THESE RULES are for staff to choose from and edit as you please.
If pools posted their rules in all the languages of their customers the guards’ jobs would be easier and the patrons would have a safer, more enjoyable visit.
Diving is not allowed.
The high dives will be closed during public swim.
Diving is allowed only in designated diving areas.
DIVING- Due to the potential for injury, diving is allowed only in the deep area and ONLY UNDER THE STRICT SUPERVISION OF A LIFEGUARD or instructor.
No diving from the bulkhead.
No diving in the main pool.
No hanging on the board
No sitting or gymnastics on the guardrails
no swimming or boating near boards
Do not swim in front of or under the diving boards.
All patrons using the diving well must be able to swim at least 15 yards on their own.
The lifeguard is responsible for all diving well activities. Use of the diving well may be restricted by the lifeguard.
The diving well may be used for diving, water sports, and water therapy (treading and running). For safety reasons, lifeguards will determine when and where activities will take place, and patrons should always make a point of asking the lifeguard if they wish to do one of those things.
All patrons using the diving boards must demonstrate diving proficiency from the side of the pool.
Diving may be performed from the boards only. Diving off of the side is dangerous.
No headfirst dives in water shallower than 9 feet.
Backdives, cannonballs, and somersaults are not allowed from the pool deck.
One dive may be performed at one time. No two divers may dive into the pool at the same time.
Dives or jumps must be performed forward, off the front of the board, toward the middle of the pool.
No running dives, back dives, inward dives, handstands, or cartwheels are allowed.
Do not perform jumps or dives that will have you leaning backwards as you enter the water (i.e., can openers, figure 4s, twisters).
No jumps are allowed.
hands enter the water first on headfirst dives
All dives must be done in a vertical, streamlined position
Only one bounce is allowed off the board.
Diving boards–NO RUNNING TAKEOFFS. NO INWARD OR REVERSE DIVES WILL BE ALLOWED DURING RECREATION SWIM.
Always face forward while on the board and ladders.
Only one approach and one bounce is allowed.
All persons using the high diving board must be at least four feet in height. Any one under four feet, who wishes to use the high board, must have a parent of guardian accompany them. The parent or guardian should stand at the bottom of the ladder as the child climbs to the top and jumps off the board.
Do not jump or dive toward any object including other swimmers, pool edges, or equipment.
No diving or jumping from lifeguard towers, starting blocks or waterpolo goals.
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Water balls may never be used with the boards and may only be used by patrons who actually want to play basketball or water polo.
No shooting from boards or from the deck.
Throwing a ball to someone jumping off the board is not allowed.
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Once a dive is performed the diver must swim directly to the far side of the pool.
Once a dive is performed, the diver must exit the pool by the nearest ladder. (This would not be appropriate if it meant the swimming would swim past/ under another diving board in use.)
Only one person may be on the board at one time. The next person in line must wait on the deck, not on the steps or on the ladder.
Wait until the person who dove gets to the side before you step onto the diving board steps or ladder.
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The fulcrums, which are the devices used to adjust the spring of the boards, have been preset and may not be adjusted during recreational diving.
Please do not adjust the fulcrum.
The fulcrum must be in the forward position to minimize bounce.
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Must be 42 inches tall to use the slide.
Position to be maintained while going down slide: lie flat on back, arms crossed over chest, and ankles crossed.
Sunglasses, shoes and T-shirts must be removed prior to using the slide.
Adults may not ride slide with child or other adult in lap
A person must exit the landing area immediately after using the slide.
The next person may begin a slide only after the previous person has cleared the area below.
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The warning sign above says: This equipment should be used only on pools that conform to state or local codes for minimum recommended depth of water, profile of pool bottom and location of boards. In the event that local standards do not exist, we suggest you consult N.C.A.A. or U.S. Diving standards.
___________________ water depths under diving boards ___________________
(from the Red Cross Water Safety Instructor’s manual, 2009) Minimum depth of water under a 1 meter diving board directly under the tip of the board should be 11 feet 6 inches. Minimum depth to teach diving from the side of the pool should be 9 feet. Goggles should never be worn during teaching of head first entries.
By any standards, the diving board pictured below is not safe because the water below it is not deep enough:
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When boards are not in use, putting a thick strong section of pole under the board can make it less likely to be mistakenly used by a pool patron. (Signage also helps.)
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Other lists of swimming pool rules at this website:
pool rules: attire, health and sanitation
pool rules concerning children
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How to tell if the lifeguards are doing their job properly, pool safety deficiencies or Preventative lifeguarding might also interest you.
Lifeguarding and Red Cross links of interest to professionals are at the page Lifeguard training, swimming, CPR and first aid links