Why would an adult male be alone in the teaching pool?

[redrighthand83]

At my local leisure centre, there is the large main pool and then a shallow teaching pool which is around 100cm deep at the deepest section.

The teaching pool during the day is essentially the toddler pool. I have seen adults in the teaching pool earlier in the morning when it's quiet- and good on them, to build their confidence etc.

But the last few weekends at the busy sessions there's a man alone in his late 60s who just sits there in the corner watching everyone. I just can't imagine why he would choose to sit in a pool full of screaming and splashing children other than the more sinister reasons. I have tried to find the logic -e.g. he is entitled to use it but why would someone of retirement age only be able to use a pool on a Saturday lunch? Could he just be lonely and oblivious to the weird vibes it gives off?

Am I being unreasonable to ask the centre to perhaps look to separate lone adults using the teaching pool from the busier sessions with children?

Voting:

YABU: The world doesnt revolve around children
YANBU: This could be a safeguarding issue

Is the water warmer in that pool?

Because he's allowed to?
Because he can't swim?

More of a safeguarding risk allowing your kid's grandfather to take him swimming. Statistically. As 92% of child abuse comes from a male relative one or two steps distant. So uncle, grandfather etc.

Is he a grandparent, perhaps? Accompanying a grandchild/grandchildren?

Yes it is. The main pool isnt cold though.

If so, it feels like an expensive way to sit and pretend you are in a large tepid bath...!

But if you're concerned, ask the lifeguard (surely there is a lifeguard there if children are swimming?)

Out of interest, why don't the adults in the teaching pool at other times give you "weird" vibes?
Did we miss something at perv training about them only coming out at certain times?

If it will put your mind at risk mention it the centre manager. BUT it is 99.999% probably nothing to worry about.

Ask them what though? He is allowed to use it.....

To the previous PPs, - he isnt with grandkids etc. He is alone.

Because the adults at the other times are actually trying to swim etc. This guy just sits there like hes in a huge bath.

I would have assumed at perv training they tell you theres more kids to look at at midday than in the morning.

YANBU op, I don't agree with witch hunting but people posting are being deliberately obtuse ignoring the weirdness of what you have witnessed.

Don't ask the lifeguard anything. Speak to the leisure centre manager. I have had close dealings with them for a number of reasons and this will not be the first time they have had to deal with a concern like this.

I would never make an accusation against the man, because he could have completely valid reasons but it just feels off for a lone adult to sit in whats known as a toddler session. Its the same way adults are also allowed to sit in a playground, but you wouldn't, would you?

I understand there may be nefarious reasons but it’s far more likely to be an innocent reason.

Yeah, I hope so! But it might make everyone feel more at ease if they just had separate sessions for adults which is how I would approach it.

@TomatoSandwiches I'm not being deliberately obtuse. Simply pointing out that there could be a quite reasonable explanation for his presence.

Or, if the OP is concerned, that she could do something about it.

But this:

I would never make an accusation against the man, because he could have completely valid reasons but it just feels off for a lone adult to sit in whats known as a toddler session

... is just as bad for casting aspersions about the man's presence. Even if the OP claims they're not making accusations, clearly they are!

It’s not really the same unless it’s marketed outright as for kids. Also, it’s a warmer pool so there are plenty of good reasons for him floating around in it. Maybe he’s a total creep but I wouldn’t be jumping to conclusions if I were you.

Frankly I think it’s weird unless he is resting after a long swim or something. But every week just watching kids and not related to any of them. Weird.

The lifeguards are sixthformers, talk to the manager. They might not do anything though. Lots of people allow older men to perv, just enjoying watching the world go by, yes sitting out the front at school commute times staring at the girls boots and bums but that won't stop them complaining to the school if any girl gets upset about it! Yes I'm still upset. Think I saw the nasty daughter yesterday who tried to gets kids in trouble for not wanting to be perved at my her dad 30 years ago.

It's warmer - maybe he has arthritis or painful joints and finds the extra support/weightlessness of being in water helpful.

If he's not moving much then the main pool might well be too cold and/or too deep. You lose fat as you age, so maybe he feels cold more.

Could also be lonely & like to have people around him.
He might also come at other times, not just the Saturday morning session when it happens to be full of toddlers.

There are lots of possible reasons.
There's also a chance (albeit pretty small) that there's a dodgy reason.

Unless there's more to it than him just existing in a place he's entitled to be, using a facility he's entitled to, it doesn't seem unreasonable of him.

He isnt floating about. He isnt swimming, or moving about.

He just sits in the corner.

Many years ago I was in a local pool with my children
I saw a man behaving really weird so watched him for a few minutes
When I saw him go under water and "accidentally " bump into some young girls

I went straight to the lifeguard and said he was behaving inappropriately, get him out

They said thank you , we've been waiting for someone to complain -- and got him straight out

This made me more angry as it was as if they knew but waited for the public to complain rather than act in a preventative manner

Anyway , he was escorted out and banned - but where did he go next ?

Awful behaviour , we should be alert but not assume the worst of anyone

Maybe he needs/wants but can't afford hydrotherapy? And if he's working weekdays can only access the pool on weekends maybe.

Why don't you ask him?

Saying to the leisure centre manager that there is a lone adult male sitting in the kids pool seemingly for no reason and you are just drawing their attention to it is not making an accusation.

At one point at a pool I have a connection to there was a man who seemed to hang out in the changing rooms but never made it through to use the pool. Although the changing rooms were cubicles we still mentioned it to the centre manager. After they spoke to the man they were happy he wasn't a risk to anyone (they didn't tell me anymore than this for his privacy) and that was the end of that.

Maybe it eases the pain of his arthritis.

If you're not happy then leave, He's doing nothing wrong.

Just ask the lifeguard. "That guy seems to be in the children's pool with no children. Is that allowed?"

There is probably a simple explanation.