Massachusetts YMCA Swim Rules Have Changed a Lot Since This One

Before we even begin this article, let me emphasize that in no way is this a judgment of the modern-day YMCA, especially the locations here on the SouthCoast. We are huge supporters of today’s YMCA and all the great things it does.

That being said, there used to be a policy at YMCA locations across the country, including here on the SouthCoast, that you may not have known ever existed. I didn’t know anything about it myself until my father casually brought it up last weekend, laughing about how different times were then.

He told me that when he was a kid, everyone used to swim naked at the YMCA. I thought he was joking, but we talked about it on the morning show and heard from a number of older men who 100 percent backed up his story.

Men Recall Swimming Nude at the New Bedford YMCA

While the practice would be considered unusual today, it was a common and accepted standard across YMCAs nationwide for much of the 20th century.

Most of the men that called to discuss the policy said they remembered it being a standard to swim nude in the YMCA pool, but interestingly, no one remembered the actual reason behind it.

READ MORE:  New Bedford YMCA Cracks Down on Sneaky Parking

“I think I remember them saying that there was so much chlorine in the water they were afraid it would bleach the swimsuits, but I really don’t remember for sure,” one man said.

Some Possible Reasons for Required Nude Swimming

This policy likely had to do with the original indoor pools coming at a time when swimsuits were made of wool or cotton, which reportedly would clog the filters and could also harbor bacteria. Nude swimming can be traced all the way back to the first indoor YMCA pool in Brooklyn in 1885 for those reasons.

Get our free mobile app

How Long Did the YMCA Naked Swimming Policy Last?

According to the New Bedford YMCA’s current president and CEO, Lucria Ortiz, the policy remained in place for decades.

“This was a practice at all YMCAs across the country,” Ortiz said. “It wasn’t until women were formally integrated into the organization that the policy stopped. That was in the 1970s.”

Ortiz said she’s glad YMCA policies evolved over time, especially the ones that once segregated men and women.

“You talk to a lot of old-school Y members, including many folks on our governing board, and they’ll tell you yes, that used to happen right here in New Bedford!” she said.

Editor's Note: This article has been edited from its original published form.