ve typically coached over the years. After one month, I have to admit I’ve come up against a vexing challenge that I’ve never run into before.
Their goggles are breaking at an alarming rate.
Now I know what you may be thinking, but I trust the people I coach to give me the honest truth, so I believe them when they report that, once again, the strap has come free of its moorings and ruined their precious eye protection.
The only conclusion I can draw is that there is a conspiracy by the swimming equipment manufacturers to produce low quality, easily breakable goggles to less experienced swimmers. But why hasn’t anyone exposed this behavior over the years?
Could it be that Speedo, TYR and the like have been able to suppress all knowledge of this phenomenon over the years. Have they used their wealth and influence to silence the mainstream media into spreading corporate propaganda for them?
I don’t have the answers. All I know is THIS HAS TO STOP. These kids deserve goggles that will last them practice after practice. Not only that, but the goggles need to be easy to adjust so that no coach should ever have to help them tighten or loosen the goggles! What kind of scam are they. pulling?
But that’s not all! I’m almost scared to type the following, as the implications are simply mind-boggling, but here goes. Something is also going on with the goggles such that they release chemicals that cause swimmers to be unable to suppress the urge to go to the bathroom for a 90 minute practice.
It just doesn’t add up- my six year old can go hours without using the bathroom, but teenage kids are having to go day after day during an hour and a half window. Even more baffling, this chemical reaction more often happens during the hardest part of practice.
So let me make myself clear. My message to “Big Goggle” is simple: stop producing low quality, diuretic goggles for the masses. Allow these kids the experience of swimming a whole practice free from goggle breakage and unexpected trips to the bathroom- OR ELSE!
Also, can anyone tell me why some of the kids hands seem to be magnetically drawn to the lane line when we’re doing a kick set? It’s like they can’t resist pulling on it. Still trying to figure that one out.