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 Guvnah
I do almost all my swimming at YMCAs. Even when I travel. (Love that AWAY program!) I may have visited 50 different facilities coast to coast by now. Most Ys don't even have blocks available. One in Bridgewater NJ has permanent blocks, and lots of teams that use the facility, but non-team swimmers -- no matter how good or experienced or capable they are -- cannot use the blocks. I'll be visiting some near Orlando next week, including the big one on International Drive, so I'll be sure to keep an eye out for policies there.
Just thought I would close the loop regarding something I wrote early in this thread.
I visited three different YMCAs in Florida last week, including the Aquatic Center in Orlando. None allowed uncoached starts from the blocks. The Aquatic Center had posted rules. One of them was "Always enter water feet first." I chatted with a life guard there. "Unless the coach is on the deck, no starts from the blocks." That even applied to sanctioned team participants -- they couldn't use the blocks until their coach was there.
Originally posted by Guvnah
I do almost all my swimming at YMCAs. Even when I travel. (Love that AWAY program!) I may have visited 50 different facilities coast to coast by now. Most Ys don't even have blocks available. One in Bridgewater NJ has permanent blocks, and lots of teams that use the facility, but non-team swimmers -- no matter how good or experienced or capable they are -- cannot use the blocks. I'll be visiting some near Orlando next week, including the big one on International Drive, so I'll be sure to keep an eye out for policies there.
Just thought I would close the loop regarding something I wrote early in this thread.
I visited three different YMCAs in Florida last week, including the Aquatic Center in Orlando. None allowed uncoached starts from the blocks. The Aquatic Center had posted rules. One of them was "Always enter water feet first." I chatted with a life guard there. "Unless the coach is on the deck, no starts from the blocks." That even applied to sanctioned team participants -- they couldn't use the blocks until their coach was there.
