1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Pool rules help

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Rubble099, Jun 9, 2013.

  1. Rubble099

    Rubble099 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2006
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    Spending the day with the family at the Community Center pool. 2 10 year olds hopped into the deep end, and were promptly instructed by the lifeguard that they have to swim in the shallow end or no further than the middle of the pool. I walked over and asked what the problem was and the lifeguard told me she "thinks" that the girls are too young to be swimming without an adult. (She never asked their ages and we were sitting on the loungers at the end of the pool supervising). I asked her if that's what she "thinks" or is that the pool rule. She said its a rule. Not really satisfied with the answer, we moved them down regardless as not to ruin the day.

    Can anyone confirm if its a rule that supervised 10 year olds who are experienced swimmers can not swim in the deep end even with adult supervision (supervising from the loungers)? Thanks!
     
  2. Rhaegar

    Rhaegar Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2010
    Messages:
    319
    Likes Received:
    24
    The only rule I know of is arm's length for under 5. There should be a swim test where they swim the length of the pool which enabled them to be at the deep end. There are usually a few misunderstandings with the new lifeguards at the beginning of each season.
     
  3. Rubble099

    Rubble099 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2006
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    My take is that she just didn't feel like watching the deep end of the pool. Barely anyone was at the pool either. She wasn't interested in actually knowing how old the kids are and she wasn't interested in hearing about or witnessing their swimming ability. Totally agree about the swim test... I'd be among the first to sign them up!

    I guess we'll see what happens next time we go...
     
  4. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    I think the Summerbrooke pool deals with this the correct way....the deep area of the pool is for kids that can "swim". There is a swim test that the kids need to pass before they can be allowed to swim in that area unsupervised. There is no age restriction, it is simply ability based. If there is any question or clarification, the swim test is there as a subjective way for the kids to show they can swim.

    I wish we had swim bands, like the old days... color coded that the kids could wear. It was like a status symbol back in the day and we all wanted to earn them to be cool.
     
  5. jblnd

    jblnd New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2006
    Messages:
    283
    Likes Received:
    2
    So how do the lifeguards know which child passed the swim test and which haven't? My 7 year old was asked two days in a row about the swimming test. Is this going to happen to us every time we go? My husband gave up and just brought everybody back home.
     
  6. Che11ez

    Che11ez Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2012
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    29
    They should do a wrist band type thing...that's what we had when we were younger...yarn doesnt cost that much! ;)
     
  7. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    There must be some definitive rules somewhere.

    We have a 10 year old (looks 12) who has not been questioned for 2 years, when he did have to pass a test.

    I would contact the HOA as the pools are ultimately their responsibility.
     
  8. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2003
    Messages:
    207
    Likes Received:
    7
    I was going to request them from ?? I have a 7 year old that is perfectly fine in the deep end; however the swim test keeps changing. The latest was that he had to tread water with his hands out of the water for 2 mins .. really? I guess I have to stay in the shallow end .... :p
     
  9. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,789
    Likes Received:
    54
    If these swim tests standards keep changing and the lifeguards can't keep the tests the same for everyone, then I'll keep my daughter at the other swimming pool outside of Broadlands community where the lifeguards are more experienced with giving a STANDARD swim test at the beginning of each summer season. My 7 yr old daughter took ONE swim test and gets a wristband for the rest of the summer season as she passed the test in the beginning. She doesn't have to go through the test each time she goes to the pool and she is allowed to swim in the deep end.

    Your quote information (as well as others) indicate to me that there is NO set standard swim test nor do they have a system in place to alert the guards that the test was previously given to the swimmer. I'm of the understanding that each guard has different standards or tests to give? This is really interesting and confusing at the same time because I thought the HOA Manager sets the swim test guidelines--not the guards themselves especially when many are from overseas? Why not have a simple swim test for each kid when they first use that specific pool and give them a band or something to indicate that they passed the test. Doing this each and every time they come to the pool is time consuming and ridiculous.

     
  10. jblnd

    jblnd New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2006
    Messages:
    283
    Likes Received:
    2
    Even in the shallow end where my 7 year old could stand shoulders and head above water was asked again about a swim test! With my husband standing next to him. It has gone beyond absurd.
     
  11. smheese

    smheese New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2005
    Messages:
    982
    Likes Received:
    3
    We also were harassed about a "swim test" even though this was the first I'd heard of it. I WAS in the deep side with my son. And he CAN swim. Then when I kindly asked if he could take the test, they said they were too busy and they couldn't give him a test. My almost 8 year old was embarassed and upset, said the guards were "too uptight" this year and he wasnt' having fun and I cannot get him to go back to Summerbrooke at all to swim!
     
  12. cmbm

    cmbm New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2006
    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    1
  13. smheese

    smheese New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2005
    Messages:
    982
    Likes Received:
    3
    Wow. So are they making this swim test stuff up? I very clearly got the impression they were overwhelmed with so many kids and wanted each adult to be responsible for their own kids... which is very difficult when you have several of them that want to be in different areas of the pool.
     
  14. chris67

    chris67 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2012
    Messages:
    39
    Likes Received:
    4
    Call the HOA and demand that they do there job!
     
  15. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2005
    Messages:
    741
    Likes Received:
    5
    My son too was tested by different guards. He likes to jump off the diving board, swim to the ladder with Dad sitting on the side. He's been doing this for 2 years. This year, they said he was too young to do this and said he must swim 50 meters to pass the test. He's 6. He's on the swim team but even then, they only swim 25 meters. He did not pass the 50 meter test and therefore can no longer jump off the board with his Dad. There is no set standard and with a new crop of lifeguards, how can they all know who did and did not pass? Whoever is in charge of the guards needs to communicate the proper rules to EVERY guard. And a 50 meter test is too much IMO
     
  16. Gride

    Gride New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2008
    Messages:
    113
    Likes Received:
    0
    We've had several inconsistencies with the lifeguards already this summer, very frustrating. My nephew was forced to take the swim test twice in 2 visits at Summerbrook pool. He was also told different things on different days regarding the use of snorkel masks and fins. Needs to be standardized. They also blow their whistle for the most minor issue. It feels like a trip to prison rather than a fun relaxing day at the pool. I am all for pool safety but there needs to be a system for monitoring the kids that can swim and those that cannot.
     
  17. chris67

    chris67 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2012
    Messages:
    39
    Likes Received:
    4
    H1B visa's and English as a second language (No wonder the pools have issues!)
     
  18. Liss

    Liss New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2009
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    4
    I took a look at the pool rules for the swim test and think they seem excessive - I don't think I really looked at them last year since my kids weren't really swimmers, but these seem to be a change. Who created these rules? I think that 50 yards is a lot to ask from a kid who is less than four feet tall, even if s/he an swim 25 yards comfortably. And I'm puzzled by this "treading water" requirement, since both of my girls swim but neither one has been exposed to treading water as a skill and I frankly have no idea whether they could do it. (I guess we'll find out. At the gym.)
     
  19. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,430
    Likes Received:
    148
    Isn't treading water akin to the simpler doggie paddle used by most children?
     
  20. Che11ez

    Che11ez Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2012
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    29
    My turn to post...First of all, there needs to be something done about them changing the guards daily at Summerbrooke...last year it was the same guards and much easier to know who was there; one of them is back and remembered my son. The consistency should stay the same across the board and we shouldn't be changing because then the rules will keep changing. Who is in charge? Maybe they should be in on this discussion. Second of all, a lady was there yesterday with her children and the youngest had a life jacket on. The one female guard told them she had to stay in the water with him, whereas other days she could sit on the side, as she has done before. Is there really a rule to this? My son wears a life jacket and I am usually in the water with him, but if he can touch, why would I have to be on him? What are the lifeguards for anyway? Seems as if they are really picky this year. Lastly, can anyone tell me why the water features aren't all on at Summerbrooke?
     

Share This Page