I started diving off of starting blocks when I was eight years old. I am now 51, and train at the Y, almost always alone, as there is no Masters program in the county where I live, or in any of the immediately adjacent counties. (There are several age group programs.) I want to work on my starts, but none of the Y's where I swim will let me use the blocks - saying that a national Y policy prohibits anyone from using the blocks unless a team/club coach is on the deck.
I have never heard of anyone suing a YMCA because of an accident on a starting block.
Yes, perhaps a coach would be valuable to me in this regard, but I'm not looking for a coach - I need and want a cooperative facility. The age groups' program schedules are not conducive to my schedule, and besides, the age group coaches already have enough on their hands during those times with lanes full of kids working their programs. I also am not excited about having to dodge those kids to do the work I need to do.
Anyone find a way to conquer this litigation-fear-induced insanity yet? Thank you.
Parents
Former Member
Pastor -- Consider this: When you are swimming, who is in the ajacent lanes? Can you be sure of their actions?
In an organized workout, the swimmers are supervised, they are all assigned to lanes and (usually) stay there.
Check out the thread a couple of pages down on this board that is titled something like "Working out in a public pool." The gist of the thread is that you can't count on kids staying out of your lane. As I mentioned, I do almost all my swimming at YMCAs. The 5:30 AM slots at most places are reserved for lap swimming only, and maybe (MAYBE) at those times you can count on other swimmers not crossing into your lane. But outside of lap-swim-only times, you have no control over the little kids (or even adults) crossing lanes to chase down a beach ball or get to the other side, etc.
YOU may be prepared to take responsibility for YOUR own actions, but you can bet that if you cream some 6-year-old there will be a lawsuit, and it would most likely be the YMCA that will bear the brunt of the settlement (unless you're a millionaire!)
Racing starts -- especially from a block -- are about the most force-filled activity you'll come across in a lap swim environment. (Well yes, I've seen a guy get his face slashed open by another swimmer doing fly with paddles...) If you slam into some granny crossing your lane while you're swimming -- even if you're at an all-out sprint -- maybe the worst result would be a bruise or a bloody nose. But I shudder to think of the results if you hit her on a start.
I understand where you're coming from. And most likely you would never encounter a problem even if they let you do all the starts you wanted, whenever you wanted. But I hope you are willing to see where ther YMCA is coming from too.
Pastor -- Consider this: When you are swimming, who is in the ajacent lanes? Can you be sure of their actions?
In an organized workout, the swimmers are supervised, they are all assigned to lanes and (usually) stay there.
Check out the thread a couple of pages down on this board that is titled something like "Working out in a public pool." The gist of the thread is that you can't count on kids staying out of your lane. As I mentioned, I do almost all my swimming at YMCAs. The 5:30 AM slots at most places are reserved for lap swimming only, and maybe (MAYBE) at those times you can count on other swimmers not crossing into your lane. But outside of lap-swim-only times, you have no control over the little kids (or even adults) crossing lanes to chase down a beach ball or get to the other side, etc.
YOU may be prepared to take responsibility for YOUR own actions, but you can bet that if you cream some 6-year-old there will be a lawsuit, and it would most likely be the YMCA that will bear the brunt of the settlement (unless you're a millionaire!)
Racing starts -- especially from a block -- are about the most force-filled activity you'll come across in a lap swim environment. (Well yes, I've seen a guy get his face slashed open by another swimmer doing fly with paddles...) If you slam into some granny crossing your lane while you're swimming -- even if you're at an all-out sprint -- maybe the worst result would be a bruise or a bloody nose. But I shudder to think of the results if you hit her on a start.
I understand where you're coming from. And most likely you would never encounter a problem even if they let you do all the starts you wanted, whenever you wanted. But I hope you are willing to see where ther YMCA is coming from too.
