The mad rush to institute technology into sports in too many instances has hurt the sports themselves.

Now and then, however, a good decision is made. The latest example comes in the sport of swimming.

The National Federation of State High School Associations has decided to ban the high-tech swimsuits that are shattering record books. The suits are buoyant and expensive (especially for high-schoolers).

Last summer, the international governing body of swimming required swimmers to show more skin and less suit and required suits be made of permeable material. Even Michael Phelps likes the changes.

Such limitations haven’t happened in sports such as tennis and golf. At too many schools, students must show up with expensive gear if they hope to get enough of an advantage to make the teams.

Graphite tennis racquets are said to have reduced the widespread appeal the sport had in the 1970s, when wooden racquets were in use and thus ball speeds more limited and enjoyable than today.

Family hand-me-down golf clubs used to work fine for high school players, but now they won’t hit the balls as far as kids with the high-end clubs.

Metal bats in baseball have placed undue pressure on pitchers and have caused the ruin of many young arms.

Embracing technology generally is a good thing, but the governing bodies that oversee sports have to watch for the landmines.

And they need to keep in mind the youthful future of their sports. Fewer swimmers can’t be good for swimsuit sales.

It’s clear the swimming world is realizing the woven elastane-nylon and polyurethane swimsuits that began to come out in February 2008 and later are landmines.

Suits that hold a body up in a more hydrodynamic position are not good for the sport. Let the swimmers do the swimming. That’s why the people in the stands cheer.