... to think children should not be allowed in the main pool?

[littleemma1]

So, I have recently taken up swimming in the past couple of weeks (which I am really enjoying and finding I'm getting fitter already!) but I've noticed something that's really bugging me already... children being allowed to mess around in the main pool when it's full of people actually trying to swim.
Now I know the MN jury will most likely SLATE me for this as I will openly admit I do not have children yet (notice the YET, actively trying, that's a different thread!) so I probably come across as biased.
I hasten to add that there are 3 other children's pools at said swimming centre. Admittedly the biggest of the three is closed at the times I've been going for private swimming lessons but that's still leaves another 2!
So, why do the parents stand there letting their beloved children splash around, swimming right across other people's paths, and say/do nothing?! Surely they should have some consideration for other swimmers who are there to SWIM (yes swim, in a swimming pool) but it would seem not.
I honestly think the pool could/should bring in a policy for adults only in the main pool during peak times for example first thing in the morning (for the people who need to go to work, like me) or last thing in the evening when most children would be in bed?
There are other things that annoy me about pool etiquette like people who refuse to swim around you and think they have the almighty right to swim in a straight line, people who get in the pool and then don't swim, just standing at the sides, I could go on forever but I won't.

So, after that rant, AIBU?

I also agree with the pp about the man (it's always a man) doing the 'man butterfly like a killer whale'. The dickish entitlement! I'd put them in their own pool too. (Lighthearted)

At our pool they rope off sections for swimmers doing lengths and the rest of the pool is for everyone else.

Children play for fitness so no I don't think adults swimming for fitness should have priority. In our pool they cordon off half of the swimming pool for lane swimmers. It's your pool's fault, not the children's.

Children aren't allowed anywhere these days. Playgrounds are gradually breaking as the funding was cut a few years ago, people tut at them wherever they go, they are not allowed to play out freely as I was when I was a kid. They should be allowed to mess about in the pool (by this OF COURSE I mean safely and within reason).

And I actually don't believe there are still kids there last thing in the evening.

Sorry but you got my goat with the capital WORK. Like we should be sending all these kids down the mine so they understand the value of swimming pools.

Yanbu. My pool block off lanes for lessons. People who want to swim have to share with kids in a tiny bit of pool. None of the kids seem to be aware of other people or ever move out the way (not being snotty, I was probably like that too) and there is lots of flailing and jumping in. 6 months pregnant, didn't feel safe and left after five minutes with a refund. Adult only swim is always super late or v early and not convenient for a quick dip after work. Makes me sad as I'm too pregnant to run now and I love a good swim. Blame local cuts... Pools have to rent out the lanes to private companies (like swim school providers) to stay solvent now.

WORK in capital letters had made me laugh. Blimey, you WORK, you should ask for your own swimming pool.

I'm a swimmer.

Lane behaviour is abysmal sometimes, but sorry, you're in a leisure swim session trying to train? You're bonkers!

As for those wanting to swim in a straight line/through you, that's not on, speak to the lifeguard

I WORK too, and am a lone parent too... I have to train at the times available, yes it's a pain, but that's what I have to work with.

My Masters sessions don't even start till 8.30pm and finish at 10pm

It's exhausting, but I have objectives to hit.

This time last year I could manage a single length of a pool, a 1,000m month was an achievement.

My warm up is about 1000m now.

Don't give up, put the work in, but you will need to get out of the leisure sessions. You need lessons, it'll transform your swim.

Of course YABU.
'Children's Pools' normally = 'shallow pools which not only have their limitations, but most dc would get told off in there, for splashing someone's PFB.
Where I live, there are lane only swims set up at times that suit workers as well - so 7-9 (before work) at many of the baths - as well as other odd times. There are also other pools that dc can't go in to - private clubs (prob expensive, agreed), then offers at other local gyms, and then, as someone said up thread, often universities or school pools have times you can go.
Children should be being encouraged to go swimming and enjoy their swimming as much as we possibly can - for safety, for fitness as well and socially.

So you want people who have also paid for access to the pools to either piss off to the kids pools or stop playing/standing at the sides because you WORK?

Entitled much and yes YABU.

So you want people who have also paid for access to the pools to either piss off to the kids pools or stop playing/standing at the sides because you WORK

Actually, I think it's because she wants to lap swim.

The pool she goes to sounds crap to be honest. I hope she can find somewhere better.

I wouldn't say children having fun in a pool are unruly and need controlling. Running round the edges or causing g trouble yeah but splashing having fun swimming that's not unruly. Your post is quite ironic, it seems anyone annoys you and you would just be best off buying your own pool. To sum up find a better pool that have lane swim times only.

I like to swim for fitness. Bog standard town leisure centers and a £££££ per month gym.

The only thing which made the £££ gym membership worth it was the lovely changing rooms and showers (and amazing swimming costume whirley drying machine).

The swimming etiquette problems were just as irritating at the posh gym. People are still dicks even when they've got a bit of money:

• Ploughing up and down without a care about who's around. - Swimming as slow as it physically possible without actually sinking in the 'medium' lane up the bloody middle.

• standing about in groups at the ends chatting for literally 99% of the time they're in the water meaning swimmers can't actually swim a whole length.

That last one was the worst at posh gyms. Go and stand and talk in the bloody cafe!

I have a 9 yar old who is a string swimmer. He dives, jumps in, retrieves items from the deep end, swims lengths and also enjoys playing and jumping in. Due to his age and size those things are not possible in the children's shallow pools. Your need does not trump his.

It's not a children problem it's a pool management problem. They should have some daytime and evening adult lane swimming sessions.

I can see both sides, as I am both a lane swimmer and a parent to two children.
When they were younger, i often used to go early in the morning to lane swim, then return in the afternoon with the children to bob about. There was always one woman who tried to lane swim - right down the middle of the pool - in the middle of the day, then tut and tell children off if they got in her way. That wasn't you, was it op? :-D
As a general rule of thumb, I think it's U to bring kids to the pool before 9am and after 7pm, and it's U to expect to lane swim 9am-7pm.
I went to our council pool last year, and as I was leaving at 7am, a couple were just going into the main pool (kids pool was closed) with two toddlers and various inflatable paraphernalia. Now THAT is unreasonable!

U to expect to lane swim 9am-7pm

Which is the only time I can make it to the pool I go to. It has lanes. But there is no transport after 7 and the area isn't safe. Similar problems before 9!

Children should be encouraged to swim and enjoy it, have fun in the pool and mess about - it is the summer holidays after all!

If there is space OP, maybe you could ask staff if they could put in a single lane at one side - they do that sometimes at my pool.

Or is there a lane-only session?

At my pool in the holidays it is lanes until 9.30am, general take-your-chances from then until 1pm (but pretty quiet till about 11am - I had a lovely swim today at 10am) and then splash party with floats in the afternoon. That is certainly best avoided if you want to swim.

Then there are sometimes lanes in the evening, sometimes general swimming. I swim front crawl and it isn't always easy to see who is in your way as you head to the shallow end, which can be frustrating, but you have to be courteous to other users; I take the view that if I want the pool to myself, I need to buy my own pool

User X I am a 'front crawl in goggles' person (I've never seen it used in a derogatory term before!). I've certainly never mown anyone down but if you are significantly slower than others in your lane either move lanes or make sure you let the faster swimmers pass you at the end of the lane YY to this as well.

Our local pool has a large main pool and a separate children's pool but the only family session in the small pool is 3-4pm each weekday. Impossible if you have a toddler that has a long afternoon nap or a child at school that needs to be collected (and it has been like this for years despite people complaining)

When I have made it to the family session (which is usually empty because of the timing), there are often older people in the small pool doing widths and complaining bitterly every time my child goes near. I literally can't win!

We are all constrained by stupid timetables and have to make things work for us all. A bit of understanding and maybe speaking to the pool about lane sessions might help

Go adult swimming only your pool should have dedicated adult swimming sessions my local pool does usual late evening

I think people are being bogged down in the specifics of their situation rather than viewing things overall.
Swimming pools need to work out timings based on the majority. Most people - if they work - work 9-5, so it makes sense for the adult sessions to be outside those times.
They can't possibly accommodate the fact that there is no public transport for some, individual toddler nap times or people who work shifts!

^ majority rules ... even if a significant minority is overruled.

I have to say that in a public (council subsidised?) pool in a leisure centre that you have to suck it up to an extent. I have taken my daughters to our local pool a couple of times this summer and I ensure they are not behaving badly or being annoying but dd1 is too tall to swim in the kiddy pool - she is a taller than average 11 yo and dd2 aged 8 has to stay with me as well of course. Neither can 'swim' though both able to keep themselves afloat. Both have had lessons but you need to keep practicing.

DD2 has HF ASD and so she has proved difficult to teach - group lessons or individual she is uncoordinated, easily distracted, has no sense of danger/ self preservation and stubborn - so I have to keep a close eye on her.

I have no doubt some adult swimmers are annoyed by the presence of this large child with a sort of splashy doggy paddle style swimming stroke but I am trying to give her exercise and instruction. Just like all other paying customers of the pool - we also aim for the general swim at quieter times - just before the over 50's session or at Sunday dinner time to avoid other people as much as possible - but with the understanding that this is a public resource - you have to pay a premium to keep the riff raff out!

Our leisure centre has a lane system as well, three sometimes more lanes - fast medium and slow. The rest of the main pool is for learners and loungers and folk who cannot fit in the lanes who get fed up with the loungers etc.! A shallow child friendly pool and a for a quick dip a tiny pool with water jets.

Poor behaviour does make using any public resource difficult - we should all be understanding and respectful of each other - I teach my children that - but when I see (and I have seen) a pair of middle aged women tutting to each other about the mere energetic and slightly chaotic presence of my children in the pool - not really doing anything wrong as such just being there and taking up space - that pees me off. I don't think you can expect no children at a leisure centre pool during the summer holidays - there are plenty of weeks during the year when children are limited in the time they can access a pool by going to SCHOOL just like people who WORK.

Swimming as soon as it opens? Really late at night? Or you could join a gym that's not child friendly that has a pool.

I take my dc's cpl hours a day for the inflatables session - they rope off the deep end for actually swimmers. Other than that - check the timetable online for lane swim times.

I am a 'front crawl in goggles' person
I mostly use a different lane to the heads up dry hair breaststroke people.