Teenagers messing around in swimming pool.

[Atlastatlastatlast]

I go swimming twice a week in my local pool and normally it's very civilised. Fast swimmers use the fast lanes, slower swimmers or those who want to walk up and down use the main part of the pool, people swimming widths stay at the end of the pool. Since the schools broke up however gangs of teenagers have been making it impossible to enjoy a proper swim. They stand around the middle of the pool in a circle chatting, swim randomly anywhere, ignore the no diving or jumping signs and jump in on top of people, etc. They also chase each other around the dressing room, take photos of each other and generally make it an uncomfortable place to be.

Following lots of complaints and threats by regular users to start going else the owners have now put in place an over 18s policy between 10am and 4 pm.

A friend of mine whose teenagers are keen swimmers is really pissed off and thinks this is very unfair, as does one of my neighbours whose 15 year old uses the pool regularly. I have sympathy as they're not among the messers but AIBU to be secretly delighted that we won't have to tolerate annoying teenagers in the pool anymore?

Odd hours. Most of our local pools have various adult only sessions but such a long stretch will just lose them a wad of cash.

They should let under 18s use the pool if accompanied by parent or legal guardian. That’ll teach them.

My local pool has a few entitled, rude, slow in the middle lane seniors who use it. They don't ban anyone over 60. That would clearly be madness.

Everyone complains about kids on screens and these are doing something healthy, social and fun and they've been banned. Well done joyless arseholes. Score.

It seems odd to me. We have dedicated lanes sessions, dedicated fun, dedicated open pool, dedicated oldies, etc. In 1-2 hour slots dotted throughout the day. One pool trying to be everything to everyone at all times is never gonna work.

what Bluths said... Lanes before 10 & after 4, with teens welcome from 10-4 (or maybe 12-6pm) would make more sense than what OP describes.

An over 18s policy is incredibly unfair when we all agree children need more exercise. They should have lane swimming only time slots, maybe 10-12 and 2-4 with family swimming 12 -2 which under 18s are welcome to all sessions.

ds is 14 and goes to lane swimming times at our local pool to do 30-40 lengths twice a week and keeps pace with adults no problem.

If anyone of any age doesn't keep to lane swimming then the life guards should ask them to leave.

Fairer and benefits everyone including the owners who will need the income from as many customers as possible.

or just keep half of it lanes and half of it general use

Following lots of complaints and threats by regular users to start going else the owners have now put in place an over 18s policy between 10am and 4 pm.

That's horrible, when are sensible teenagers supposed to swim? During the day would be ideal when many adults are at work. My teenager is a member of a swimming club and so goes most days during the club summer break but he wouldn't be able to swim for a fortnight with those rules.

Shortstuff08

There wouldn't be a case under the Equality Act because that only applies to adults.

And whether or not it is a good business decision is the owner' and concern, nobody else's.

They need to be stricter about enforcing this at my pool, because mine is in a gym! It should ONLY be about lane swimming and classes.

Instead teenage members use it to lounge around in. Not swimming at all really. They could sit in the (empty) jacuzzi to the same physical effect. There are some parents teaching their children to swim there too, which isn't ideal, but they're using the pool for its proper purpose, and they're usually very careful to keep their kids to a set area.

I think our pool has got it the wrong way around anyway. There's a large area for free anticlockwise swimming, and a not-quite wide enough for two lane for fast swimmers. But if they swapped it so the majority was lane swimmers only, the muckers-around could muck around in a confined space to their heart's content.

So so unfair on those many under 18s who would use the facility sensibly and under parental supervision.

At our pool, if kids start mucking about being idiots, the lifeguard has a word with them. If they persist, they get told to leave the pool. Do they not have lifeguards at your pool who should be ensuring appropriate behaviour.

The few have spoiled it for most and they will lose most of their family business for the holidays.

Does this policy also mean parents with toddlers etc have been banned? As they wouldn't be able to come later as suggested.

Good to see them doing their part against the obesity epidemic.

Is it local authority? I'd be fucking incandescent if it is, and I had kids who'd now be excluded. If it's private, their choice I suppose. Custom elsewhere.

Our pool has time slots for lane swimming (usually first thing) and also adult only swim in the evening. I stay away during the day as it’s chaos.

Do they not have lifeguards at your pool who should be ensuring appropriate behaviour.

Not quite as simple as reminding people of the rules and then asking them to leave, is it? If you have a gang of teenagers who persist in breaking the rules, how does a lifeguard go about getting them to leave?

I can imagine the company losing a few lifeguards before the end of the summer if it's anything like how I envisage it.

It’s a shame that the lifeguards can’t sort this out and keep the pool civilised. However our club employs teens/ very young adults for the role and they are very reluctant to intervene in any disputes or disruptive behaviour.

Well their role is primarily the safety of swimmers. Also, remember the second they have to "intervene" they are not watching the pool. You can't do both. Which is why I questioned how many lifeguards are assigned. If there's only one, then this establishment - and it's patrons - have more to worry about than a few rowdy teenagers.

It’s a shame that the lifeguards can’t sort this out and keep the pool civilised. However our club employs teens/ very young adults for the role and they are very reluctant to intervene in any disputes or disruptive behaviour.

Most pools employ young adults as lifeguards. I don't believe it should be their job to deal with persistently disruptive behaviour. I doubt they are paid more than minimum wage.

think the pool needs to take control and make an effort to get shot of the trouble makers Apart from being careless as to where they jump in, nothing they're doing seems out of the ordinary for a pool. It's the hottest, longest summer we've had for many years. Of course people going to the pool with their friends are going to want to stand around and chat, swim for fun in odd directions, do water somersaults, swim along the bottom and so on. Swimming grimly up and down for half an hour or an hour is boring, we only do it for exercise.

what a sad post for the first week of the holidays.
Don't teenagers have it hard enough without there being ANOTHER place they're not welcome?

Poorly run pools are unfair for everybody - and frankly unsafe. Sounds like this place needs better management. For me, the best answer would be people working around the pool, making sure people are paying attention and following the rules. That way no group of people has to receive blanket punishment because a few aren't doing what they should.

Of course people going to the pool with their friends are going to want to stand around and chat, swim for fun in odd directions, do water somersaults, swim along the bottom and so on. Swimming grimly up and down for half an hour or an hour is boring, we only do it for exercise.

Which is exactly what a "public swim" session is ... the OP seemed a tad vague about "lanes". If it's roped off it's a lane, and should be respected for lengths. But if there's no rope, it's a free-for-all. By all means you can have a go at doing lengths, but you can't really get pissy about other swimmers just having fun.

My preferred pool has adult-only, lane sessions, as well as general lane sessions, and public swim. (There's also aqua fit, and womens only sessions I believe ). They note that some of the lane sessions are alongside public swim (so 3 lanes, and the rest of the pool is free-for-all).

Most pools employ young adults as lifeguards. I don't believe it should be their job to deal with persistently disruptive behaviour. I doubt they are paid more than minimum wage.

So the manager spends a week down there, identifies the offenders and they get spoken to, warned, then banned. Staff on the reception are informed and everyone is happy. I work with challenging teens a lot and most respond well to firm, friendly boundaries. The ones that don`t = ban.

Crap way of dealing with it. Pool staff should deal with teens who misbehave, not punish all teens.

MrsTerryPratchett

I don't think it is incumbent on the staff to deal with it that way. If they feel a limited access arrangement works better for their business, they can do it.

Our local pool used to be like this; a friend and I tried to go swimming once a week after work but found it impossible. It was an Olympic sized pool, there was also a ‘baby pool’ and a smaller one in a separate part (but all one building). The only one open after working hours was the Olympic one; couldn’t swim in the deep end as that was for diving only (fair enough), about 4 lanes roped off for the local swimming team to train (again, fair enough but this was every week night). The rest of the pool was just teens jumping off the side or hanging on to the walls chatting to their mates, no space for people who just wanted to swim. We did enquire as to if it was possible to use the medium sized pool but that was only accessible between 10-4 so we gave up.

Pool staff should deal with teens who misbehave, not punish all teens.

I'm getting a feeling this pool is being run on the cheap ...

Why don’t they just enforce their pool rules and kick out those that abuse them? I understand that some teenagers can be a PIA, but they shouldn’t stop all kids going, especially in the summer holidays, just because they’re not prepared to enforce their own rules!