Pool Rules

Four Seasons Pool

Pool Rules

RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS

The head of each household is responsible for the actions of everyone in his/her household and his/her guests. Recreation Association staff will be responsible for their own actions and those of their visitors. The cost of any property damage will be charged to the responsible party. Interpretation and enforcement of all rules is at the discretion of the Business Director (BD)/Recreation Director (RD). Please read the Conduct Guidelines attached hereto and made a part hereof, which further details these responsibilities and behavioral expectations.

VIOLATION OF THE RULES

Any person may be temporarily barred from the pool area at the discretion of the lifeguard for violation of rules, or for any other reason which, in the lifeguards judgment, constitutes a hazard to persons or to the equipment. The use of foul language and inappropriate behavior are also grounds for dismissal from the pool at the discretion of the lifeguard. Please see the Conduct Guidelines attached hereto and made a part hereof for detailed information.

DEFAULT OF PAYMENT

Members in default of payment of any Recreation Association assessment will have their membership privileges suspended until payment of said dues and any associated fees incurred in the collection process are paid in full. Members, or their delegates, whose rights have been suspended or revoked by the BOD, may not use the association facilities as guests. These members may be required to surrender to the BD/RD all identification cards and keys for Recreation Association facilities until assessments are paid in full. Those members with extenuating circumstances should submit a written petition to the BOD which may grant leniency.

CHANGING THE RULES

These rules shall be formally reviewed annually by the BOD usually during the off-season period (September through May). All members are invited to review these rules at any time and to recommend changes to the rules by submitting them to the BD/RD. Only written and signed proposals will be considered. Public notification will be given prior to any revisions to the rules going into effect.

Any exception to these rules are made through the BD/RD and/or the Board of Directors.

LIABILITY

All persons using the Recreation Facilities do so at their own risk and sole responsibility. The Recreation Association assumes no responsibility for an accident, injury, property damage or loss in connection with such use by members, staff, and their guests.

CHILDREN AT THE POOL

Anyone ten (10) years of age or older is issued a yellow-coded pass and may come to the pool unaccompanied. A child eight (8) through nine (9) years of age may come to the pool unaccompanied only after he/she has passed the swimming test by swimming the lap length of the pool and treading water for one minute for a lifeguard and has had his/her I.D. updated to the blue-coded pass.

All other children zero (0) through nine (9) years of age will be issued a red-coded pass and must be supervised at the pool by a person at least fourteen (14) years of age. Children who are too young to get the blue code updates (ages 0 through 7), but have passed the blue code test as identified above, may swim without area restrictions. Children ages 0 through 7 who have not passed the blue-code swimming test are allowed only in the three-foot, roped section of the pool, unless accompanied by an adult in the deeper areas of the pool.

Only children under six (6) years of age are allowed in the wading pool. Children in the wading pool must be accompanied at all times within the wading pool enclosure by a person at least fourteen (14) years of age. The lifeguards are not responsible for supervision of children in the wading pool, and may ask members to leave the facility if children are left unattended.

Parents or guardians who bring children with red-coded passes to the pool must remain with them at all times, and at no time should parents or guardians leave the facility without them. Children who are required to have, but are subsequently left at the pool without, adult supervision will be asked to leave the facility on their own and return home, and/or parents or guardians will be called to pick them up, depending on which option is age-appropriate for and in the best interest of the child. Parents and guardians are cautioned that occurrence and recurrence of this practice will cause a suspension of facility privileges.

Tight-legged plastic pants over cloth diapers or training pants must be used on non-toilet trained children. DISPOSABLE DIAPERS ARE NOT PERMITTED BECAUSE THEIR WATER ABSORBENCY MAY CAUSE A CHILD TO RETAIN ADDITIONAL WEIGHT AND CAUSE THE POTENTIAL OF DROWNING.

THE LAP LANE

A lap lane will be roped off for lap swimming. Under certain circumstances, the lap lane may be used for other specific purposes when lap swimmers are not present (i.e., swimming lessons, swim team functions, etc.). The RD and/or the lifeguard staff will make adjustments when necessary to accommodate lap lane swimmers and those requesting to use the lap lane for a specific purpose.

INJURIES, ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

Injuries, accidents and suspicious incidents must be reported to the lifeguard and/or Rec Director immediately.

WHEELED VEHICLES

No wheeled vehicles are allowed in the pool area, except for infant carriages and wheelchairs. Roller blades or skates, skateboards, bicycles, mopeds, etc. of any kind are not permitted in any part of the facility.

HEALTH RULES

No pets are allowed in the pool area, with the exception of seeing eye dogs.

No persons having any infection or communicable disease or an open sore will be permitted in the pool.

Due to Fairfax county Health Department requirements, proper bathing suit attire must be worn in the pool. Cut-offs or street clothes are not allowed. Certain attire, based upon restrictions imposed by religious beliefs, may be worn upon approval by the RD and/or lifeguard staff.

SAFETY RULES

The pool may be closed at the discretion of the lifeguard in charge for inclement weather or operational difficulties. Lightning will cause the pool to be closed for 45 minutes from the last bolt; thunder will cause the pool to be closed for 15 minutes. Hard-driving rain which encumbers a lifeguard's ability to see the bottom of the pool or to effectively maintain pool safety shall cause the pool to close temporarily, until it is determined that visibility has cleared. An air temperature of 65 degrees or below will cause the pool to remain closed.

Fecal matter or other bodily fluids may cause the pool to close for a period of up to eight (8) hours, to dispurse the chemicals necessary to treat and sanitize the water, and to allow complete turnover of fresh water.

Running or horseplay on the pool deck, in the locker rooms and hallways, or in the pool will not be tolerated.

Glass containers (including drinking glasses) are not permitted in the pool or grassy area.

Diving and Diving Board Rules: No diving in the three (3) feet area. Only one person may be on the diving board at a time, and may proceed to dive only when the diving area has been cleared of swimmers. Diving is permitted straight away from the diving board only. Hanging by oneÕs hands at the end of the diving board is not permitted. Diving for objects other than those issued by the lifeguard is not allowed. Swimming in the diving area is allowed only when the area is closed to diving. The diving area is reserved for diving during the first 30 minutes of each hour.

Water Basketball Rules: Water basketball will be open in the three-foot area of the pool during the first 30 minutes of each hour, or at other low-occupancy times approved by the lifeguards on duty. Regulation-type basketballs are not permitted for use in the pool or for water basketball. Only those balls authorized by the Recreation Director and issued by the pool staff may be used for water basketball. Those swimmers demonstrating unnecessary roughness during basketball play will be asked to cease their activities and/or leave the pool/facility if it persists. Hanging from the basketball rim, backboard, or standing on its base is prohibited. Moving the backboard to any other place on the pool deck, other than where designated by the RD and/or lifeguard staff, is prohibited.

Loitering around the lifeguard stand, lifeguard room, the parking lot, sidewalks and entrance to the pool, and the pool attendants room is not permitted.

Toys and all flotation devices will be restricted to the wading pool and the roped-off shallow end of the large pool at the discretion of the lifeguards on duty.

Children with red-coded I.D.s using flotation devices in the large pool, must be directly accompanied in the water by an individual at least 14 years of age.

Only soft plastic and rubber toys shall be permitted. Toys shall not block the deck. Toys which are not in use must be placed next to the fence.

Plastic face masks and goggles are permitted. However, if the pool becomes crowded, the lifeguard may restrict their use.

Large flotation devices such as rafts and inner tubes shall not be allowed in the pool when there are more than 35 persons in the pool or, if, in the opinion of the lifeguards, such devices constitute a danger or inconvenience to other swimmers.

On the hour of each hour, a 10-minute break will be called, as required by Fairfax County law. All persons under 18 years of age, except those being instructed by an adult, must leave the water.

In accordance with Health Department standards, chewing gum and consumption of food or drink shall not be permitted in the pool area or on the deck area of the pool. The grassy area is designated for all eating and/or drinking.

Arm and sand chairs are allowed in the wading pool enclosure. Lounge chairs will not be allowed in the wading pool enclosure. No chairs of any type are allowed in the wading pool itself.

Persons in street clothes or street footwear shall not be allowed on the deck of the swimming pool except for the operational personnel, health officer, or personnel engaged in repair work. Certain exceptions will be made, upon approval by the RD, in cases of religious conscience.

Drinking of alcoholic beverages in the pool area, including the grassy area, is not permitted, except during private parties.