S/o: stealing at the pool

[Anonymous]

At an A meet yesterday I overheard a big group of girls who were probably 11/12 in a bathroom. One of them didn’t have her team suit and another was missing a cap. Some of the girls chimed in and were like “just take one from lost and found or look for one in someone’s bag”.

I did intervene and got a bunch of rolled eyes, but it reminded me of the towel stealing. Obviously this is something kids do, but how alert do you need to be to it and how can it be stopped if kids see it as normal?

I send my kids with bags that zip and our team caps have the kids’ name on them, but goggles definitely seem to considered fair game if left unattended for even a minute. Our pool and team are small so it’s not like there are 1000 families and 300 kids and it’s an anonymous crime.

[Anonymous]

Not a swim team mom but I overheard a teen and her friend going through the lost and found and she said oh this towel is cute and took it…

Good for you for intervening. I didn’t get into it with this girl but now I feel like I should if it’s such a common issue.

[Anonymous]

That’s pretty bad. As the adult in the room I think it’s right for you to say “wow, I’m surprised yo hear you talking like that. I thought kids on the Dolphins weren’t the type to steal from others - and what you are talking about is definitely stealing.” Some kids will roll their eyes but there are definitely many who, even if they don’t show it at the time, will be listening.

Googles or team suits should not be considered fair game to keep. Borrowing goggles from the lost and found for a practice or race is acceptable, but the vast majority of kids/parents on our team would not think it’s okay to keep them. We’re not an especially wealthy pool though so maybe that reduces some entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At an A meet yesterday I overheard a big group of girls who were probably 11/12 in a bathroom. One of them didn’t have her team suit and another was missing a cap. Some of the girls chimed in and were like “just take one from lost and found or look for one in someone’s bag”.

I did intervene and got a bunch of rolled eyes, but it reminded me of the towel stealing. Obviously this is something kids do, but how alert do you need to be to it and how can it be stopped if kids see it as normal?

I send my kids with bags that zip and our team caps have the kids’ name on them, but goggles definitely seem to considered fair game if left unattended for even a minute. Our pool and team are small so it’s not like there are 1000 families and 300 kids and it’s an anonymous crime.

Were they wearing kneeskins or doping in the bathroom? We should have volunteers posted in the bathrooms and at the lost and found to help curb the behavior of 12 year old girls from taking things that aren't theirs.

[Anonymous]

Cap from the lost and found for a race (that then gets returned to the lost and found) is fair game.

[Anonymous]

[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At an A meet yesterday I overheard a big group of girls who were probably 11/12 in a bathroom. One of them didn’t have her team suit and another was missing a cap. Some of the girls chimed in and were like “just take one from lost and found or look for one in someone’s bag”.

I did intervene and got a bunch of rolled eyes, but it reminded me of the towel stealing. Obviously this is something kids do, but how alert do you need to be to it and how can it be stopped if kids see it as normal?

I send my kids with bags that zip and our team caps have the kids’ name on them, but goggles definitely seem to considered fair game if left unattended for even a minute. Our pool and team are small so it’s not like there are 1000 families and 300 kids and it’s an anonymous crime.

Were they wearing kneeskins or doping in the bathroom? We should have volunteers posted in the bathrooms and at the lost and found to help curb the behavior of 12 year old girls from taking things that aren't theirs.

OP and I was actually the bathroom volunteer and my job is supposed to be to stand by the sinks (not the stalls or changing area) and stop cellphone usage/potential videoing before it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At an A meet yesterday I overheard a big group of girls who were probably 11/12 in a bathroom. One of them didn’t have her team suit and another was missing a cap. Some of the girls chimed in and were like “just take one from lost and found or look for one in someone’s bag”.

I did intervene and got a bunch of rolled eyes, but it reminded me of the towel stealing. Obviously this is something kids do, but how alert do you need to be to it and how can it be stopped if kids see it as normal?

I send my kids with bags that zip and our team caps have the kids’ name on them, but goggles definitely seem to considered fair game if left unattended for even a minute. Our pool and team are small so it’s not like there are 1000 families and 300 kids and it’s an anonymous crime.

Were they wearing kneeskins or doping in the bathroom? We should have volunteers posted in the bathrooms and at the lost and found to help curb the behavior of 12 year old girls from taking things that aren't theirs.

Breaking a record with someone else's kneeskins, priceless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cap from the lost and found for a race (that then gets returned to the lost and found) is fair game.

Yep. Same with goggles. Both of those can break easily before a race even if you brought them. Just return when done. Never heard of anyone finding a team suit there but it’s not unusual for them to get left at our pool so maybe, but seems pretty unlikely there’d be one the right size.

They shouldn’t be in someone else’s bag obviously

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At an A meet yesterday I overheard a big group of girls who were probably 11/12 in a bathroom. One of them didn’t have her team suit and another was missing a cap. Some of the girls chimed in and were like “just take one from lost and found or look for one in someone’s bag”.

I did intervene and got a bunch of rolled eyes, but it reminded me of the towel stealing. Obviously this is something kids do, but how alert do you need to be to it and how can it be stopped if kids see it as normal?

I send my kids with bags that zip and our team caps have the kids’ name on them, but goggles definitely seem to considered fair game if left unattended for even a minute. Our pool and team are small so it’s not like there are 1000 families and 300 kids and it’s an anonymous crime.

Were they wearing kneeskins or doping in the bathroom? We should have volunteers posted in the bathrooms and at the lost and found to help curb the behavior of 12 year old girls from taking things that aren't theirs.

I always wonder about the people who get super defensive about these kinds of posts

[Anonymous]

Idk the swim coach tells kids to take spare goggles from the lost and found if they've forgotten theirs

[Anonymous]

Our lost and found stuff is definitely considered communal property, but you put it back before you leave in case the actual owner comes looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At an A meet yesterday I overheard a big group of girls who were probably 11/12 in a bathroom. One of them didn’t have her team suit and another was missing a cap. Some of the girls chimed in and were like “just take one from lost and found or look for one in someone’s bag”.

I did intervene and got a bunch of rolled eyes, but it reminded me of the towel stealing. Obviously this is something kids do, but how alert do you need to be to it and how can it be stopped if kids see it as normal?

I send my kids with bags that zip and our team caps have the kids’ name on them, but goggles definitely seem to considered fair game if left unattended for even a minute. Our pool and team are small so it’s not like there are 1000 families and 300 kids and it’s an anonymous crime.

Were they wearing kneeskins or doping in the bathroom? We should have volunteers posted in the bathrooms and at the lost and found to help curb the behavior of 12 year old girls from taking things that aren't theirs.

OP and I was actually the bathroom volunteer and my job is supposed to be to stand by the sinks (not the stalls or changing area) and stop cellphone usage/potential videoing before it happens.

You seriously have a bathroom monitor as a volunteer job? What is wrong with the culture at your pool that makes this necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At an A meet yesterday I overheard a big group of girls who were probably 11/12 in a bathroom. One of them didn’t have her team suit and another was missing a cap. Some of the girls chimed in and were like “just take one from lost and found or look for one in someone’s bag”.

I did intervene and got a bunch of rolled eyes, but it reminded me of the towel stealing. Obviously this is something kids do, but how alert do you need to be to it and how can it be stopped if kids see it as normal?

I send my kids with bags that zip and our team caps have the kids’ name on them, but goggles definitely seem to considered fair game if left unattended for even a minute. Our pool and team are small so it’s not like there are 1000 families and 300 kids and it’s an anonymous crime.

Were they wearing kneeskins or doping in the bathroom? We should have volunteers posted in the bathrooms and at the lost and found to help curb the behavior of 12 year old girls from taking things that aren't theirs.

OP and I was actually the bathroom volunteer and my job is supposed to be to stand by the sinks (not the stalls or changing area) and stop cellphone usage/potential videoing before it happens.

A
Swim meet with a bathroom volunteer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idk the swim coach tells kids to take spare goggles from the lost and found if they've forgotten theirs

Yeah my kid definitely showed up to a practice last summer without a swimsuit (whoops) and we borrowed one from L&F, washed it that night and returned it the next day. I see pilfering the L&F as completely different than going through someone's stuff.

[Anonymous]

One of the swim instructors at RSFC had our kick board one time. She just found it in the RSFC equipment room.