Remember swimming pools years ago? They were fun and safe for swimmers and learners, because ever-watchful attendants with whistles warned us at the slightest misbehaviour and would throw us out if we continued.
Fast forward to today. Pools have increasingly become aquatic obstacle courses. Try to enjoy a relaxing swim? Forget it. Recently, at my local pool, a group of women, standing in the water, were having a nice chat, blocking the pool for swimmers. Nearby, a young couple were enthusiastically snogging in a swimming lane.
I fumed and stormed out of another one where lots of hyped-up lads were throwing one another across the pool. In a third venue, I didn’t dare swim as I would risk a whiplash injury or worse, if young ‘swimmers’ surfaced right underneath me after plunging underwater.
Where are all the displayed rules to stop this selfish conduct? True, many pools do have such notices, such as ‘No diving or jumping in’. However, I once spotted an excited girl repeatedly leaping in from the side while Mummy, sitting next to a board displaying rules, smiled proudly. Did she think the rules didn’t apply to them? I’d had enough of this – I had words with her. No apology, but at least the jumping stopped.
A new board appeared at another facility, with no nasty rules and the surprise heading ‘Swimming Etiquette’. Was this an improvement? Not for everyone. This was now just a request for swimmers to swim nicely in the swimming lanes, but nothing about politeness in the rest of the pool.
I’m not a grumpy killjoy. I like to see people having fun, but I’m sick of regularly having to battle through bodies. Why doesn’t every pool have more effective safety measures, such as the presence of trained lifeguards, always on duty to enforce rules?
These should become compulsory requirements, so everyone can enjoy the aquatic experience. Then swimming wouldn’t be the chaotic free-for-all it often is now.
CAROLYN WHITEHEAD
