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
Going back to the original subject of this thread (Mike, I did not have to check,) here is a story that happened to me last week:
Beginning of the workout, I am tightening up lane lines with a wrench, in the water, moving from lane to lane. It is early, and the pool deck is nearly empty. A colleague jumps in the water, near enough to me to be a concern and making it clear that we were both lucky that one or both of us were not hurt.
I did not expect to be jumped on while I am doing an everyday chore that happens every morning. I did not think that I needed to look up to be sure someone was not jumping into the lane before I moved into it. My colleague did not expect someone to suddenly move into a lane that he just observed was clear.
Accidents do happen to reasonable people. Pools should not allow people to dive except in carefully controlled situations, which do not happen in general rec. swim.
Going back to the original subject of this thread (Mike, I did not have to check,) here is a story that happened to me last week:
Beginning of the workout, I am tightening up lane lines with a wrench, in the water, moving from lane to lane. It is early, and the pool deck is nearly empty. A colleague jumps in the water, near enough to me to be a concern and making it clear that we were both lucky that one or both of us were not hurt.
I did not expect to be jumped on while I am doing an everyday chore that happens every morning. I did not think that I needed to look up to be sure someone was not jumping into the lane before I moved into it. My colleague did not expect someone to suddenly move into a lane that he just observed was clear.
Accidents do happen to reasonable people. Pools should not allow people to dive except in carefully controlled situations, which do not happen in general rec. swim.
