88' pool temp. creating fustrating training enviroment ;(
Former Member
Hello, I am new to this forum and masters swimming. I am recently getting back into the world of competitive swimming after a 3 year hiatus as a coach of my local YMCA/USS team. I live in Alabama where amateur swimming is not very respected or recognized.
I was hired as assistant coach about 3 weeks ago, I have an extensive background as an age group swimmer, and also swam collegiality for 2 years. I am now coaching an up-and-coming new team comprised mostly of younger swimmers (8-14yrs), also with 3-4 older ones who aspire to swim in college who certainly have the potential to do so.
My problem is this:
The YMCA pool we train in through the winter is a small 4 lane gutterless pool that is used for multiple activities like swim-lessons and water aerobics/arthritic classes for the elderly. For many years prior the pool was kept at 88-91 degrees, the ladies doing arthritic classes mid-day liked a giant spa they could socialize comfortably in with a resting heart-rate. Dare it drop below 88, heavy complaints would soon follow to all levels of the YMCA's authority. Since the start of the swim team about 3 years ago, the YMCA "compromised" a temp. of 87-88. In the 4 weeks I have been around, I will sometimes hop in with the kids and train with them (I am trying to get somewhat back into shape to compete again). I soon noticed how UBELIEVEABLY HOT and suffocating it was to swim in...making any long or even simi-hard set extremely uncomfortable/nearly impossible, my face, back of my shoulders and neck get solid cherry red. We are now in the meat of our yardage for the season, and some of the hardworking kids have been getting sick, nauseated, head-aches, and sometimes even vomiting after sets that they have the capability to do. Now I believe it is holding back their progress as competitive swimmers. The head coach has complained about it in past months/years, but the YMCA just nods its head yet never listens. I brought the topic up last week, and gave the coach what little info I could find on the internet about how unsafe it was to train in water this hot. We appealed to the Y again, the aquatics director and athletics coordinator said they could compromise 86. I wasn't satisfied, but couldn't do much to retaliate since I am very new and only 22 yrs old to boot. Nobody here except the head coach and myself know a thing about competitive swimming, it is very frustrating that a small group of 8 old "bobbers" can dictate the way the pool is ran based on their own personal comfort level.
The only thing I can think of is putting together a document explaining legitimate safety reasons that our pool temperature is too high. But I am having difficulty finding specific information on the topic. Sorry for the long rant/complaint, i just believe the kids deserve better training conditions which translates to better opportunities in the long run. I am pushing for 83-85 degrees as a compromise. All and any input is much appreciated...thank you.
Wow, thanks a lot everyone. Advice from older(sorry)/wiser people is valued, any links and articles are highly appreciated as well. Some of you hit the nail on the head with the way they complain relentlessly and stalk the aquatic director. Even worse, a few of them have deep pockets and are close long-term friends with the branch head bossman. I have not had a talk with him yet, and do not know if I should. I am fairly new and not the head coach, I do not want to create any further tension between the team and the Y at the moment, it might backfire on me or the program.
Today the temp. was 85.0, much better than it has been. A few of the kids complained to their parents recently, some might have said something. I would like to ask the kids to complain to their parents and the Y, but it doesn't feel right. My best bet right now is to keep gathering all the information I can about the safety issues of training in heat. I even found a little info on how hot pools are more unsanitary and promote overall nastiness.
The aquatics director does care about the program and sympathizes with us, but from what he says it ultimately is out of his hands to "meet the requirements I'm asking for". I have only trained in water under 83 before, I did a small set of 4x200s on 2:20 tuesday and it nearly killed me, I had to get out of the pool to breath the cooler air. It took me an astonishingly long time to cool down from an 800 yrd set. Its pains me to think of what the kids are feeling after 6k.
Elise and Mookie are right, use the system to change the system. Another point of information you can use is the cost to the facility to heat the pool. Even if it is an indoor pool, the incremental costs are not insignificant, so unless one of the "hot eight" is paying for the giant jacuzzi, that argument should also resonate. No matter who you talk to, try always to speak as a reasonable person who has the best interests of all of the users of the facility in mind.
The hotties, if in slightly less warm water, will have more incentive to move about, which is therapeutic for arthritis.
The kids will obviously be helped with slightly cooler water than they are now forced to endure. The frequent and chronic illnesses brought on by the high temps are a good point to use.
83-85 degree water is plenty warm for any activity and still bearable for swimming workouts. I frequently had to swim in 85 degree soup in a Division 1 university because the swim team did not control the pools, the Rec dept. did.
I think you have a good grasp of what you are up against and the fact that you are not going wild eyed into the office making threats is something that I would have been unable to resist in my youth.
Best of luck, keep us posted.
Wow, thanks a lot everyone. Advice from older(sorry)/wiser people is valued, any links and articles are highly appreciated as well. Some of you hit the nail on the head with the way they complain relentlessly and stalk the aquatic director. Even worse, a few of them have deep pockets and are close long-term friends with the branch head bossman. I have not had a talk with him yet, and do not know if I should. I am fairly new and not the head coach, I do not want to create any further tension between the team and the Y at the moment, it might backfire on me or the program.
Today the temp. was 85.0, much better than it has been. A few of the kids complained to their parents recently, some might have said something. I would like to ask the kids to complain to their parents and the Y, but it doesn't feel right. My best bet right now is to keep gathering all the information I can about the safety issues of training in heat. I even found a little info on how hot pools are more unsanitary and promote overall nastiness.
The aquatics director does care about the program and sympathizes with us, but from what he says it ultimately is out of his hands to "meet the requirements I'm asking for". I have only trained in water under 83 before, I did a small set of 4x200s on 2:20 tuesday and it nearly killed me, I had to get out of the pool to breath the cooler air. It took me an astonishingly long time to cool down from an 800 yrd set. Its pains me to think of what the kids are feeling after 6k.
Elise and Mookie are right, use the system to change the system. Another point of information you can use is the cost to the facility to heat the pool. Even if it is an indoor pool, the incremental costs are not insignificant, so unless one of the "hot eight" is paying for the giant jacuzzi, that argument should also resonate. No matter who you talk to, try always to speak as a reasonable person who has the best interests of all of the users of the facility in mind.
The hotties, if in slightly less warm water, will have more incentive to move about, which is therapeutic for arthritis.
The kids will obviously be helped with slightly cooler water than they are now forced to endure. The frequent and chronic illnesses brought on by the high temps are a good point to use.
83-85 degree water is plenty warm for any activity and still bearable for swimming workouts. I frequently had to swim in 85 degree soup in a Division 1 university because the swim team did not control the pools, the Rec dept. did.
I think you have a good grasp of what you are up against and the fact that you are not going wild eyed into the office making threats is something that I would have been unable to resist in my youth.
Best of luck, keep us posted.
