Swimming club - rubber hat

Swimming club - rubber hat

Author
Discussion

fourstardan

Original Poster:

5,008 posts

151 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Missus took son to his swimming class today and all the kids have just been made to wear caps.

The instructor was as well as the kids.

Missus didn't get a straight answer so Does anyone know why ?

Randy Winkman

17,763 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Of the various claimed benefits there is one not so obvious one which is that they reduce the amount of hair that ends up in pool filtration system. I appreciate that each person's contribution to that is pretty minimal. Other things are for the benefit of the user like protecting hair from damage, increasing speed and keeping hair out of the eyes.

pacenotes

323 posts

151 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
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I got berated in a hotel in Ireland once. Turns out most pools over there require you to wear one.

I have more hair on my chest and back than on my head but I wasn't told to cover up.

It's a ridiculous rule.

Wacky Racer

38,987 posts

254 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Their pool, their rules.

Ask them why.

Caddyshack

11,838 posts

213 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Wacky Racer said:
Their pool, their rules.

Ask them why.
The op says they did ask and didn’t get a straight answer, that is the reason the posted here.

fat80b

2,465 posts

228 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
In our case, the kids at the swimming lessons all also have to wear hats despite the pool not mandating them at other times.

I think the reason is that each group has a different colour hat and this allows the multiple lesson groups to be easily identified whilst sharing the same pool so nothing to do with pool filters

Randy Winkman

17,763 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Caddyshack said:
Wacky Racer said:
Their pool, their rules.

Ask them why.
The op says they did ask and didn’t get a straight answer, that is the reason the posted here.
Didn't say who she asked though and whether it was their rule.

The Gauge

3,239 posts

20 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Less drag through the water? Webbed gloves next?

Caddyshack

11,838 posts

213 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Randy Winkman said:
Caddyshack said:
Wacky Racer said:
Their pool, their rules.

Ask them why.
The op says they did ask and didn’t get a straight answer, that is the reason the posted here.
Didn't say who she asked though and whether it was their rule.
Let’s ask the op, I am betting that she asked the swim club and they told her their or pool rule.

Caddyshack

11,838 posts

213 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
As an aside, my daughter is on the UK Tetrathlon team having won the pony club UK JCB Tetrathlon in 2022 and second in 23 (had injury). She also swims at Regionals for a club, she always wears two hats. One to follow the club rules and reduce drag and a second to keep the goggles fixed to her head. In some strokes I believe she isn’t allowed to touch the goggles if they come off.

Caddyshack

11,838 posts

213 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
I just asked an official who is regulated by Swim England, she said it is always that the pools do not want the hair blocking the filters. All clubs seem to have the same rule.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

5,008 posts

151 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
Hair rule seems about right.

I will add he has been for nearly three years and they've not enforced it. Maybe they've just had a hefty bill or new manager in.

Thanks

John87

696 posts

165 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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My kids had lessons at Swim! and they mandated coloured hats for all (although not rubber). They change colour depending on ability and the level reached with several different ability groups sharing the pool at any time.

I was told that it was to make it easily identifiable to lifeguards as to who may need closer watching. With 20 kids all splashing around, it must be difficult to differentiate between a novice close to drowning and someone who can swim well struggling with a new stroke

Slow.Patrol

911 posts

21 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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It used to be mandatory when I was a kid.

Occasionally I have found I am eating hair while swimming. Anything that stops that is a good thing.

numtumfutunch

4,871 posts

145 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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Mandatory in Italy I think

But so is nuns road raging HGV drivers......

Wacky Racer

38,987 posts

254 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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Swimming hats these days are nearly all made of Silicone.

Rubber is so 1970's

Animal

5,345 posts

275 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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My son's swim teacher echoed the point about hair/filters and also said it makes it much easier to spot the groups of kids and prevent them getting lost.

was8v

1,988 posts

202 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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It's about pro-attitude. Dress like a pro, swim like a pro, dressing right gets you in the right frame of mind.

A bit like MAMILs - old blokes in tight lycra on bikes. They don't wear it for fashion, by wearing it they feel pro and perform better.


I remember family camping holidays in France in the early 90s, campsite pool rules were often speedos and caps for hygiene reason. No baggy shorts allowed. I suspect it was to protect the filters and reduce maintenance costs.

Just wear the cap, life is too short to argue.

was8v

1,988 posts

202 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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.

bearman68

4,795 posts

139 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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I must be very anti rules. The post above about 'pro' this and 'pro' that just winds me up, and strikes me as a load of old tosh.

In my youth I used to rock climb. Now climbers are a pretty idiosyncratic bunch. Turning up in all the gear usually meant you were a danger to climb with. I still very much feel the mark of competence tends to be mismatched kit, because it's been built up over a long period of time, and used, and replaced at different rates.
So while there might be very good reasons to wear swimming hats, it would tend to annoy me.