Anonymous
Post 07/30/2025 10:17     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:A little perspective, 2.5ft is the depth of a soaking bathtub. Nope, not going to let my kid dive into a bathtub.


You must either be very wealthy for such a lavish, custom bathtub, or only understand the metric system.
Anonymous
Post 07/30/2025 08:54     Subject: NVSL All-stars
A little perspective, 2.5ft is the depth of a soaking bathtub. Nope, not going to let my kid dive into a bathtub.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 17:15     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:USA Swimming rules state 4 ft as the minimum depth for starting from blocks or a deck. Under 4ft, in the water starts (eg push off from the wall) should be performed. NVSL makes exceptions to the USA swimming rules to accommodate the inadequate facilities.



I guess the naysayers know more than USA swimming as they are unable to admit it is a danger.


I guess those saying it's unsafe know more than NVSL as they are unable to recognize that NVSL has allowed Pinecrest to host meets since 1979, apparently without any major incidents.

As someone else noted, many -- perhaps most -- NVSL pools have a depth of less than 4 feet at the start end. If you are relying on USA Swimming rules as the standard for safety, then you have to say that all of those pools are also unsafe. I think that most would dismiss that argument as absurd.

Ultimately, NVSL is a recreational swim league. If you don't think that a pool is safe, don't let your child swim there. It's that simple.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 17:07     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:USA Swimming rules state 4 ft as the minimum depth for starting from blocks or a deck. Under 4ft, in the water starts (eg push off from the wall) should be performed. NVSL makes exceptions to the USA swimming rules to accommodate the inadequate facilities.



I guess the naysayers know more than USA swimming as they are unable to admit it is a danger.


1. I don't think anyone said that it's not a danger. It's a calculated risk, it's not ideal, and the only other option was to not have IAS. If you feel this is too much of a risk, you are welcome to sit your child out. No one is forcing you to let your child swim. If you believe the option of not having a meet - you are making yourself judge and jury to determine the amount of risk you feel everyone else should be comfortable with. Once more for those in the back - if you feel the risk is too great YOUR CHILD DOESN"T HAVE TO SWIM.

2. I would wager 80% of NVSL pools (and other Northern VA summer leagues to Colonial Swimming League, Reston Swim Team Association, and Country Club League) do not have a 4ft deep start end.


Good points. Thank you.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:47     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:Cancel summer swim!


Agree - the chance of pool toe is way to high!!!
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:43     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Cancel summer swim!
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:42     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:USA Swimming rules state 4 ft as the minimum depth for starting from blocks or a deck. Under 4ft, in the water starts (eg push off from the wall) should be performed. NVSL makes exceptions to the USA swimming rules to accommodate the inadequate facilities.



I guess the naysayers know more than USA swimming as they are unable to admit it is a danger.


1. I don't think anyone said that it's not a danger. It's a calculated risk, it's not ideal, and the only other option was to not have IAS. If you feel this is too much of a risk, you are welcome to sit your child out. No one is forcing you to let your child swim. If you believe the option of not having a meet - you are making yourself judge and jury to determine the amount of risk you feel everyone else should be comfortable with. Once more for those in the back - if you feel the risk is too great YOUR CHILD DOESN"T HAVE TO SWIM.

2. I would wager 80% of NVSL pools (and other Northern VA summer leagues to Colonial Swimming League, Reston Swim Team Association, and Country Club League) do not have a 4ft deep start end.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:40     Subject: NVSL All-stars
To be clear that’s for certification reasons and probably insurance too. Nvsl has its own accident and general liability policies.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:26     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:USA Swimming rules state 4 ft as the minimum depth for starting from blocks or a deck. Under 4ft, in the water starts (eg push off from the wall) should be performed. NVSL makes exceptions to the USA swimming rules to accommodate the inadequate facilities.



I guess the naysayers know more than USA swimming as they are unable to admit it is a danger.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:24     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:Let's talk about pools that would be a good alternative. I'll start.

Waynewood, Stratford, Springboard, they've all hosted IAS and definitely fit the criteria. Waynewood and Springboard in particular have big fields for team areas.


I can't speak for all of these, but I know first hand that Springboard said NO. I can make a good assumption, that those other pools were approached as well. So they weren't alternatives. The only option was the one that was given.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:22     Subject: NVSL All-stars
USA Swimming rules state 4 ft as the minimum depth for starting from blocks or a deck. Under 4ft, in the water starts (eg push off from the wall) should be performed. NVSL makes exceptions to the USA swimming rules to accommodate the inadequate facilities.

Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:06     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:DP also it was never 2.5 ft. It was overfilled to the max. Looking at where the levels came up to my swimmer when they stood up, I estimated it to be well over 3ft.


Thanks for your estimate. It is still unsafe.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 16:05     Subject: Re:NVSL All-stars
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This got hashed and rehashed last summer.

NVSL should have a list of agreed upon criteria a pool must meet to host the league wide meets. Evaluate all the pools in the league and identify which ones are suitable. Incentivize those pools to host somehow (entry fees, other ideas?). If none step up, don't have the meet.

The histrionics about well if you don't like it your pool should do it are a waste of time.


They do. And Pinecrest was evaluated against all that criteria before they were given the go-ahead to host.

Water depth was not part of the criteria to be evaluated for a swim meet not using in-water starts? That’s laughable and quite frankly kind of illustrates why summer league should not be taken as seriously as people in NVSL take it.


Did someone say it wasn’t?

It’s a total joke if someone considered water depth and thought 2.5 feet is just fine. I’m not an NVSL parent but just reading this thread it is shocking to me how many parents are so indignant and acting like diving into 2.5 feet of water is NBD. It’s not a personal affront to anyone. I would defy you to find anything supporting the idea of recreational swimmers diving into 2.5 feet of water as a safe practice. My kid swims year round, so yes they could do it, but whether kids can do it and whether they should be doing it are 2 different things. I have a hard time comprehending that this league that everyone in this area touts as one of the nation’s top summer swim leagues does this.


Sorry to hear that your comprehension skills are not allowing for the fact that YES, it is happening. That YES swim meets have been happening at Pinecrest for decades. AND there were even personal bests achieved at All Stars (at least one by a 15-18 male swimmer). And, in the past - NVSL records made at Pinecrest.

Is it ideal to dive into 2.5 - 3 ft of water? No. No one is saying it's ideal. But, no one is proving it's a danger for summer swimmers to do it either.


You are being obtuse. It is beyond less than ideal. It is unsafe and dangerous. What the hell does best times have to do with it? So what if it has been done 1,000,000 times before. It is still unsafe.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 15:54     Subject: NVSL All-stars
Let's talk about pools that would be a good alternative. I'll start.

Waynewood, Stratford, Springboard, they've all hosted IAS and definitely fit the criteria. Waynewood and Springboard in particular have big fields for team areas.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 15:48     Subject: NVSL All-stars
DP also it was never 2.5 ft. It was overfilled to the max. Looking at where the levels came up to my swimmer when they stood up, I estimated it to be well over 3ft.