Being in my late 30s, I grew up in the '80s and '90s, and spent just about every summer in my hometown of Memphis at swimming pools with diving boards.
I can think of no better way to spend a day like today (could be the warmest day we've had so far this year) than at an outdoor pool with a "low diving board" and a "high diving board".
We had so much fun.
When I was in my elementary school years, my folks sent me to summer day camp every day, and, around 9:00 or so, we'd all get on the bus and make the 15-minute drive down to the YMCA and swim for a couple of hours. Man, what great memories. This was in the time before our society became so overly litigious, and sky-high insurance rates prompted owners of swimming pools, both public and private, to rip out their diving boards.
In order to be able to be "qualified" to use the "diving tank", we had to pass a "swim test", which consisted of being able to swim a certain distance in the deep water. Then, we were allowed to jump off the low diving board as well as the high diving board.
We'd spend all morning CONSTANTLY jumping off the diving boards. Front flips, backflips, dives and splash contests. I remember the various body positions that were guaranteed to generate the biggest splashes. "Gainers", "Can Openers", "Cannonballs" were some of the ones I remember, that were guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
And, of course, we all became very strong swimmers because you weren't allowed to dawdle around, once you came up out of the water. You had to make the swim to the ladder to get out and get back in line! Doing that for a couple of hours a day, 5 days a week, you become a great swimmer!
I worry that most kids today aren't swimming as much, and are missing out on becoming strong swimmers, because most of the swimming pools today don't even have a "deep end".
SO. MUCH. FUN.
That high dive was pretty scary at first. Even though it was probably only 10 feet off the water, it sure felt like a lot more. A couple of times a week, there was always some kid who got up there and freaked out, and wouldn't jump. But you weren't allowed to go back down the steps. Even if a lifeguard had to go up there and jump with you because you were scared, you had to jump.
And, there were always minor injuries. Kids would forget to jump OUT from the board, and hit the end of the board from time to time. There were some cuts and blood. And of course there were always rumors and stories that made their way through the line of kids waiting to jump, about that kid who slipped and fell off the high dive and got hurt. But, I don't remember anybody ever actually being severely hurt.
But, heck, back then, 30 years ago, getting a little cut or bruise when you were swimming or playing was just par for the course. It was considered just part of growing up. No harm, no foul, no lawsuits. And you'd be laughed out of court if you even tried to sue for something dumb like that.
I remember the first time I worked up the courage to dive off the high diving board. Scary! But SO much fun!
Kids these days have no idea what they were missing.
Did you guys grow up swimming at pools with diving boards?
Anybody still have a pool with diving boards in your area?
Where ARE the diving boards these days? I assume they still exist SOMEWHERE. Right?
I can think of no better way to spend a day like today (could be the warmest day we've had so far this year) than at an outdoor pool with a "low diving board" and a "high diving board".
We had so much fun.
When I was in my elementary school years, my folks sent me to summer day camp every day, and, around 9:00 or so, we'd all get on the bus and make the 15-minute drive down to the YMCA and swim for a couple of hours. Man, what great memories. This was in the time before our society became so overly litigious, and sky-high insurance rates prompted owners of swimming pools, both public and private, to rip out their diving boards.
In order to be able to be "qualified" to use the "diving tank", we had to pass a "swim test", which consisted of being able to swim a certain distance in the deep water. Then, we were allowed to jump off the low diving board as well as the high diving board.
We'd spend all morning CONSTANTLY jumping off the diving boards. Front flips, backflips, dives and splash contests. I remember the various body positions that were guaranteed to generate the biggest splashes. "Gainers", "Can Openers", "Cannonballs" were some of the ones I remember, that were guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
And, of course, we all became very strong swimmers because you weren't allowed to dawdle around, once you came up out of the water. You had to make the swim to the ladder to get out and get back in line! Doing that for a couple of hours a day, 5 days a week, you become a great swimmer!
I worry that most kids today aren't swimming as much, and are missing out on becoming strong swimmers, because most of the swimming pools today don't even have a "deep end".
SO. MUCH. FUN.
That high dive was pretty scary at first. Even though it was probably only 10 feet off the water, it sure felt like a lot more. A couple of times a week, there was always some kid who got up there and freaked out, and wouldn't jump. But you weren't allowed to go back down the steps. Even if a lifeguard had to go up there and jump with you because you were scared, you had to jump.
And, there were always minor injuries. Kids would forget to jump OUT from the board, and hit the end of the board from time to time. There were some cuts and blood. And of course there were always rumors and stories that made their way through the line of kids waiting to jump, about that kid who slipped and fell off the high dive and got hurt. But, I don't remember anybody ever actually being severely hurt.
But, heck, back then, 30 years ago, getting a little cut or bruise when you were swimming or playing was just par for the course. It was considered just part of growing up. No harm, no foul, no lawsuits. And you'd be laughed out of court if you even tried to sue for something dumb like that.
I remember the first time I worked up the courage to dive off the high diving board. Scary! But SO much fun!
Kids these days have no idea what they were missing.
Did you guys grow up swimming at pools with diving boards?
Anybody still have a pool with diving boards in your area?
Where ARE the diving boards these days? I assume they still exist SOMEWHERE. Right?
