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.
I have the same problem at my pool. I generally don't understand why because for someone who knows what they are doing the risk is very very small of getting hurt. I think a waiver similar to that we sign for USMS meets would be appropriate for use of the blocks.
However, the chance of getting hurt very badly if something does go wrong is very high.
When I was about 10 years old at a regional state age group championship, an older boy got on the blocks for his race. I don't remember which race it was but he was the number one seed and number two was seeded very close behind and records were likely to be dropped. The place was absolutely roaring as they went to the blocks. After the starter said take your mark, mr. number one seed passed out, fell into the 9 foot deep pool and did not hit the bottom but curved inwards and hit the side wall HARD with his head.
...we had a moment of silence for him the following year.
I have the same problem at my pool. I generally don't understand why because for someone who knows what they are doing the risk is very very small of getting hurt. I think a waiver similar to that we sign for USMS meets would be appropriate for use of the blocks.
However, the chance of getting hurt very badly if something does go wrong is very high.
When I was about 10 years old at a regional state age group championship, an older boy got on the blocks for his race. I don't remember which race it was but he was the number one seed and number two was seeded very close behind and records were likely to be dropped. The place was absolutely roaring as they went to the blocks. After the starter said take your mark, mr. number one seed passed out, fell into the 9 foot deep pool and did not hit the bottom but curved inwards and hit the side wall HARD with his head.
...we had a moment of silence for him the following year.
