The community I live in has 2 High School pools that are closed about 90 percent of the time do to the differences of opinion between the 2 "Pool Directors". There are no public swim times and our Masters Team has not been able to get pool time in over a month. It is really frustrating. Being new to the community I don't really want to make waves but the whole thing just makes me so frustrated. Writing this has actually helped a little.
Has anyone else encountered such an issue? Please share...
500 Swim, 200 Kick, 300 Pull 400 Swim, 200 Drill, 200 Kick, 200 Pull (yeah, I know I'm picking more than one) and 64 hour butterfly (okay, let's skip that last one) ;)
+
500 Calorie Muffin, 200 mg Caffine (delivered to poolside...nothing like multitasking!) :D , 300 Second Shower (not delivered to poolside but often delivered to my poolside towel by kids fooling around while waiting for the open rec swim)
= a good time in the a.m.!
As for the pool problem, I can't offer much advice, but I can sympathize. Adult swimming (and adult programs generally) tend to get short shrift if conflicts arise as to who can use what at what time. It's great that kids can get fit and exercise, but I do think also that (1) it's good for kids to have adult role models who care about working out and staying fit; (2) Adults need some fun time too--in fact, probably too few take the time they need; (3) the squeaky wheel gets the grease--sometimes it takes persistence, though.
Good luck, and next time I go to a workout, I'll be looking for those muffins and coffee in btw sets. ;)
Work with the Pool Director, work with the principal, work with the school board. Find out what specifically are the issues with expanding pool usage and hours, then address solutions to the issues. Why are there no public swimming hours? Put together a business plan that demonstrates the value to the school and school system in allowing your masters team to use the facility (revenue, civic involvement,…) and include solutions to the usage issues.
And while most likely the pools were built with tax payer funds, so were the classrooms, the gym and the cafeteria. Just because there are our tax dollars at work, unfortunately doesn’t give us the right of access.
Get your LMSC leaders involved. And if necessary have them get the national leaders involved.
Oh Tallness,
Yes, most everyone had not seen fit to recall the sartorial spendor of the competitors to the 2001 (I say again 2001) LC Nationals, until you start bringing it up again. Freud would have a jolly good time examing your motivations.
BTW, since when has mediocre become a synonym for "shockingly bad"?
Moreover, I agree wholeheartedly with your serious point. Let us all exercise our creativity and let a thousand swimming programs bloom. Risk adverse pool managers who refuse to do anything more than what they have done in the past (and guess what, as funding cuts take hold, that list gets shorter) are killing us.
Matt
Matt, the only thing mediocre about you is your occasional poor choice of racing attire (bet you thought we forgot the hole in the butt suit at Federal Way).
Besides, anyone that knows me can attest to the fact that I'm simply not a land animal and unless that walker is turbo charged there ain't no way I'm going to catch you.
Side note, speaking of not being a land animal evil-goodsmith decied to try and be a runner last week and came down with a severe case of patella tendenitis......tri geeks take note and fire away! I tried to explain to him all the physics involved with a 6' 3", 210 lb creature with his weight in his upper body (not lower like our bike/run friends) trying to run but alas he didn't listen!
On a serious note, this is one of the most basic factors that impact all the prior discussions about our sport dying, mens/kids swimming declining, etc........if there was ever a place to start a campaign of change this would be it!
Originally posted by Paul Smith
On a serious note, this is one of the most basic factors that impact all the prior discussions about our sport dying, mens/kids swimming declining, etc........if there was ever a place to start a campaign of change this would be it! Paul, I absolutely agree!!!!!!!!!
And for those people attending the Masters Swimming Annual meeting next month in Greensboro, NC, Mel Goldstein will be conducting a Club Mentoring workshop addressing this very topic, along with others.
I have heard that Mel puts on a terrific presentation with extremely valuable information. If you are a convention delegate this is a must see event. If you aren’t a delegate, find out who is and make sure they present Mel’s materials on their return. Or contact Mel and see if he would be willing to take his show on the road to your LMSC.
Well, I remember my old high school pool being closed even to summer rec swimming and lessions for years. High Schools are somethings difficult to deal when it comes to outside groups,particularly if they are adults. Try a Y pool or a public rec pool, if there are any in your area. Even if the team has to go out 20 miles or so. I' m lucky in the Tucson area few of the pools are eitther JR high or high school. The pools are public rec pools and the two high schools workout after the lap swimming period. I'm spoil, sometimes I have a whole lane to myself.
Well, you know us Medicroe swimmers don't have that good of speed next to most master swimmers at the meets but compared to the regular folk that workout we don't swim as bad. Take my ***, now when I workout at the rec pool, this woman who could swim faster in the other threes strokes, I could swim breastsroke better. Its just the masters system where former people that were college all americans or national level swimmers make us good bad.
