Recently, my home YMCA has decided to band the use of Noodles during family/open swim times. They cite the floating foam (which can be used as a reaching assist, be used as an instructional aid, fun "thingy", etc. if used properly) as a "safety hazard". Not only is the ban news to me, so is the "hazard" label. Our pool always has at least 2 lifeguards (for a 6 lane, 25 yd pool) during the open swim times and requires that parents/guardians remain in the immediate area - if not in the pool - with their children.
I think my aquatics department has been hijacked by two non-swimmers who are too busy making up crimes to focus on real issues such as inceased times/lanes for competitive swimmers, monitoring pool temps & chemicals, etc.
My questions are:
How many other facilities have banned such fun floating objects?
What types/kinds of accidents have you experienced with the Noodle?
Do you think they have a basis for their decision?
ps. The facility stocks and uses the banned items during swim lessons and exercise classes.
All seems to work out, except I wish they would ban just one word:
"MARCO . . . ."
I worked at a pool that had a 25 page rulebook. It was quite rediculous, and we were forced to pick and choose the rules which we enforced. One in there was for "NO RYTHMIC YELLING." As was explained to me by the managers, who were explained to by the pool committee, that meant that Marco Polo was not allowed. I can agree the sound is annoying, but I also thought that rule was ludacris. :2cents:
Back to topic:
Same pool only allowed noodles during raft nights (sat evenings). Some kids used them correctly, some inappropriately. Plus, if you couldn't go in the deep end normally, you weren't allowed to on a raft either.
I thought that Raft nights were a great idea - it got the kids to the pool at a pool that was severely underused, but the busy nights were a nightmare to work. The kids would purposely flip the rafts upside down and then float/walk with their heads in the space created between the upside down boat's floor and the top of the water. We put the kabosh on that right away.
All seems to work out, except I wish they would ban just one word:
"MARCO . . . ."
I worked at a pool that had a 25 page rulebook. It was quite rediculous, and we were forced to pick and choose the rules which we enforced. One in there was for "NO RYTHMIC YELLING." As was explained to me by the managers, who were explained to by the pool committee, that meant that Marco Polo was not allowed. I can agree the sound is annoying, but I also thought that rule was ludacris. :2cents:
Back to topic:
Same pool only allowed noodles during raft nights (sat evenings). Some kids used them correctly, some inappropriately. Plus, if you couldn't go in the deep end normally, you weren't allowed to on a raft either.
I thought that Raft nights were a great idea - it got the kids to the pool at a pool that was severely underused, but the busy nights were a nightmare to work. The kids would purposely flip the rafts upside down and then float/walk with their heads in the space created between the upside down boat's floor and the top of the water. We put the kabosh on that right away.
