Sport Pools without swim flags

[tophcfa]

Just wondering if there are other lap swimmers that find it very disturbing that only two of the sport pools have swim flags? As a backstroker, I have a hard time enjoying lap swimming without flags since it is difficult to know when I am approaching the wall. I try counting strokes but I often vary my swim pace so I can't rely on stroke count to know when I reach the wall. And sometimes I just get lost in thought while swimming and plow into the wall. I typically swim a minimum of a mile (72 laps) and hit my head on the wall at least a couple times each swim, and it hurts! I have never hit my head on the wall once while swimming several thousand miles in pools with flags. How can the Villages call a pool a sport pool without swim flags? Perhaps they should also have the water volleyball players play without nets?

[JoMar]

Just wondering if there are other lap swimmers that find it very disturbing that only two of the sport pools have swim flags? As a backstroker, I have a hard time enjoying lap swimming without flags since it is difficult to know when I am approaching the wall. I try counting strokes but I often vary my swim pace so I can't rely on stroke count to know when I reach the wall. And sometimes I just get lost in thought while swimming and plow into the wall. I typically swim a minimum of a mile (72 laps) and hit my head on the wall at least a couple times each swim, and it hurts! I have never hit my head on the wall once while swimming several thousand miles in pools with flags. How can the Villages call a pool a sport pool without swim flags? Perhaps they should also have the water volleyball players play without nets?

Have you contacted the Recreation Department and asked them?

[tophcfa]

Have you contacted the Recreation Department and asked them?

Good question. Yes, several times. Started with the person in charge of a couple of "sport pool" recreation centers and got nowhere, so I went to the top and contacted John Rohan. He kicked the can down to one of his administrators who told me they would work on it. That was almost a year ago! I call them about every six weeks and get a different excuse as to why nothing has been done. At this point I can only conclude that they are simply telling me what I want to hear, with no intent of following through, with the hope that I will eventually go away.

That is why I started this thread. I am hoping that other lap swimmers will contact the recreation department so they will take the issue seriously and get swim flags for all the sports pools. In my opinion that is not an unreasonable request?

[graciegirl]

Good question. Yes, several times. Started with the person in charge of a couple of "sport pool" recreation centers and got nowhere, so I went to the top and contacted John Rohan. He kicked the can down to one of his administrators who told me they would work on it. That was almost a year ago! I call them about every six weeks and get a different excuse as to why nothing has been done. At this point I can only conclude that they are simply telling me what I want to hear, with no intent of following through, with the hope that I will eventually go away.

That is why I started this thread. I am hoping that other lap swimmers will contact the recreation department so they will take the issue seriously and get swim flags for all the sports pools. In my opinion that is not an unreasonable request?

Perhaps if you switched to the crawl?:wave:

Don't be mad. I flunked out of bone builders.

[F16 1UB]

Why don't you use those floating blue weights & lay across the line/lane? No brainer.....

[CWGUY]

:shrug:https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=76sFWtiKGM_rmQHy1LHQDw&q=helmet+for+swimming&oq=helmets+for+swi&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i22i30k1l4.3764.23972.0.28299.17.16.0.0.0. 0.122.1496.10j5.16.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..1.16.1597.6..0j35i39k1j0i131k1j0i20i264k1.103. QgCh8i0go6c

[CFrance]

Why don't you use those floating blue weights & lay across the line/lane? No brainer.....
If they would stay put. And not bother the swimmers in the lanes on either side. There's often more than one swimmer in a lane, and they're keeping to the sides.

Backstroking flags are common. Our son was a backstroker from elementary through high school. I would have not been happy if he had hit a wall.

[Mudder]

I wonder the same thing too. I love to do backstroke laps but like the op I find it very annoying to count strokes or constantly have to glance over shoulder to find the wall. I just adjust and slow down when I spot an imaginary marker off to side of pool, it’s a pain but works for me......sorta.
By the way, Gracie, it’s now called freestyle instead of crawl, but I forgive you. Me thinks you are not a swimmer!

[graciegirl]

I wonder the same thing too. I love to do backstroke laps but like the op I find it very annoying to count strokes or constantly have to glance over shoulder to find the wall. I just adjust and slow down when I spot an imaginary marker off to side of pool, it’s a pain but works for me......sorta.
By the way, Gracie, it’s now called freestyle instead of crawl, but I forgive you. Me thinks you are not a swimmer!

:BigApplause:

You are right but I do swim laps for a half hour every day when the water temperature is above 83. No one is scouting me for the Olympics.

[JoMar]

Good question. Yes, several times. Started with the person in charge of a couple of "sport pool" recreation centers and got nowhere, so I went to the top and contacted John Rohan. He kicked the can down to one of his administrators who told me they would work on it. That was almost a year ago! I call them about every six weeks and get a different excuse as to why nothing has been done. At this point I can only conclude that they are simply telling me what I want to hear, with no intent of following through, with the hope that I will eventually go away.

That is why I started this thread. I am hoping that other lap swimmers will contact the recreation department so they will take the issue seriously and get swim flags for all the sports pools. In my opinion that is not an unreasonable request?

Thanks. You might want to send an email to Janet Tutt since she is the District Manager and John reports to her. I would explain that you have been asking for over a year and have not received a consistent answer. Since the District is required to save all emails under Florida Sunsihine Laws, emailing might be a better approach then a phone call. Another approach would be the request a face to face meeting in the District Office. Also, attend your CDD and get on the agenda to discuss at that level. Just my opinion.

[graciegirl]

Thanks. You might want to send an email to Janet Tutt since she is the District Manager and John reports to her. I would explain that you have been asking for over a year and have not received a consistent answer. Since the District is required to save all emails under Florida Sunsihine Laws, emailing might be a better approach then a phone call. Another approach would be the request a face to face meeting in the District Office. Also, attend your CDD and get on the agenda to discuss at that level. Just my opinion.

Good idea.

I think I see flags when The Villages Charter High School uses the Laurel Manor pool? I bet they are lane flags rather than the kind you want.

[tophcfa]

Good idea.

I think I see flags when The Villages Charter High School uses the Laurel Manor pool? I bet they are lane flags rather than the kind you want.
Those are exactly what I am looking for at all the sport pools. They also have the flags at the Mulberry Grove pool because the Masters swim club uses that pool. Not sure why the Masters and the Charter High School swim teams are somehow more important than the rest of the amenity fee paying Villager lap swimmers?

[tophcfa]

Thanks. You might want to send an email to Janet Tutt since she is the District Manager and John reports to her. I would explain that you have been asking for over a year and have not received a consistent answer. Since the District is required to save all emails under Florida Sunsihine Laws, emailing might be a better approach then a phone call. Another approach would be the request a face to face meeting in the District Office. Also, attend your CDD and get on the agenda to discuss at that level. Just my opinion.

Good advise, thanks, will do.