The Rec Center I occasionally swim at has starting blocks. I am aware that is a swim device that I am supposed to use once in awhile. The pool is very deep and used for daily swim team practice and some meets. Yet, there is always a bright yellow cone placed on the blocks during lap swimming hours. No one may use the starting blocks at this time. I find it irritating. No one could possibly get hurt unless they were especially idiotic. I guess they're worried about lawsuits. I saw someone doing backstroke starts once, but who wants to do those? This practice will discourage me from ever entering a non-OW event.
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Another is if somebody else doesn't realize you are going to dive and decides to cross your lane and you collide.
I had that happen once when I was swimming (and couldn't swim freestyle or backstroke for several weeks after that). But it's hard to envision it happening when you're going off a starting block. You have a pretty good view of the pool from up there!
Or if somebody else in your lane does something unpredictable. Or you misjudge how much room you need. Or you don't see somebody underwater in your path.
Of course, you shouldn't be using the starting blocks it there's somebody in your lane. I don't think anyone here would be objecting if that were the rule.
When you are practicing starts you aren't generally aware of what's going on around you (which is why a coach is supposed to be supervising).
No, having a coach present isn't adequate either. Last year, I was having a girl I was coaching practice her forward starts and we were told by the lifeguard to stop. He did tell us, though, that he was only concerned because the pool management was there. He indicated that if we did it after the pool management had left for the day, he wouldn't object (though strictly it was against the rules).
Another is if somebody else doesn't realize you are going to dive and decides to cross your lane and you collide.
I had that happen once when I was swimming (and couldn't swim freestyle or backstroke for several weeks after that). But it's hard to envision it happening when you're going off a starting block. You have a pretty good view of the pool from up there!
Or if somebody else in your lane does something unpredictable. Or you misjudge how much room you need. Or you don't see somebody underwater in your path.
Of course, you shouldn't be using the starting blocks it there's somebody in your lane. I don't think anyone here would be objecting if that were the rule.
When you are practicing starts you aren't generally aware of what's going on around you (which is why a coach is supposed to be supervising).
No, having a coach present isn't adequate either. Last year, I was having a girl I was coaching practice her forward starts and we were told by the lifeguard to stop. He did tell us, though, that he was only concerned because the pool management was there. He indicated that if we did it after the pool management had left for the day, he wouldn't object (though strictly it was against the rules).
