Aquatics Rules and Regulations

The following rules and regulations have been established for the benefit of all users of the Swimming Pool to assure the safe operation of the pool facilities and to provide enjoyable recreation for all. Patrons are requested to cooperate in observing these rules and to obey the instructions of the Aquatics Staff. Patrons violating swimming rules are subject to the revocation of their swimming privileges.

GENERAL RULES/ADMISSION POLICIES

The Recreation Department reserves the right to refuse admittance into any county swimming facility when the capacity of the pool has been reached or when otherwise deemed necessary for the health, welfare or safety of its patrons.

The Pool Manager or their designated assistants are responsible for the operation of the pools. Their instruction must be followed at all times. Should disagreement arise, patrons are advised to contact the Pool Manager.

1. No one will be allowed in the swimming area unless the pool is officially open and a lifeguard is on duty. Entry upon the pool premises when it is not open for public use is punishable by fines or imprisonment or both.

Anyone not toilet-trained (incontinent) who wishes to enter any pool must wear a clean diaper covered by separate rubber/vinyl pants, all of which must fit snugly around the legs and waist. If the diaper becomes soiled, this person must leave the pool immediately, and may not return until he/she has taken or been given a soap shower and has been recovered by a new diaper with clean rubber/vinyl pants.

3. The County assumes no liability for injuries or damages arising from the results of participation unless due to willful or gross negligence on the part of the County. Due to the strenuous nature of some activities, the participant is advised to consult his/her physician concerning fitness to participate. All activities present certain inherent risks and hazards which the participant assumes.

4. Admission fees must be paid by all persons ages one (1) year and older upon each entry to the pool complex.

5. Rainchecks may be given for unexpected closure due to mechanical failure or sudden weather change when the most recent admissions have had a very limited pool use.

6. All patrons within the pool area must be attired in swimming apparel. No street shoes or clothing allowed on decks.

7. Children under 10 entering the pool complex must be accompanied and cared for (at poolside) by a responsible person 14 years old or older in bathing suit attire. Children under 6 need to have a responsible person in the water with them.

8. After 6 p.m. any youth under the age of 13 who is not accompanied and supervised at the pool by an adult (18 and over) must leave the pool complex.

9. Use of the wading pool (Tot Pool) is restricted to children five (5) years old and under. Each child must be supervised at poolside by a person at least 14 years old. Children must not be left unattended.

10. At the Montgomery Aquatic Center, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Swim Center and the Olney Swim Center, the shallow Leisure/Teach pool may be used by all ages.

11. Food or refreshments may be consumed only at snack bar or other prescribed areas. All refuse and waste papers must be deposited in designated receptacles.

12. Picnic baskets are permitted in the grass area of the outdoor pools. No grills, gas or electric cooking devices may be brought into the pool complex.

13. A group of children (6 or more, 6-18 years of age) entering the pool must be directly supervised at poolside by an adult in swim attire. There must be one adult for every five children. Groups must contact pool management before coming to complex.

14. Leave valuables at home. The Recreation Department is not responsible for personal property left on the pool deck or in the locker room. Lost & Found will be disposed of weekly. Pool patrons are responsible for their own valuables. Lockers are available at some pools; patrons must bring their own locks. Valuables may not be checked with the cashier or pool staff.

15. Glass containers, alcoholic beverages, drugs and pets are not permitted in the pool complex. An exception will be made for a seeing‑eye dog for the visually impaired.

16. Persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted in the pool complex or in the surrounding area.

17. No person within the pool grounds shall behave in such a manner as to jeopardize the safety and health of himself/herself and others. Such behavior, including abusive or profane language, shall be grounds for expulsion.

18. Loitering will not be permitted on the pool grounds or within any of its facilities.

19. Prior to entering the pool complex, any patron requiring special accommodations must inform the Pool Manager of his/her needs. Such a person must provide additional assistance as required.

20. Any injury occurring in the pool area must be reported to the pool management immediately.

21. The office telephone and public address equipment may be used only to deliver messages of an emergency nature or facility information to persons at the pool.

22. Employees are the only persons allowed in the guard room, filter room, mechanical room, storage room and offices

23. Admission to the MLK Outdoor Pool does not include admission to the Indoor pool; Admission to the MLK Indoor pool does not include admission to the Outdoor Pool.

1. Pool users must wear swimming suits or swimming trunks upon entry into the pool. Clothing such as cut‑offs, gym shorts, and underwear is not permitted as swimwear. Swimwear should not have been worn for exercising immediately prior to pool use and must be colorfast and of a lightweight material suitable for swimwear, such as Lycra, Spandex, or nylon. Clean T‑shirts may be worn for modesty or medical reasons but first must be sanctioned by the Pool Manager.

2. Guards have authority to enforce all pool rules. Patrons who repeatedly violate the rules may be ejected by the Manager.

3. All patrons must take a cleansing soap shower before entering the deck area. Sun bathers SHOULD shower before each entrance into the water in order to rinse off perspiration, lotions, sunscreens, etc.

4. Any person having a skin disease, sore or inflamed eyes, cold, nasal or ear discharge, communicable disease, or who is wearing any kind of bandage or band‑aid will not be permitted in the pool.

5. Persons having any considerable area of exposed sub‑skin tissues, open blisters, cuts, etc., are warned that these are likely to become infected. Such persons may not use the pool.

6. Any adult or child who is experiencing even a mild case of diarrhea may not use the pool.

7. Running, boisterous or rough play, pushing, acrobatics, dunking, wrestling, splashing, yelling, diving or jumping haphazardly, snapping of towels, improper conduct causing undue disturbances in or about the pool area or any acts which would endanger any patron are prohibited.

8. Spitting, spouting of water, blowing nose or urinating in the pool are prohibited.

9. Prolonged underwater swimming for distance is not permitted for safety reasons.

10. Non-swimmers must remain in shallow water (chest deep or less).

11. Toys, balls, inner tubes, inflated boats, and rafts are not permitted in the main pools. Small toys may be allowed in the Tot Pool at the Manager’s discretion.

12. Food and drinks are not permitted on the pool decks.

13. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the indoor pool facilities. At the outdoor pools, smoking is permitted only in designated grass areas at the perimeter fence line. Smokers are responsible for safe disposal of “butts.”

14. The outdoor pools may be cleared, at the discretion of the management, of all youths seventeen years of age and under for fifteen minutes prior to each hour for an adult swim and/or rest period.

15. Single groups shall not monopolize a particular area of the pool and thereby limit its use by or intimidate other patrons. Only MCRD scheduled classes or team activities, or rental groups are permitted. Private group uses are not permitted during a Recreation Swim period and must be scheduled as a rental. No activity for private gain is permitted at any time.

16. Wearing eyeglasses in the pool is discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Non-breakable lenses and frames are necessary for safety.

17. Gum chewing is not permitted anywhere in the pool complex for health and safety reasons.

Chairs are not permitted within 6 feet of the pool side.

RULES FOR DIVERS

1. Only one person is allowed on the diving apparatus (including ladder) at a time.

2. Divers must dive straight from the front end of the board.

3. Divers may not spring more than once on the board.

4. Upon surfacing, immediately swim to the nearest ladder. Do not swim under the boards at ANY time.

5. A diver must wait until the preceding diver has surfaced and reached the ladder.

6. No general swimming is permitted in the diving area,

unless, the diving boards are closed by staff.

7. Extended dives, or dives for distance from the one or three‑meter boards or platforms, toward shallow water, are prohibited.

8. At the Montgomery Aquatic Center and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Swim Center, special use of the 5‑meter platform is available. Check with the Pool Manager for more details.

9. Diving board users must be able to swim to the ladder unassisted.

1. Periodically, lanes will be roped off for those persons wishing to swim lengths undisturbed. Persons not swimming lengths should remain in other pool areas. For effective use, swimmers should swim counterclockwise near the lane markers and pass in the middle when more than 2 swimmers are in a lane.

2. Lanes in the pool may be roped off for adults (18 and older) to swim laps. Adults not swimming laps should remain in other areas of the pool.

3. Youths who show evidence of being serious lap swimmers may be granted permission by the Manager to swim laps in the lap lanes during general swim or lap swimming times.

4. Lap swimmers should arrange themselves by speed in the lanes. Please consult the directions posted or ask a lifeguard.

5. Stop only at the turning walls. Move to the side to allow others to turn and continue.

1. Coast Guard approved and labeled personal flotation devices, such as vests and water wings (swimmies) designed to provide vertical support, may be worn with permission of the Pool Manager, provided each non‑swimmer is accompanied by an adult in the pool, within arms reach. No back floats (bubbles) or rings are permitted.

2. During storms outdoor pools will be closed and the entire area cleared of patrons at the discretion of the Pool Manager. Due to limited cover, patrons are encouraged to go home. Others must remain within the shelter of the bathhouse or their car. The pool will normally open fifteen (15) minutes after the storm has passed.

3. Headphones must be worn when listening to musical or entertainment players.

4. If the overhead pool lights go off, the pool will be cleared immediately and not reopened until the light is fully restored.

5. Patrons are not permitted to leave locks on lockers overnight (rental lockers excepted). Locks will be cut off and locker contents will be placed into Lost and Found.

6. The use of masks and snorkels by patrons 14 and up in the lap lanes may be permitted at the discretion of the Pool Manager. Youth 14 years and under, accompanied by an adult, may use masks and snorkels in a non-lap lane area, at the discretion of the Pool Manager.

7. Swimming under the bulkhead is prohibited. Patrons are asked not to walk on the bulkhead.

8. Children 6 years of age or older must change in

the appropriate locker room or see the Manager for special arrangements.

9. During periods of cool weather, outdoor pools will not open when the temperature is below 70°. If the temperature falls below 70° the pool will stay open unless conditions merit closing for safety reasons.

1. Parents must accompany non swimming children and children in life vests. If a child has a life jacket on, he or she must be within arms reach of an adult.

2. Life jackets are available at the aquatic first aid office.

3. Patrons must enter and exit only at designated areas. They may not enter from the sides of the pool. Patrons must enter only at the stairs.

4. ALL TUBES MUST REMAIN IN THE RIVER.

5. Patrons must be 48” to ride the river by themselves.

6. From the times of 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or at the Managers discretion) all riders must be in a tube; if a tube is not available, they must wait for another patron to finish using it.

7. Water depth is 3’6” and the current is strong.

8. Patrons may not stop, walk the opposite way, or hold onto the wall.

9. Do not stack or stand on the tubes.

10. No horseplay or dangerous activities.

11. No Diving.

1. Use of the weight room is restricted to adults (18 years and older) and youths 14-17 with a permission slip on file. Youths need to keep their copy with them while using the weight room.

2. Wet swimming suits or other wet apparel are not permitted in weight room. User should place a towel over benches and seats.

3. Shirts, shoes (closed toe), pants or shorts must be worn when using the weight room.

4. Lower weight stack gently and quietly.

5. Use of the exercise bikes and stair climbers is limited to 20 minutes when others are waiting.

6. Radios are not allowed unless head phones are used.

1. Hydrotherapy pool use is restricted to adults 18 and older and youths 14-17 years accompanied by an adult.

2. Pregnant women or bathers with a history of heart disease, diabetes or circulatory problems should not use this pool.

3. Any swimmer with an infectious disease, nasal or ear discharge, exposed sub‑skin tissue, or wearing a bandage may not use this pool.

4. A soap shower is required before and after using this pool.

5. No more than 10 persons permitted in the pool at one time.

6. Report any abuse or improper conduct to the Pool Manager.

7. Persons should not remain in this pool more than 15 minutes per hour. Longer exposure may be dangerous.