Swim Team Equipment - Swim Briefs Recommended/Required

[jackk78]

I was curious to see if swim teams require swimmers to wear briefs or at least recommend them. Most give the option of briefs or jammers. A few, however, either require them outright or at later ages or recommend them instead of jammers.

Male swimmers should be wearing brief style swimsuits. Brief style swimsuits are very light compared to Jammers. Jammers sit very heavy and hurt the body position in training. Jammers also collect a lot of water when being swum in and act almost as a parachute so they are very slow. Unless a Jammer is a Tech-Suit it is not ideal so swim in. There is no preference on what suit the swimmer should buy as long as they are brief styles for the boys.

https://www.teamunify.com/cansgsc/__...nformation.pdf

Male swimmers will transition from jammers to briefs/drag suits in this group.

NO JAMMERS for males in Senior Groups. Drag suit and/or briefs must be worn

http://www.csctigersharks.org/parent...l%20Groups.pdf

The training brief in the Keyano office will last a long time. You can choose something else, but make sure it fits and that you are prepared
to buy several of them over the course of a season. Also, brief -style suits are superior for training. They offer the legs a better feel for the water in all strokes and less resistance when learning the breaststroke kick. Many young boys shy away from the brief in favour of the jammer-style, but this is a recreational-swimming decision; it is like wearing swim trunks to practice. Take a look at the Senior boys and notice that none of them wear a jammer. Be like the fast boys and find yourself a good brief.

http://www.eksc.com/cseksc/UserFiles...02014-2015.pdf

Coach Chris recommends all boys to wear brief style for all meets.

http://www.gomeadow.com/files/2010_m..._final__2_.pdf

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

It is a catch 22. I am friends with the local coaches. On the one hand they all agree that briefs are the way to go, but they also know that wearing a brief deters many guys from trying out for the team, so they have opted to take a more "come as you are" approach and then work on the guys to transition once they are on the team. Once they get to Jammers, they are half way there, so to speak. I actually agree with this approach. I would hate to eliminate a young boy or girl from the joy of swimming simply because of the suit they chose. On the other hand, at the AAU/Club team level or on the varsity level I think the rules can get more strict and should. When I was a lead high school coach, I allowed jammers at the high school team level. If it keeps guys on the team and interested in swimming, isn't that the point? I'd encourage them to try briefs, and had a guys only practice so they could try them out without the intimidation of having the girls around. I have found once you get them to experience swimming in briefs, they often stay with it.

By the way, the briefs issue really starts at the middle school level, when the guys start going through puberty. By the time they get to high school, they are usually past the hangups. My school was a combined HS/MS and it was the, 7th and 8th grade boys that fought it the most. But, once the really good swimmer off the local Y team or club team stated winning, they all wanted to be "like him."

Also, parents (especially moms) of boys are even harder to get over the hurdle. I can't tell you how many moms argued with me about their sons wearing something smaller than their underwear in public.

Sorry for the rambling thoughts,

STS

[Captain.Jammer]

I appreciate hearing your experience and perspectives. Really good things to know. You were a swim coach? Wow!

[JamesSwim]

An instructor of mine (a class, not for a team) also had a similar suggestion. We were free to wear whatever we want, but they said that if you're serious, consider getting a brief. For the women in the class, I think the suggestion was to avoid bikinis because if you dive, things may pop-out.

The sporting goods store close to the school also stocked many training appropriate suits, so that made it easy.

[jackk78]

It is preferred boys wear the traditional Speedo style suit instead of the “jammer” style.

http://www.delamigo.com/recvsadapa/_...ook%202014.pdf

[50 Free]

We occasionally send a coach to a planned meeting of potential new swim team members and without fail a question always comes up, "Do we really hafta wear a speedo?"
To which the coach replies "you don't HAVE to, but you GET to."

[area51tazz]

Originally Posted by 50 Free

We occasionally send a coach to a planned meeting of potential new swim team members and without fail a question always comes up, "Do we really hafta wear a speedo?"
To which the coach replies "you don't HAVE to, but you GET to."

That's an EPIC response :P

[cenkboy]

Originally Posted by 50 Free

We occasionally send a coach to a planned meeting of potential new swim team members and without fail a question always comes up, "Do we really hafta wear a speedo?"
To which the coach replies "you don't HAVE to, but you GET to."

When I grew up starting swimming in the 6th grade everyone thought that the Speedo brief was the perfect suit for competitive swimming! There is less drag than a jammer.

[jackk78]

The senior coach has also suggested that male athletes wear briefs and women athletes purchase a two piece to wear in training sessions. This is not required, but only a suggestion. Team aquatics carries a variety of options available; other companies and websites have options to suit the athlete’s favorite color and character. Another website option: http://www.swimmerschoice.com/

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:6l4p0F8c0rEJ:www.inconnuswimteam.co m/canfsji/UserFiles/File/INCONNU%2520Uniform%2520Policy%2520%2526%2520Group %2520Equipment%2520Lists.doc+&cd=19&hl=en&ct=clnk& gl=us

[jackk78]

Jammers versus briefs. With rare exception (e.g., high performance championship suits) jammers tend to restrict/inhibit movement.

As boys mature and progress through competitive swimming, it is recommended to wear a brief style suit, with a drag suit over top.

http://www.yumaheat.org/SubTabGeneri...stabid_=108979