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
Originally posted by Scansy
We have had longer threads here over things that were even more unrelated to swimming! Also, there was a time when any thread, no matter what topic started it, would end up as dozens of pages discussing late bloomer status.
Well, now that you mention it: YMCA restrictions on the use of starting blocks do place a severe hardship on late bloomers, who didn't have years to hone their starting skills on a kids' swim team where they went off the blocks at every practice. (Now see what you started?) ;-)
Originally posted by Scansy
We have had longer threads here over things that were even more unrelated to swimming! Also, there was a time when any thread, no matter what topic started it, would end up as dozens of pages discussing late bloomer status.
Well, now that you mention it: YMCA restrictions on the use of starting blocks do place a severe hardship on late bloomers, who didn't have years to hone their starting skills on a kids' swim team where they went off the blocks at every practice. (Now see what you started?) ;-)
