Annoyed with leisure centre and teen provision

[golfbuggy]

Our local leisure centres has sessions where teens can use the gym. They are on weekdays from 3-4pm or 4-5pm. DS, who goes to the 2nd closest secondary school to the leisure centre, a distance of some 3.5 miles away, normally finishes school at 3.40pm. The very earliest he could get to the gym would be about 4.15pm, and that would mean him cycling straight there from school, so he'd still have to change, so effectively missing half the session.

The closest secondary school to the gym finishes at 2.45pm so it's quite clear that these sessions are mainly based around catering for students that go to that school. I know the centre doesn't have to cater for teens, and it's up to them when they run their sessions, but AIBU to think that if they provide a service they might provide it at a more inclusive time?

[Bestthingever]

You're lucky your local centre does anything tbh. Ours has nothing for teens.

[FangsForTheMammaries]

Are they not allowed in outwith these times?

[228agreenend]

Instead of grumbling on here, have you written to the leisure centre and explained the situation? If no one tells them, then they won't be aware of the situation.

[SmilingButClueless]

I can see why they offer those hours - past 5pm you're starting to get the people coming in after work, so unless there's a mixed adult / teen session then that doesn't really work (and I imagine the leisure centre makes more from adults than teens).

[corythatwas]

How old is your teen? Are they banned at other times? Mine just goes whenever it suits him. You have to pay, of course, but so does everybody else.

[19lottie82]

I think the problem is that 5pm is when people start arriving from work (i.e. Their busiest period) and the last thing serious gym goers want is for the place to be clogged up with under 18s in hats, playing with their phones and taking selfies! I'm not for one second suggesting your son does this but lots of kids do.

Can you not ask the gym to provide weekend sessions for U18s?

[Brainwashed]

At our local leisure centre one of the teen sessions is 530-630.....it is a nightmare trying to use any equipment with so many people in here so I can understand why they might have gone for earlier times

[LadyStoic]

I think your point is a valid one; it's one DS3 (15) is currently up against as only allowed to use the gym 4.30-5.30 but not home until 4.45.

I do agree it is wholly within the Leisure Centre's rights what they do/do not offer but there is zero question it is a very limiting time.

DS2 is also a gym bunny and is hugely supportive of DS3 going but he was pretty clear about what the issue is and why he suspects it is so limited. He (& DS3 btw) are serious gym'ers, IE they do not dick around and have very specific work-outs (IE Monday is legs, Weds is Core, Fri is... you get gist!) BUT...

DS2(21) is often seriously pissed about by the teens who just get in the way of those who want to work out - IE those who do not do the above, but rather just posture about for 45-60min and getting in the way, loudly shouting to their mates, not actually doing any kind of work-out, taking selfies, trying to out-'joke' each other about the hot gym trainer... etc etc etc.

I think a far better plan would be only allowed access to the gym, but then with a bigger window of say 4.30-6.30pm, after demonstrated both commitment and ability, IE attended and passed an X weekly attendance course of sorts.

[chipsandpeas]

i used to finish work at 4 and go straight to the gym and it was full of kids hogging the equipment not actually using it they would sitting on machines on facebook on phones.......i started to say to the staff to get them to move but it was a pain in the arse constantly having to ask
issue was it was a mixed session, so i stopped going at that time

[Trifleorbust]

So a local leisure centre puts on sessions that cater for kids at the local school. It's not their fault that doesn't fit well with your son's schedule.

[myfavouritecolourispurple]

Our local leisure centre recently changed hands (it had been local authority run but was recently taken over by Everyone (In)Active. It has not been a very popular takeover, partly because one of the first things they did was to restrict the times when under 16 teens could use the gym facilities.

They currently offer very little for teens.

As for moaning on here rather than contacting the centre, people did contact the centre and got nowhere. I suspect they don't want teens mixing with adults but then they should provide more sessions for teens. It's no good moaning about an obesity crisis and then stopping a section of the population from enjoying access to facilities.

YANBU.

[Sirzy]

Is there a gym nearer to his school where he can use the facilities?

It is one of those "can't please all the people all the time" type situations though really.

[BackforGood]

I do think it would be worth arranging to speak to the manager, or writing or e-mailing the centre, to point this out. It might well not make a difference, but, equally, it might just be it hasn't crossed their radar becasue nobody has pointed it out to them.
We had this a bit when my dd wanted to do some serious lane swimming when she was 16 - could only use her leisure pass either at 7am (er - pretty small % of teens going to do their swim before school), or during school hours - made it a bit pointless to have a teens pass, but the baths just hadn't really thought through the logic.

[golfbuggy]

Those are the only times than U16s are allowed in to use the gym. I do take the points about groups of teenagers messing about and getting in the way of (higher paying) adult customers. I have spoken to the receptionist about the times who shrugged (well not literally, but obviously didn't have much interest) and told me to put it on a feedback card, which I have, so we'll see what comes of that.

DS actually has a gym at his school, but he's only allowed to use it once a week (which he does). He wanted to go more which is why I started looking into local gyms. This is our nearest leisure centre. There is one a bit further away that allows teens up to 6pm on weekdays and all day at weekends- which is obviously better, but it's too far for him to get to under his own steam,so I'd have to take him, which is why the fact that our local centre (which I'd prefer to support anyway) would have been better!

I like the suggestion made by a PP which is that perhaps teens should be allowed greater access after proving committment and non-messing-about-ness!

[nokidshere]

My two love the gym too but the youngest is restricted to the supervised teen sessions and we have the same problem regarding timings.

He has been going regularly for two years, he doesn't need supervision any more but u16's are only allowed to go with supervision. Personally I can't see what will be different the day after his birthday and agree that it should be based on ability rather than age.

[Sirzy]

I would question the school too then - why don't they allow more access after school?

[golfbuggy]

I imagine it's because the PE teachers are busy running football/rugby/netball/basketball/badminton etc etc clubs on the other days and can't supervise in the gym every day. There is 1session for boys and 1 session for girls, and no after school clubs on Friday, so they already support it on half the days!

[Wolfiefan]

Forget the comment card! I would ask for the email of whoever schedules classes etc. manager?

[19lottie82]

I agree with sirzy...... if focus your efforts on the school providing more accesss it their facilities rather than a leisure centre who from what it sounds like, are doing their best to accommodate everyone, but unfortunately this isn't suitable for your DS.