Swimming on your Period?

Former Member
Former Member
I just became the coach of my first swim team, and I, being a male, am having a hard time with the whole period thing. My girls are middle school level, and a little shy about the subject, as am I. Now, I know that you can swim on your period by using a tampon, but they cringed at the idea. However, on a 20 girl team, I've got as many as 6-7 girls sitting out daily because of it. I know that's far FAR too high. I'm about this close to going out and buying a box of tampons to shove in their face if they don't dress. So my questions are: How necessary is it that you wear a tampon? Is it an every day thing? are there times when it's worse than others? And, how can I easily make the lives of the swimmers who don't swim (and keep in mind it has to be for a group of 6-7 people) a living hell. I need a dry land work out that can be done on the pool deck that takes little effort to watch (so I can coach the other girls) and something they can't really slack off - I keep giving them push ups and they barely go down. I really can't think of anything outside of making the actual swim session fun, so if you guys have ideas on how to do that too it might work, too. It need to work on something important though.
Parents
  • If you truly have 6-7 girls sitting out every day then they are yankin' your chain. They should only be menstruating once (3 days worth worrying about) every 28 days for Pets's sake! Unless they are coordinating their cycles perfectly, you should never have that many out at a time. REQUIRE a note from Mom stating that they can't swim. I'd bet money that will take care of the slackers. Stats geek that I am...IF each girls' period is truly independent of the others' (can't they be synchronized? I've heard that happens) then there is only a 2% chance that you could have 6 or more girls sitting out on a 20-person team. I'm assuming the 3-day duration is correct and that everyone who has a period elects to skip practice, meaning you should average just over 2 skips a day. (Can you tell I'm bored with grading? :))
Reply
  • If you truly have 6-7 girls sitting out every day then they are yankin' your chain. They should only be menstruating once (3 days worth worrying about) every 28 days for Pets's sake! Unless they are coordinating their cycles perfectly, you should never have that many out at a time. REQUIRE a note from Mom stating that they can't swim. I'd bet money that will take care of the slackers. Stats geek that I am...IF each girls' period is truly independent of the others' (can't they be synchronized? I've heard that happens) then there is only a 2% chance that you could have 6 or more girls sitting out on a 20-person team. I'm assuming the 3-day duration is correct and that everyone who has a period elects to skip practice, meaning you should average just over 2 skips a day. (Can you tell I'm bored with grading? :))
Children
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