Poor ventilation/warm water

It's not just the Ys with poor ventilation. I've been in decent pools used by USA teams that are poorly ventilated. I see kids with asthma having to sit out. Health club pools are notoriously poorly ventilated too.

I completely disagree. Big shiny pools bring in the crowds, crowds bring in the dollars, dollars bring in more and better coaches. A dumpy squatty hot pool is not going to attract as many folks. If you want proof, go to cities that have mega pool complexes and the old dumpsters. See which ones have overall better teams and coaches.

How much of the asthma is due to kids who have asthma being steered towards swimming? I seem to recall at least a handful of stories beginning, "X took up swimming when her doctor suggested was too hard on her asthma..."

I completely disagree. Big shiny pools bring in the crowds, crowds bring in the dollars, dollars bring in more and better coaches. A dumpy squatty hot pool is not going to attract as many folks. If you want proof, go to cities that have mega pool complexes and the old dumpsters. See which ones have overall better teams and coaches. I drive 20 miles, averaging 50+ minutes, from work to the University of Maryland's pool, three days a week. On the way, I drive past: Rockville Municipal Swim Center - public, 2 indoor SCM and 1 outdoor LCM (summer only) Montgomery Aquatic Center - public, indoor SCM B-CC YMCA - where I am a part-time member - 2 indoor SCY, 1 outdoor SCM Stone Ridge HS pool (indoor SCY) Georgetown Prep HS pool (indoor SCM x SCY) Silver Spring YMCA - SCM outdoor Tacoma Recreation Center (DC) - indoor 50m, usually SCY Prep's pool is actually really nice (it costs $23k/yr to go there). But for all the other convenient pools (RMSC is 2 mi down the street), I'd rather swim at UMD. I know the facility is clean. The air is not stifling. The water is bearable. The pool is not a small hole in the ground. The Masters team is active and good. The coaches are top-notch, ambitious, and very knowlegeable about the latest and greatest technique.

I don't think the pool needs to be new and shiny, but I draw the line at swimming in a pool with a water temp above about 85 F. You just can't get a good workout in in those conditions. Ideally I'd like the pool to be somewhere around 80, but I do realize pools are mixed-use facilities and not everyone wants it quite that cold.

kklswimfast - Y's are an interresting animal. I've had my battles and fights, left one for another, etc. The thing that I've learned is that you need to find another way to "skin the cat". Like Rob said, be thankful that you actually have a team - keep it! Don't anger the big bad administration! Appease them - keep feeding them! Find another way to work with your swimmers and families. Here is my suggestion, in addition to the fan's (from above) how about having dry land training times/days? That way you give the kids water time and divide their time with strength, balance, coordination and control exercises. For example, use the body balls: have them lay on it belly down and practice their arm strokes. I'll bet core strength will increase and so will the proper form. Use medecine balls: make it a game working with a partner as the simulate starts holding the ball - give it a toss from way down back there to way up on the release - on command. There are a million things you could do - you just need to be creative. Don't find yourself getting caught up in a battle of "forest vs. trees" issue.

Yes, it was the blue muppet, a Pennsylvanian like yourself, that opened my eyes to the better side of Y swimming. You guys' Y's know whats up when it comes to swimming. Like I said, my experience was so tainted, I couldn't imagine otherwise. I have come to realize that you need to make the most of the "puddle" of water you have been provided. Those swimmers that have it in them to make it far will most likely do so regardless of the facility, as long as they have dedicated coaching and the willingness to do the work. Does a shiny state of the art facility make a difference? I don't believe so.....

don't want to be a thread spoiler here but we all know that swimming hot sucks.....period. the glanced over issue is poor ventilation in a chlorinated environment sucks more and is potentially dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!! news.medill.northwestern.edu/.../news.aspx how many age groupers and masters already show up to practice with their inhalers in tow? if usas and fina and usms all got together on this one, i think they could have a profound influence on how our swimming pools were treated after all........you are what you swim in. (alright, maybe thats a bit too dramitic)

chaos - you mentioned the top swimmers organizations but you need to remember that we are discussing a problem of that seems to be endemic to Y's. The Y organization does not care about usms, fina or usswim guidelines because they have their own methods. (I have certs. on all sides) Geek - you're right swimming or working out in a hot tub is aweful at best anything over 82 just makes me nuts! Fort - you're right - you can't work with noodlers. I am clarifying that if a facility has programs that are earmarked as AFAP, then you need to work with the administration to have that designation changed and those classes removed from the program offerings. No AFAP class should be is water that has a average temp less than 83. As for ventilation, I did suggest that is there is a problem with the HVAC due to age or disrepair it should be brought to the attention of the board. Capital inprovement issues. The aquapotamus', complainers, noodlers, etc. are the bane of all aquatics. Tell your aquatic director to get a spine and educate them so they stop creating so many problems.

I completely disagree. Big shiny pools bring in the crowds, crowds bring in the dollars, dollars bring in more and better coaches. A dumpy squatty hot pool is not going to attract as many folks. If you want proof, go to cities that have mega pool complexes and the old dumpsters. See which ones have overall better teams and coaches. Well,maybe this team is an exception then.... There are several HS in my area that have respectable to outstanding aquatic centers, but their club programs have trouble recruiting the areas top swimmers. Would the 200+/- Y swimmers prefer a shiny new facility? Bet ya, but I have yet to see people leave for that reason. As a matter of fact, this team has continued to draw swimmers from other teams while charging some of the highest fees, because the coaching staff is so solid.