When they drained the diving well/50m pool the structure started to give way! The facility has been left to rot for 20years now (since the Olympics were announced and Stratford took every penny! ) The Mayor has promised a £50m investment but its still not surfaced! Whilst its technically London officially its still within the Kent boundary and is the only 50m pool in “Kent”. It meant last years county distance events were ran SCM and only the sprints went to Stratford as it’s too expensive to rent for multiple weekends!
This counties facilities are an absolute joke. Lovely new pool we used yesterday for a L4 club gala, and it didnt have enough room poolside for 50kids! another new local pool is the same. It just needs a bit more deck space and they could be used for L3 galas! Another local pool was knocked down and rebuilt, “underground” no gallery and a double shallow end so clubs cant even use it to practice racing dives! Then all the decent older venues are being left to rot. The authorities seem to think that a pool is for leisure swimmers only.
I read this thread & realise I didn’t appreciate the public pool our club uses, unfortunately it’s not the most local to me & a 25 minute drive but the club takes over the fast lane every morning, nobody 1:45+ is getting in & they let us use all the toys. Need to be ok with a bit of chop though & getting swam over by a shark coming through.
I think I have sorted out how to use the SonR at our local pool, albeit it will cost me £14 a throw, though we will at least be sure of a lane to ourselves (even though that was never really a problem before…).
So then what happens ?
Christmas !
Pools shut, or on restricted opening hours, or weird timetabling etc for well over a week
Am I the only swimmer / Triathlete who thinks it goes on far too long ? ! ?
And who wants Bank Holidays in the middle of winter anyway, that’s what I want to know !
Replacement watch needed.
I have had Timex Triathlon watches for years and years (the red and black one, I’d insert a pic of one but the system doesn’t seem to let me). In fact I bought a load when they were stopping selling them ! But I am onto my last one now…
I like it because it’s relatively thin, is “unfussy” and has two separate easily accessible Start/Stop AND Split/Reset buttons on the front.
As I understand it having the battery replaced does not guarantee it being waterproof, and in any case the buttons are just about worn out anyway !
Does anyone know of a similar type watch that is still available ?
We have used the SONR twice now, (the first time only for 7 lengths as mentioned above…) and I have concluded it is so good that, for one to one coaching at any rate, I would say it increases coaching efficiency by 100%, and I am not exaggerating.
It’s obvious really isn’t it ? If you were taking a driving lesson you would expect to be told what you were doing wrong as you did it, not two minutes later !
Coaching ones own child can be a PITA as they never really seem that interested in listening to their own parents, my lad certainly didn’t. In fact he made it as obvious as he could he was not listening as I tried to give him tips at the end of each rep. But, for some reason, he is more than happy for me to coach him whilst he is actually swimming. I am not entirely sure why that is but it is the case.
My lad’s first gala (against other clubs) is due in a couple of weeks, and I’m already getting nervous… It’s me as much, if not more, than him who is going to have to get used to him not being the best swimmer for his age in the pool !
Does anyone know what the rules are as regards filming ones child in a race ? I am desperate to do so…
On the one hand there is the modern paranoia for banning everything, but on the other Swim England’s policy is (apparently):
Swim England do not wish to stop parents photographing their children if they wish at their “moments of glory”…
Wonderful.
However, they then rather contradict themselves with this:
…but all clubs have to ensure they do all we can to safeguard childrenʼs well being in the current climate of concern.
WTF does the “the current climate of concern” even mean ?
Other than “pandering to the paranoid” ?
We video most races, never been stopped. if you are in the gallery no one will say a thing. It is largely down to the individual clubs running the gala and I have been asked to sign a “waiver” at one place.
All races are Heat Declared Winner until you get to championship events so even in weaker strokes you are competitive in a heat. Overall AG times are rarely known (except by the adult) . Worth keeping an eye during day as medals are handed out for AG top 3 usually and child usually has to go collect (although any left over end of day are given to the child’s club to pass on). Most galas are run through “Meet Mobile”. Think it costs £5 a year on App Store to download. The odd one is just an online link. Remember to teach him the stroke rules, DQ’s are common for things like single handed touch on Breast and Fly, on back turn not a continuous movement of arm to initiate tumble . Some kids also over rotate past 90degrees on back finish as they worry about banging their head so need to learn to count strokes into wall from flags.(usually 7or 8 for the younger ones). also not to worry him but any movement on blocks is a false start so as the blow single whistle to get on blocks, settle and on take your marks remain motionless.
Is it worth me contacting the venue (Ponds Forge) before hand asking if I can sign a waiver ? It’d certainly be less stressful that way ! Or is a better strategy to just play innocent if anyone says anything.
I have just received an answer from Stocksbridge pool where my lad swims, and most of his races (club galas) occur and they have confirmed there is a ban on all photography even when the pool hall has technically been hired by Pentaqua. The manager was quick to spot that Swim England’s refreshing policy (Swim England do not wish to stop parents photographing their children if they wish at their “moments of glory") is somewhat meaningless when they then go on to add all all this “cover our back stuff” about possible child abuse. The latter is BS anyway, quite apart from anything else swimmers wearing goggles and swim caps are pretty unrecognisable anyway !
The unpalatable truth is that paranoia (and excessive risk aversion) is the modern disease…
I don’t think many kids will be DQed as it is meant to be a fun first gala for kids, many of whom are not even in squads, just from swimming lessons. In fact I got the impression kids would only be DQed for swimming the wrong stroke !
That said there were some pretty quick swimmers at that gala in 2014, boys 25m free won in 17.7 is not hanging about. I think my lad will suffer because his starts are poor, esp off the blocks which he does not even want to use. I think all squads should do more diving off the blocks practice, if it was up to me his squad would have one set of blocks up at all sessions and all swimmers invited to do at least 5 dives pretty at least every week.
If its licensed (it will usually be even for a club gala) then you’ll have qualified officials and part of the learning curve for the kids is to DQ even the youngest. I thought it harsh when I first got into it, my son was 7 and was DQ’d on a Bk finish but the idea is that they learn from it. If its just a “training session” then no worries. Best to get into good habits anyway. The kids soon learn its normal though to get them. We had a “tadpoles” gala just before Xmas and I had to DQ about 7 kids for single hand touch. Whilst the reports weren’t done so not sent into SE it meant they didn’t get an official time. It’s awful doing it, I made sure to explain everything to them after (as a coach its what i should do, I’m not allowed as an official in opens to communicate though) but one of my pet grievances is when you don’t even find out why! Sad thing is its one persons opinion also so no chance to appeal or question it. Most judges are good, generally all were/are parents but some are your typical jobsworth committee types though, cant wait to DQ someone.
@SheffSwim – The most unpalatable truth here appears to be your breath-taking ignorance of child abuse. Unless you’d like to expand on what exactly you think is ‘BS’ about trying to prevent it?
Do you really believe the introduction of ‘modern’ child safe guarding policies is a bad thing?
As is sounds like you actually believe a child gets more than enough protection from just wearing their swim kit as it is. FFS!
Or would you really like to go back to the ‘good old days’ of simply asking what is all the fuss about, as you personally can’t see a problem?
Did turning a blind eye help prevent child abuse with Priests/Saville/Rochdale/etc.?
There is a real problem that safeguarding is trying to prevent.
Is the system perfect?
Probably not.
But dismissing it as merely ‘paranoia’ is deeply offensive and suggests you are lucky enough to have no experience of what you are talking about so dismissively.
@EveryoneElse – My apologies, I thought I’d already cover this **** with Brett Sutton on TT1.0.
No need to apologise @Paul_L , i have lost count of the Child Protection and Safeguarding courses Ive done, L1 and L2 swim and tri coaching both cover it (not L3 though), every 3 years swim and tri i do same course, swim officiating i did “contemporary issues” and also did a child protection in sport with NSPCC off my own back, that latter including some awful videos to sit through so you get “used to” the shocking truth so you dont react if it happens in real life. Now much of it is repetitive, some its argued is BS , pointless or common sense by some but for me it means its now ingrained. Plenty is about enabling you to do your best to protect children by actions you do yourself, ie never position youself behind a swimmer and the gallary so parents can see every action. To protect me from allegations, some ask? No, its always for the child and making sure coaches are accountable. Another is dont sit a kid in your car front seat, why? You may accidentally touch a leg , “is that to prevent an allegation being made against you?” , no it may upset or worry them, particularly if they’ve been a victim of abuse previously.
Much of it seems pointless to some because theyve not been through the education or worse seen the effects of abuse (fortunately i havent) but a lot of intelligent people have spent a lot of time just to try and make it even a bit safer.
Videoing / photos are one area being relaxed now as risk v reward is very low but if you cant, thats life.
Oh and Wavepower is like the bible of Child Protection. SE did a fantastic job, admittedly they had real problems previously, but to their credit they were probably the 1st NGB to take it very seriously and bring in new practices.
I cannot see how videoing kids racing in a gala outs them in any significant danger, no I cannot
I would have no objection to anyone videoing my lad racing, even putting to on the net, esp if he wins !
Pray tell me, exactly how does that put him in any direct danger ?
I am prepared to bet you tenner that nobody has ever worked out the objective risk involved in the use of cameras at galas, or even at school performances. It is FAR more likely that some official thought, well, theoretically a child could be put at risk from this, and some paranoid parents have mentioned it to me, so let’s just ban it as its no skin off my nose.
Compared to even the risk they are at falling down the stairs, or, far more, from their own parents driving, it is not a risk even worth bothering with.
It’s modern paranoia writ large.
Is that for real ?
Seriously ?
Parents are really that paranoid ?
How worrying is that…
If you ever coach my lad I officially give you my permission to position yourself between me and my lad.
Pathetic.
I actually wrote that the wrong way round basically its dont be hidden behind the kids, stay visible to all, but yes for real. It’s not about the parents, its about the kids and making sure they feel safe and that everyone can see what may or may not be going on. Theres no idea what sort of issues they have outside the pool environment, so you just have to be mindful of behaviours at all times.
@SheffSwim – Are you really doubling down on your theory that child abuse is nothing more than a figment of the imagination of paranoid parents and is no worst that falling down stairs?
In which case, I hope you never have to experience life outside your ‘white bread’ world.
Off Topic – Please donate your £10 to the NSPCC
For a start, not every child at a gala/school play has a parent there supporting them, do they?
One element of safeguarding is for children without a responsible adult looking out for them.
The video risk is the chance it gives to study a group of children and work out who is most alone.
The risk stems from the knowledge it provides a predator, not the video itself.
Or do you think child abuse is only committed by ‘dirty old men’ using a bag of sweets?
The modern equivalent in this example is the ability to offer to improve a child’s swim PB time.
(Take an interest, show you care, offer to make their life better, etc.)
My sister is a foster mum and there is a world that social services deal with that defies belief.
That world all too often results in a tragedy and is certainly not “modern paranoia writ large”.
If you really can’t imagine how your/your child’s world is very different to others, I give up.
You don’t film other people’s kids whether at a sports event, at a school show, or anywhere else for multiple reasons - one being that the parent may not have provided permission for footage of their child to be taken/shared, and you then sharing that video or photo publicly could put them at risk if, for example, they and their mother have fled an abusive relationship, or are in the care system after being removed from the home.
The fact YOU don’t mind, and it doesn’t put YOUR kid in any danger, is completely irrelevant.
People may also have jobs which means their kids are identified by police as a potential target and so school, clubs etc… are given instructions that they have to be removed or blurred from photos for social media. If you come along, ignore the instruction from the headteacher/coach/whoever to not share photos publicly which included other people’s children, and in doing so identified where those kids were at a particular time, what school they went to, what club they swam/danced/whatever at, it could be really serious.
It’s not “PC gone mad” it’s basic common sense in a world that isn’t the same as 30 years ago.
basically its dont be hidden behind the kids, stay visible to all, but yes for real. It’s not about the parents, its about the kids and making sure they feel safe and that everyone can see what may or may not be going on. Theres no idea what sort of issues they have outside the pool environment, so you just have to be mindful of behaviours at all times.