New Kansas State Swimming Rule Change

Sophomore Zack Holbrook goes to swim practice at 5 a.m. He trains for an hour and a half. He drives to school and then practices again at 3:30 p.m. Holbrook repeats this same routine every school week: swimming in the morning, school and swimming again in the afternoon. He trains with two different groups a day and practices in two different pools.

Due to a recent Kansas state law change, Holbrook is allowed to keep up his rigorous routine. This year, athletes that take part in swim and dive are able to train with their club teams while also being on the high school team. Holbrook is one of five swimmers on the East boys’ swim and dive team that has taken advantage of the new law change.

“It gives me a chance to experience a more intense practice with my club team followed by an afternoon practice with my high school team,” Holbrook said.

In past years in Kansas, swimmers were not allowed to be a part of both club and high school teams. They could however, use the pool time with their club team, but could not receive additional instruction from their club coaches. Swimmers could also apply to an Olympic Development Program (ODP) exemption and swim United States Swimming (USS ) approved meets. This gave the swimmers a chance to compete in specific high level meets.

“I don’t think it will change the team concept here at East, we are talking about low numbers of kids that will continue to practice in the mornings with the club team,” Head swim and dive coach Wiley Wright said.

Missouri’s movement is what ultimately spurred Kansas swimmers to take action.

In Missouri, the issue regarding a swimmer participating in both club and high school teams was addressed in 2004. Frustrated parents tried to pass a bill through the state legislature to make the change. Eventually the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) reached a compromise with the parents before the bill was officially passed.

“This is not a new [Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA)] rule, it is however a new Kansas law,” KSHSAA Assistant Executive Director, David Cherry said. “The state legislature placed the new rule change into a bill.”

Swim and dive is different from other sports in Kansas. It is the only sport in the state that allows an athlete to do both club and high school. In other sports, an athlete is not allowed to compete in events outside of high school during the season, let alone practice with an outside team.

Senior Andrew Hornung has been currently practicing strictly with his club team. He will start practicing with the team Dec. 1. Hornung is doing some more intense training before he starts high school with his club team, so that he can get ready for a few non-high school swim events.

“I practice with club for the first couple of weeks of the season because the training is more intense and then I go only to high school because of the team atmosphere,” Hornung said.

The new law change also brings about new requirements. Swimmers are only allowed to train with their club team until after they have completed the requirements for their high school team and the requirements are up to coach’s discretion.

While the new change will help those that compete on a high level to push themselves, it could be a disadvantage to those that are not on that same level.

Hornung believes that the new change is helpful, but may have some drawbacks.

“The team bonding will be weak,” Hornung said. “When you have guys that are not at practice all of the time, it makes it difficult to grow as a team.”

Although the “team” aspect will be weaker, the individual results have proven to be better  according to when Missouri had this same rule change.

The change also gives a swimmer the option to opt out of specific meets and swim specifically state after they qualify for it.

“I think that the rule allows me to get ready for college swimming,” Holbrook said. “It allows me to practice twice as hard.”

In the spring, girls’ swim and dive will face the same change. Junior Meg Stanley, a year-round club swimmer is somewhat skeptical on the new change.

“It detracts from the team experience and team training,” Stanley said.

Because there is no separation between club and high school there is no transition time. Only time will tell whether this new rule will contribute in a positive way.

“I personally agree with the change, since it will benefit both the swimmer, and the team, and it will allow the swimmer to keep up with his/her training at the club level, since they swim multiple events at the level,” Wright said.