FOX HUNT SWIM CLUB
POOL OPERATING RULES
Revised MAY 2024
To ensure safe and sanitary operation of pool facilities and to provide enjoyable recreation for all members and their guests, the following rules and regulations have been established for the benefit and protection of all users of the Fox Hunt Swim Club, Inc. Members are requested to cooperate in observing these rules. Parents are requested to caution their children to observe the rules and to obey the instructions of the Pool Manager and Lifeguards. All persons using the Fox Hunt Swim Club’s property do so at their own risk.
SECTION I - GENERAL RULES
1. POOL MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL
a. The Pool Manager, or in his/her absence, the Assistant Manager, is in complete charge of the pool. As the agent of the Board of Directors, he/she will operate the swimming pool and will supervise all personnel. He/she is responsible for enforcing these rules in the pool and pool area. The Pool Manager is authorized to make on-the-spot decisions in all matters affecting health and safety and may eject from the club premises, for a period not to exceed forty-eight hours, any persons failing to observe these rules or otherwise improperly conducting themselves to the detriment of Pool and Tennis Club safety or appropriate operations. Periods greater than forty-eight hours require Board of Directors approval. Serious or repeated offenses will be reported to the Board of Directors for consideration of further appropriate action.
b. Comments or complaints about the operation of the pool should be referred to the Pool Manager or the Chairman of the Operations Committee.
2. HOURS OF OPERATION
a. General Swimming Daily: 11:00 AM - 9:00PM.
Exceptions:
(1) While school is in session, the hours of operation will be 3:00 PM - 8:00PM on Monday and Wednesday and 1:00PM - 8:00PM on Tuesday and Thursday. On Friday, the pool will be open from 3:00PM - 9:00PM.
(2) While school is in session, certain lanes will be reserved for swim team practice. The remaining areas of the pool will be available for general use.
(3) Special events may result in the pool being open or closed at times other than indicated above.
b. Swim Team Practice: Monday-Friday as outlined on website.
c. Swimming Lessons: Monday-Sunday as privately scheduled, with pre-approval from the board.
d. Swim Meets - The pool will be used for scheduled swim meets. Scheduled dates and times for meets will be posted at the pool. Swim Team Meets will be held on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Monday evenings from 6:00 PM until closing. The pool will be closed for general swimming during meets, as well as prior to and following meets while the pool is being set up. Occasionally there are exceptions to these days and hours.
e. The pool will be closed when necessary for maintenance operations. At such times, no one is permitted within the pool enclosure except authorized personnel.
f. Pool closings, otherwise, will be for special events or functions authorized by the Board of Directors, with due notice to the membership.
g. The pool may be closed in case of inclement weather, i.e., rain, thunder, lightning, etc., or if in the opinion of the Manager or Assistant Manager a hazardous condition exists. All members and guests must vacate the pool premises. Only volunteers preparing for pool sponsored events are allowed onsite after receiving direct approval from the Pool Manager/Assistant Manager or board member.
h. Persons entering the pool area other than during designated hours of operation, unless specifically authorized by a member of the Board of Directors, shall be considered trespassers and subject to civil liability and criminal prosecution.
3. POOL ADMISSIONS
All members in good standing are authorized use of the pool facilities.
a. Definitions.
(1) Member: The term “member” as used herein includes both permanent and associate members.
(2) Guests: Bona fide guests fall into one of two categories:
(a) House Guest: A person who is temporarily residing with a club member.
(b) Casual Guest: A person who is not a regular or associate member who is invited for one day.
(3) Adult Guest: Any guest 18 years old or older.
b. General Guest Restrictions.
(1) Guest privileges shall consist of admission to and use of the club facilities by any authorized person who is not a club member. A member assumes full responsibility for the conduct of and/or damage by his guest(s) and must be present at the club with their guests unless specifically noted herein.
(2) Non-swimming guests in street clothes may not enter the pool enclosure without charge except at the discretion of the Pool Manager.
(3) Guests agree to abide by the Fox Hunt Swim and Tennis Club Rules. Guests who fail to comply with these rules will be asked to leave the facility. Refunds will not be issued. Members are responsible for the conduct of their guests and for any damage they may cause through negligence.
(4) Members who violate or are an accessory to violation of the rules pertaining to the admittance of guests may have their rights and privileges of membership suspended for a period recommended to the Board of Directors by the Membership Chairman.
(5) Members desiring to bring more than three guests at any one time must notify the Pool Manager or Operations Chairman at least 72 hours in advance. Exceptions to this may be granted at the discretion of the Pool Manager or Operations Chairman.
(6) The Operations Chairman or the Pool Manager may, at their discretion, restrict or suspend all guest privileges as required to alleviate overcrowding of the pool.
(7) Guest passes are valid for the season of issue only.
c. House Guests.
(1) Members may request, in writing, that a pool guest pass be authorized for house guests for the duration of their visits.
(2) With the guest pass, the house guests will not need to be accompanied by the sponsor member.
(3) At the sponsor’s discretion, the house guest may use either one of the member’s purchased guest passes or pay the appropriate guest fee as posted in the pool office.
d. Casual Guests.
(1) Casual guests must be accompanied by a member who is age 15 or older. An ex-spouse of a member may be a guest when accompanied by a child under 15.
(2) The accompanying member will register casual guests at the time of entry. Applicable fees must be paid before guests are permitted to enter.
(3) Casual guests may remain in the pool area only as long as the accompanying member remains.
(4) Casual guest fees will be published on the website.
e. Nurses, Baby-sitters, Governess.
(1) Persons hired by a member to care for a member’s children are classified in one of the following categories:
(a) Regular Sitter: A person hired by a member on a permanent basis to care for the member’s children, either full time or on a frequent basis.
(b) Casual Sitter: A person hired by a member to care for the member’s children on an infrequent or intermittent basis.
(2) No person under age 15 may be classified as a sitter.
(3) Members who have a regular sitter may arrange to have the sitter included on the family membership record for a one-time fee (“Nanny” fee), the amount of which will be published on the website. The sitter will then be authorized to use the pool facilities when in the company of the member’s children. The sitter will not be authorized to use pool facilities alone.
(4) A casual sitter who is not a member of the pool must pay the daily rate for a casual guest.
(5) The member is fully responsible for all acts of the sitter and for the sitter’s failure to discharge any duties.
(6) A member may purchase a “Nanny” fee for an ex-spouse.
f. Pool Entrance.
(1) All members, regardless of age, must be registered in the pool’s account management system and be signed in by pool personnel before entering the pool.
(2) All members aged two and above must have a picture taken within the last year uploaded in the member’s account in the pool’s account management system for admission to the pool.
(a) If the Board of Directors authorizes club swimmers reciprocal use of a neighboring pool due to swim meets, the only means of entry will be from lists of valid members from the pool’s account management system.
(3) Violation of the pool member agreements may result in the revoking of pool membership by Club Board of Directors
4. LESSONS
Group and private swimming lessons are offered at the pool. Swim team and Mini-Splash information can be found on the website. Board approved private lesson information is displayed in the guard office.
SECTION II - HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Pool Manager shall have final and conclusive authority to enforce all matters relating to health and safety rules. They may eject from the Fox Hunt Swim Club, Inc. premises, for a period not to exceed forty-eight hours, anyone failing to observe health and safety rules or who are otherwise improperly conducting themselves. Repeated offenses will be reported to the Board of Directors for consideration of further action as deemed appropriate.
THE POOL WILL BE CLEARED OF ALL PEOPLE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE EMERGENCY SIGNAL WILL BE THREE SHARP BLASTS OF THE LIFEGUARD’S WHISTLE.
Parents are cautioned not to permit their children to become over-fatigued or chilled. The pool manager or lifeguards may direct any person to take a rest period, if excessive fatigue or chill is observed. As a safety precaution, children of age 15 and under are required to leave the pool and take a 15-minute rest period each hour, at 15 minutes of the hour, upon signal of the lifeguard. The time for the 15-minute rest period will not begin until all children aged 15 and under have cleared the pool.
To ensure maximum attention to pool safety by lifeguards, members are requested not to converse with lifeguards who are on duty in the chair or on the concrete deck.
All swimmers must take a shower before entering the pool.
Admission to the pool will be refused to people wearing bandages or with sores, infectious diseases, nasal or ear discharge, or excessive sunburn.
SECTION III - RULES APPLYING SPECIFICALLY TO CHILDREN
No children under 10 years of age will be admitted to the pool area unless accompanied by either an adult or by a sitter who is age 15 or older.
Any child under 10 years of age who has not passed the basic swimming test requirement shown in Rule #3 below, shall be supervised by an adult or the designated sitter while in the water.
Children aged 10 through 12 may swim alone, provided:
a. They can pass the basic swimming test:
Swim one length of the pool.
Float for one minute or tread water for one minute.
b. If the above conditions are not met, a child must be accompanied by either an adult or a sitter who is aged 15 or older.
Children aged 6 and older are not permitted to use the wading pool.
Children in the wading pool are the sole responsibility of parents or sitters. All children in the wading pool shall be closely supervised.
SECTION IV - GENERAL POOL RULES
DIVING AND SLIDE RULES
a. Diver must demonstrate to the guard that they can pass the swim test (swim one length of the pool and float for one minute or tread water for one minute) to use the diving board.
b. Only one bounce is allowed before a jump or dive.
c. No running on the diving board.
d. No horseplay or shoving is permitted on or near the diving boards or slide. Divers and swimmers may not throw or catch balls or other objects while using the diving boards and slide.
e. Goggles are prohibited while using the low and high diving boards and slide.
f. Only one person may be on a diving board at a time. After the dive has been completed, the next swimmer may proceed onto the ladder/steps.
g. Swim out of the diving area immediately after surfacing and exit only from the nearest ladder on the side of the diving well.
h. Divers ensure the water area is clear prior to diving or jumping into the pool.
i. Dive or jump only from the end of the board. Do not dive or jump to the side of the pool.
j. Dives or jumps that propel the diver toward the board and backwards dives are prohibited.
k. No swimmers in diving area when boards are in use. Swimmers must stay out of the rectangular box at the bottom of the slide.
l. Do not dive or slide until the previous person has cleared the area below.
m. The sides of the deck of the diving well shall remain clear so swimmers and lifeguards have adequate space to walk from the ladders to the diving board. Chairs surrounding the diving well shall remain against the fence. Any spectators on the deck watching divers shall remain at least 3 feet back from the edge of the diving well.
n. Swimmers must use the slide, sitting feet first in a forward continual motion. Attempting to start and stop inside the slide is not permitted.
o. Only one person is allowed on the steps leading up to the slide and diving boards. Parents are not allowed to supervise younger children from the steps.
p. Floatation devices are prohibited on the slide and diving boards.
POOL BASKETBALL RULES
a. Basketballs may only be shot at the basket from within the pool.
b. No dribbling or playing basketball on deck at any time. No jumping and dunking the ball from the deck.
c. Hanging on the rim is not permitted
SECTION V - PRIVATE PARTIES
1. PRIVATE PARTIES DURING REGULAR POOL HOURS
a. All private parties are coordinated with the pool manager and have the approval of the board secretary. Private parties requesting a particular date and time must be coordinated with and be approved by the board secretary. A Private Party reservation form must be completed prior to scheduling the Party. Party scheduling is on a first come basis.
b. All parties must comply with the policies and procedures contained herein.
c. The total party size may not exceed thirty attendees. Attendees are defined as members, guests, swimmers, and non-swimmers.
d. All private parties must be sponsored by a Fox Hunt Swim Club principle adult member, who will also be in attendance. Exceptions must be approved by the Board.
e. A fee of $5.00 per person is the charge for non-member guests. Guest booklets of five and ten passes are available on the website at reduced rates. There is no difference between swimming and non-swimming guests.
f. For children under age 15 there must be at least 1 adult chaperone for each 4 children.
g. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted unless approved by the board.
h. The designated party area shall be clearly identified by the Pool Manager/Board Secretary at the beginning of the day with the reserved time clearly stated to minimize inconvenience to other Fox Hunt Swim Club members using the pool.
i. The party sponsor is responsible for setup and cleanup. The party area should be left in the condition in which it was prior to the party. The Pool Manager and Guards are NOT responsible for setup or cleanup of the party.
j. The party sponsor is responsible for the conduct of the partygoers, ensuring that all Fox Hunt Swim and Tennis Club rules are followed. Failure to maintain an orderly party may require cancellation of the party without refund.
2. AFTER HOURS PRIVATE PARTIES
All rules of Section A apply with the following exceptions and revisions:
a. Parties must be sponsored by a permanent pool member who must attend the party.
b. At least one board member must be present at the party.
c. The party size shall be limited to 200 people.
d. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted by persons of legal drinking age.
e. Sponsoring member is responsible to pay overtime charges for pool manager and guards.
f. The party must end by 11:00 PM and cleanup completed by 12:00 midnight.
g. Total private and pool-sponsored after-hours parties is limited to five (5) per year. Parties must be requested at least two weeks in advance, must be approved by the board, and will be considered on a first come basis.
SECTION VI - MISCELLANEOUS RULES
1. Floating equipment, including life preservers of all types, rafts, swim masks, swim fins, snorkels, and kickboards are prohibited in the pool area except when permission is granted by the Pool Manager. Tubes, beach balls and similar items may be used at the Pool Manager’s discretion based on the number of people using the pool. Small children may wear floats and similar arm devices when a parent or approved sitter is in the water directly supervising the child. Children wearing floats, etc., are not allowed to go off the diving boards or down the slide. Swimming goggles are permitted, except while entering the pool using the low and high diving boards and slide. Ball playing out of the water is prohibited during break.
2. Children aged 15 and under must be completely out of the water and if seated, are at least 3 feet away from the pool edge during breaks.
3. No squirt-guns, water balloons, or water throwing with buckets or cups is allowed within the fenced pool area or tennis area.
4. Swimmers may not dive or jump over the swim lap lane from the deck into the pool.
5. The lap lane is reserved for lap swimmers; other swimmers may not cut through the lap lane.
6. No pets shall be allowed within the fenced pool area.
7. Articles of street clothing are not allowed in the pool as swimming attire. Street shoes are not permitted on the concrete deck adjacent to the main pool. People returning to the concrete area from the grass will wash their feet before re-entering the pool.
8. No glass containers of any kind are allowed in the pool area.
9. Articles of food, including candy and soft drinks are allowed only in the designated areas.
10. Individuals are responsible for cleaning up after their party or group when departing the pool. Please place trash in the containers provided.
11. No alcoholic beverages are permitted anywhere on the Club premises, including the parking area, except when approved by the Board of Directors in connection with adult social activities.
12. All bicycle riders will use the area designated for parking bicycles.
13. The cost of any pool property damaged shall be charged to the member responsible. If a guest is responsible, damage costs shall be charged to the host member sponsoring the guest.
14. No chewing gum is allowed in the pool area.
15. Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco), vaping, or electronic smoking devices of any kind, are not permitted on the premises.
16. No roughhousing, sitting on another swimmer’s shoulders, wrestling, running, or shoving, etc., is permitted within the fenced pool area.
17. No water guns, water balloons or water shooting devices are allowed within the fenced pool area.
18. Significant changes to these rules will be disseminated to all members.
19. Fox Hunt Swim Club is a family club and prohibits generally unacceptable behavior such as, but not limited to: foul or abusive language, intimidation or disrespect of others, failure to respond to the instruction of guards, Pool Manager or Board member.
20. These pool rules and regulations may be revised at any time by the Board of Directors.
21. At the discretion of the Pool Manager, a lifeguard, or the Board of Directors, additional rules and standards of conduct not specifically enumerated herein may be enforced to ensure the safety and enjoyment of members and their guests.