We have a newly formed youth swim team for ages 6-18 and we're looking for any input or suggestions on where to obtain the equipment we need to practice and hold meets at our facility. For example, we're looking to obtain starting blocks, lane lines, storage reels, kick boards, pull buoys, fins, PA system, starting system, etc.
We have very little funding so used equipment would be fine for us.
Any ideas or suggestions would be very much appreciated!
Thanks for helping our kids out! :)
kick boards, pull buoys, fins, hand paddles fins, swim bags, ... are training equipment that each swimmer should acquire
Not necessarily. These things (other than bags, anyway) have been available at the pool for most teams I've swum with--whether age group, high school, college or masters.
Former Member
kick boards, pull buoys, fins, hand paddles fins, swim bags, ... are training equipment that each swimmer should acquire
A swim team or swimmers don't have to have paddles, buoys, boards to practice. You can start your team with the basic swimming equipment...suits, goggles, and caps.
As your team gets more funds, if you want to purchase other equipment then do so. For now, have the swimmers just get those 3 basic items.
Good luck
you might poke around and find some used equipment.
starting blocks, lane lines, storage reels, PA system, starting system, etc
are deck equipment that the pool facility or team should acquire
kick boards, pull buoys, fins, hand paddles fins, swim bags, ... are training equipment that each swimmer should acquire
I'd start calling around to nearby pools to see if they are going to get rid of any equipment after they close for the Summer. That is a great way to obtain equipment, although it will be heavily used.
As to starting blocks, you might want to start a fund drive for those. They are incredibly expensive. Some universities will donate their blocks when they get new ones.
Make fins, pull buoys, and kickboards the responsibility of the swimmer's parents to provide to their kids as a condition of membership on the team. Or, you could provide them but have their cost be part of the registration/team dues structure.
Former Member
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My boys' high school is having a fund raiser for new starting blocks. The total cost is projected to be about $24,000. 24-thousand! Holy smokes!
So when did $4000 for a starting block become acceptable?
Former Member
When I was a kid swimming in the MCSL each summer, the elite meet in the league was the Coaches Invitational Long Course Meet. It was held at the Rockville Municipal Swim Center. At that time, they didn't have real blocks at their outdoor pool, they had wooden boxes that were painted white. A coach had to stand on the back of the box so it wouldn't move when each kid dove off. I guess real blocks were expensive then too.
Even last year at the outdoor pool in Waco for the TAAF summer games, the poor kids who did 25 yds, and half the 4x25yd relay teams had to dive off wooden boxes held down with straps. There were real blocks and electronic pads at the deep end though.
When I was a kid swimming in the MCSL each summer, the elite meet in the league was the Coaches Invitational Long Course Meet. It was held at the Rockville Municipal Swim Center. At that time, they didn't have real blocks at their outdoor pool, they had wooden boxes that were painted white. A coach had to stand on the back of the box so it wouldn't move when each kid dove off. I guess real blocks were expensive then too.
So when did $4000 for a starting block become acceptable?
They've got to put food on the table also. It's not like they're selling new starting blocks everyday all year long!!
