Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 12:03     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:Swimmers can use blocks during practices (and tryouts) because they’re supervised by trained coaches. Individuals can’t use them randomly, no matter how experienced they are. It’s frustrating for experienced swimmers, but there’s no way for lifeguards to know who’s safe or not during open swim times. (Unless MP himself walked in!)
To the RMSC tryout person - please don’t come at me with the USA Swimming manual to prove why your DD was wronged during tryouts. We’ve all seen your argument and heard about your report. I’d like to consider that DCUM matter closed.


and covered by USA Swimming insurance/liability policy.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 11:11     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Tryout/starting blocks dad is either very entitled or a troll.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 11:09     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Odd that at my summer club the 15 year-old lifeguards have no problem ensuring the safety of the safety of the 8-12 year old kids working on their starts in their own lanes.


Are other people allowed to join the lanes at random? Or are the kids lining up and taking turns? Are there also coaches managing the process?

You're talking about two totally different things.



I’m talking about the exact same thing. One child in one lane practicing starts alone in the deep end. No other people joining, no coaches.


OK, because you implied that there are multiple kids (you said kids) and that it was at a swim club, which I took to mean practice.

If the size of your summer pool is such that one life guard is watching a few lanes, and the number of swimmers is such that the culture means that there are never two people in a lane, then I can see how that could work. That's totally different from a public pool.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 11:04     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Odd that at my summer club the 15 year-old lifeguards have no problem ensuring the safety of the safety of the 8-12 year old kids working on their starts in their own lanes.


Are other people allowed to join the lanes at random? Or are the kids lining up and taking turns? Are there also coaches managing the process?

You're talking about two totally different things.



I’m talking about the exact same thing. One child in one lane practicing starts alone in the deep end. No other people joining, no coaches.

Off the blocks or off the edge? Regardless, I bet this isn’t actually allowed outside of practices or club-sanctioned lessons. Our summer pool lifeguards would shut it down immediately.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 11:02     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Odd that at my summer club the 15 year-old lifeguards have no problem ensuring the safety of the safety of the 8-12 year old kids working on their starts in their own lanes.


Are other people allowed to join the lanes at random? Or are the kids lining up and taking turns? Are there also coaches managing the process?

You're talking about two totally different things.



I’m talking about the exact same thing. One child in one lane practicing starts alone in the deep end. No other people joining, no coaches.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 10:25     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:Odd that at my summer club the 15 year-old lifeguards have no problem ensuring the safety of the safety of the 8-12 year old kids working on their starts in their own lanes.


Are other people allowed to join the lanes at random? Or are the kids lining up and taking turns? Are there also coaches managing the process?

You're talking about two totally different things.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 10:15     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Odd that at my summer club the 15 year-old lifeguards have no problem ensuring the safety of the safety of the 8-12 year old kids working on their starts in their own lanes.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 10:12     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:good lord. i'm old and nobody was ever allowed to use starting blocks except for swim team DURING swim team events.

this is a you problem.


When should a UNAT swimmer be able to use the blocks for practice? If the answer is never, it was a problem then and it’s a problem now.

The risk of using the blocks is hitting something hard and causing injury. If the swimmer is in his/her own lane and if the lane is the same depth as the diving well, there is no risk.


If you're a 16 year old lifeguard, assigned to make sure everyone in all the lanes is safe, noticing when someone is approaching the blocks, and stopping to figure out whether or not there are other swimmers that are in that lane, or might be preparing to get in that lane, is too time consuming. It creates a safety hazard for everyone else. If you're Michael Phelps, you have the money to pay for some private swim time. Everyone else should be supervised by a coach.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 10:05     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:good lord. i'm old and nobody was ever allowed to use starting blocks except for swim team DURING swim team events.

this is a you problem.


When should a UNAT swimmer be able to use the blocks for practice? If the answer is never, it was a problem then and it’s a problem now.

The risk of using the blocks is hitting something hard and causing injury. If the swimmer is in his/her own lane and if the lane is the same depth as the diving well, there is no risk.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 10:01     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Swimmers can use blocks during practices (and tryouts) because they’re supervised by trained coaches. Individuals can’t use them randomly, no matter how experienced they are. It’s frustrating for experienced swimmers, but there’s no way for lifeguards to know who’s safe or not during open swim times. (Unless MP himself walked in!)
To the RMSC tryout person - please don’t come at me with the USA Swimming manual to prove why your DD was wronged during tryouts. We’ve all seen your argument and heard about your report. I’d like to consider that DCUM matter closed.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 09:57     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
good lord. i'm old and nobody was ever allowed to use starting blocks except for swim team DURING swim team events.

this is a you problem.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 09:54     Subject: Re:use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You’re not Michael Phelps. Leave the starting block home.


Michael Phelps isn't allowed to use a starting block either, dingus


And this is also stupid. Not allowing Michael Phelps to use the blocks makes the rules seem dingus, now doesn’t it.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 08:21     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
You need to get an approved IEP or 504 if you want to deviate from the general rules due to your giftedness.

The public resources are set up for the safety and welfare of the general public's general needs, not your niche hobbies.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 08:19     Subject: use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:Masters swimmer here: masters teams don’t practice starts. Most are about reaching a certain yardage. So if you want to practice your start, you’re screwed.

“You’re not Michael Phelps”: get bent. Masters swimming is full of former NCAA swimmers.


Neat. Guess they’ll have to pay for private pools.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 08:17     Subject: Re:use of "Starting Block" in montgomery county swimming pool
Anonymous wrote:You’re not Michael Phelps. Leave the starting block home.


Michael Phelps isn't allowed to use a starting block either, dingus