Hey Pandas, AITA For Ignoring My Swim Coach’s Advice On Tampons And Choosing What Works For Me?

With all consideration of a woman's right to handle her cycle aside, I'm thinking that the most basic issue here is that the coach doesn't want the pool water contaminated with menstrual fluid. A garment that allows for a pad to be worn is fine, out of the water, but once it is submerged anything the pad has absorbed is released into the water. The issue here isn't matching uniforms; it is keeping the water clean and safe. If you're a woman on a swim team and you're serious about it, then you'll do what is necessary to participate even if that means wearing a tampon. It's a minor inconvenience and won't hurt you.

I think there are two issues here. The first is that the male coach should be not demanding a female team member wear tampons. Its none of the coach's business how the swimmer handles their period. The second issue though is the refusal to wear the team uniform. If you are a member of a team and the uniform is mandatory, then you wear the uniform. Unless you have a disability or medical reason that prevents you from doing so. Simply not wanting to use a tampon is not a valid reason for not wearing the uniform. Also there are other things OP could do instead of using a tampon. Menstrual cups, and menstrual discs for example. There are also a ton of ways to delay a period, which is often a viable option for sports people.

While your coach was out of line demanding you wear a tampon, you knew the requirements to participate in this extracurricular. If you're unwilling or unable to fulfil those requirements, then you need to leave the team. You can't just request special privileges no one else has. If this were a required class, then reasonable accommodations must be made, but it's not. And it's an extracurricular with required uniforms - you knew that. Why would you even buy the swimsuit before checking with your coach first? This sounds like you tried to go the "better to ask forgiveness than permission" route, and it backfired on you. As well it should have.

At our city pool, if there is noticeable blood, they close the pool, drain it and refill. This takes a few days. If there's blood in the locker room the area has to be closed down, bleached, dried and then can get reopened. It's a huge hassle that many pools would be required to by local regulations. Even if you think that's overkill, it is the rule, so thinking the facility can accommodate a period swimsuit, in the pool or when you remove it is selfish. If you don't like tampons or cups and you don't want hormonal help so you don't have periods, maybe this isn't the sport for you. In every sport there's some equipment that's required, and you have to deal with helmets or pads or ski boots or gloves that you don't like, or find a different sport. This is only part time equipment.

You are part of a TEAM. That means, as such, you are required to wear a uniform. If you don't wear the uniform, you don't get to participate. Your feelings, your personal "situation" doesn't have any impact on that. Everyone else does what is required to follow the rules, if you can't don't cry about the consequences.