Aquatic Facility Management

296 Pages·2005·13.8 MB·English

by  Paul Fawcett

quatic acility
anagement
Paul Fawcett

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but it may not include images, tables, or figures
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Human Kinetics
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fawcett, Paul, 1968-
Aquatic facility management / Paul Fawcett.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7360-4500-7 (hardcover)
1. Aquatic sports facilities--Management. I. Title.
GV770.7.F39 2005
797--dc22
2004020664
ISBN-10: 0-7360-4500-7 (print) ISBN-10: 0-7360-8584-X (Adobe PDF)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-4500-1 (print) ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-8584-7 (Adobe PDF)
Copyright © 2005 by Paul Fawcett
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or agencies who have not purchased Aquatic Facility Management may not reproduce any material.
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I’d like to take this opportunity to dedicate this book to my family. To my parents, Gordon and
Judy Fawcett, for all their encouragement and for taking me to various and sundry pools for
swim lessons over many years. To my brother, Bruce, for setting a sterling example of how to
write and for being an all-around great brother. To my girls, Lilly and Grace, who are the light
of my life and the inspiration for most things I do. Last, but certainly not least, to my beloved
wife, Holly, who listens to my ideas and offers much encouragement. Thank you all.
Contents
Introduction ix
R 1 Choosing and Developing
E
T
P
A Aquatic Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
H
C
Aquatic Programs 2
Deciding Which Programs to Offer 15
Enhancing Existing Programs 17
Evaluating Program Quality 19
Deciding When to Drop a Program 21
Summary 22
Review Questions 23
Bibliography 23
Resources 23
R 2 Managing Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
E
T
P
A
H
C Developing Program Policies 27
Accommodating Children in Locker Rooms 31
Programs for People With Disabilities 31
Organizing Program Registration 35
Organizing Classe s 38
Orientation 40
First Day Organization 40
Supervising Instruction 41
Evaluating Students’ Progress 41
Collecting Program Statistics 42
Working With Outside Groups 42
Outside Agency Collaborations 43
Summary 45
Review Questions 46
Bibliography 46
Resources 46
iv
Contents v
R 3 Promoting Programs and Public Relations . . 47
E
T
P
A
H
C Your Audience 48
Key Promotional Points 48
Promotional Outlets 48
Crisis Communications 57
Facility Image 59
Professional Marketing and Public Relations 61
Summary 63
Review Questions 64
Bibliography 64
Resources 64
R 4 Budgeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
E
T
P
A
H
C The Budgeting Process 65
Income 66
Expenses 69
Break-Even Point 70
Managing a Budget 70
Methods of Payment 74
Fiscal Reports 75
Basic Principles of Cash Flow Management 76
Financial Crisis Planning 76
Making Major Purchases 77
Summary 78

Review Questions 79
Bibliography 79
Resources 79
R 5 DDDeeevvveeelllooopppiiinnnggg SSStttaaaffffff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 81
E
T
P
A
H
C Staff Positions 82
Volunteers 84
Recruiting 85
Interviewing Potential Staff 86
Skills and Knowledge Evaluation 88
Hiring 89
vi Contents
Supervision 91
Scheduling 93
In-Service Training 94
Staff Retention 102
Career Development 103
Summary 105
Review Questions 105
Bibliography 105
Resources 105
R 6 Lifeguarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
E
T
P
A
H
C Lifeguard Position Description 107
Lifeguard Qualifi cations 108
Use of Noncertifi ed Staff in an Aquatic Environment 109
Lifeguard Professionalism 110
Technical Aspects of Lifeguarding 112
Lifeguard–EMS Connection 118
Lifeguard Health and Safety 119
Stationing Guards 120
Safety Systems 122
Special Situations 123
Preventing Disease Transmission 127
Lifeguarding in Open Water Environments 128
Lifeguards and Law Enforcement 129
Junior Lifeguards 129

Legal Aspects of Lifeguarding 129
Lifeguard Competitions 132
Summary 137
Review Questions 137
Bibliography 137
Resources 138
R 7 Managing Risks
E
T
P
A and Planning for Emergencies . . . . . . . 139
H
C
Risk Management Theory 140
Types of Emergencies 142
Contents vii
Alcohol and the Aquatic Facility 151
Areas of Special Concern 152
Codes and Laws 154
Aquatic Facility Rules 156
Emergency Equipment 157
Emergency Reporting Forms 160
Developing Emergency Plans 160
Informing Next of Kin 162
Dealing With Critical Incident Stress 163
Legal Issues 163
Summary 165
Review Questions 165
Bibliography 165
Resources 165
R 8 Managing Water Chemistry
E
T
P
A and Filtration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
H
C
Circulation 168
Filtration 168
Cleaning the Pool Bottom 173
Water Testing 174
Water Chemistry 175
Disease Transmission 180
Water Temperature 181
Langlier Saturation Index 182

Common Water Problems 182
Pool Operator Training 183
Summary 184
Review Questions 184
Bibliography 184
Resources 184
R 9 Managing Facility Operations . . . . . . . 185
E
T
P
A
H
C Security 186
Safety and Sanitation Procedures 187
Contracted Maintenance and Cleaning 191
viii Contents
Chemical Safety 191
Electrical Safety 195
Fire Safety 196
Special Attraction Safety 197
Equipment Inventory and Maintenance 197
Fecal and Vomit Contamination Cleanup Procedures 198
Spas and Hot Tubs 200
Energy Conservation 201
Winterizing Outdoor Swimming Pools 203
Record Keeping 203
Summary 204
Review Questions 204
Bibliography 204
Resources 204
Appendix A: Aquatic-Related Agencies 205
Appendix B: State Bathing Code Contact List 215
Appendix C: Aquatic and Safety Equipment Sources 219
Appendix D: Aquatics Forms 221
Glossary of Aquatic Terms 273
Index 277
About the Author 283
Introduction
A
quatics is a popular, ever dynamic fi eld and maintenance, and facility operations. This text
encompassing activities that take place in, explores each of these responsibilities in detail
on, under, and around the water. Aquatic and provides you with current industry standards,
activities include, but are not limited to, swimming, expert guidance and information, and helpful refer-
diving, scuba, boating, instructional activities, and ence materials. Each chapter also contains a list
family activities. The popularity of aquatics has of resources including recommended Web sites
created a wealth of employment opportunities and books that provide more in-depth material
for aquatic professionals. Opportunities exist at to amplify the topics covered in that chapter.
universities, public and private schools, parks The appendixes offer detailed information on
(federal, state, and local) and park districts, agencies that provide aquatic services, agencies
YMCAs, YWCAs, community centers, military responsible for state bathing codes, and suppliers
bases, health clubs, hospitals, and community of aquatic equipment, along with dozens of repro-
service organizations. ducible forms you can use at your facility.
The operation of aquatic facilities has become
increasingly complex in recent years. Due to
CHAPTER 1:
advances in technology and the proliferation of
aquatic certifi cations and regulations, aquatic pro- CHOOSING AND DEVELOPING
fessionals are now required to be better trained
AQUATIC PROGRAMS
and educated than in the past. The days when
certifi cation as a water safety instructor and a
good understanding of how to test water for There are a wide variety of aquatic programming
chlorine and pH were suffi cient for employment options that you can implement to serve all of the
as an aquatic professional are over. Aquatic facility prospective user groups at your aquatic facility.
management is now a profession, with increased You need to understand who your clients are and
training requirements, recognition, and career select the programs most likely to interest them.
opportunities to match. You must also ensure that you have the appropri-
This text is designed to assist you, as an aquatic ate staff and supplies to operate the programs
student or professional, with operating your that you select.
aquatic facility. This text isn’t designed to replace Chapter 1 provides you with a list and full
formal aquatic training but is intended to supple- description of programs that you can implement,

ment and expand on that training. At numerous along with a list of equipment, supplies, and staff
points in this text, certifi cations appropriate for qualifi cations required to operate each program.
aquatic professionals are listed. You should take There’s a wide range of programming possibilities
every opportunity to advance your knowledge and available. This chapter helps you choose which
skills by obtaining these and other certifi cations. ones are best for your facility by describing what
You can obtain these certifi cations from regular it takes to implement each program.
classes at aquatic facilities, through university
courses, or from periodic intensive aquatic CHAPTER 2:
seminars or camps. Once you’ve obtained these
MANAGING PROGRAMS
certifi cations, you’ll become more valuable and
employable because of what you know and what
you’re certifi ed to do. Chapters 1 and 2 are closely related. While chap-
Responsibilities and duties that are required of ter 1 provides ideas about what programs may
aquatic directors may include program develop- be right for your facility, chapter 2 helps you
ment, program promotion, budgeting, staff devel- manage those programs effectively. Well-managed
opment, lifeguarding management, risk manage- programs will make it easier for your patrons to
ment and emergency planning, pool operations access your facilities and services and will help
ix
x Introduction
them to have a better experience when they do. CHAPTER 5:
Logical management strategies also provide your
DEVELOPING STAFF
staff with guidance on how to properly operate
your facilities and programs.
Chapter 2 provides suggestions for organizing Staff is the most important element in the opera-
program registration (forms and procedures), tion of your facility. Managing your staff properly
organizing classes, implementing class orienta- involves recruiting, interviewing, hiring, retain-
tion procedures, evaluating students’ progress, ing, and training them. Supervising aquatic staff
and collecting program statistics. consumes much of the aquatic director’s time
and is one of the more crucial aspects of facility
operations. You rely on your staff to operate your
CHAPTER 3:
programs and services and to keep your patrons
PROMOTING PROGRAMS safe as they swim at your pools or beaches.
Chapter 5 provides useful information regarding
AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
how to organize screening and training programs
for lifeguards and aquatic instructors. Sample posi-
Marketing and promotions are essential for the suc-
tion descriptions for common aquatics jobs (such
cessful operation of your aquatic facility. You can
as director and pool operator) are included as well
have the cleanest, most up-to-date, best-operated
as recommended and required certifi cations for
facility in your state, but if no one knows about it,
each position.
patrons will not come, and your facility will fail.
Whether you’re marketing new programs or trying
CHAPTER 6: LIFEGUARDING
to jump-start existing programs, this chapter is
designed to help you.
For your marketing to succeed, you have to Although lifeguarding is part of risk management,
carefully select the correct marketing method for its importance to your facility and its increasing
the programs you offer. You must also make sure complexity make it worthy of its own chapter. Life-
that you relay the most important information guards are the backbone of the safety program at
about the program to your patrons. any aquatic facility. For your lifeguards to be effec-
Chapter 3 provides you with information regard- tive, they must be properly stationed and trained,
ing how to select the most effective marketing and proper procedures must be in place. As the
strategy for your programs. It also provides you aquatic professional, it is your responsibility to
with information regarding what details must be organize and train your lifeguarding staff to maxi-
communicated and the timing of your marketing mize their effectiveness. If you place lifeguarding
in relation to your program. staff at your aquatic facility but provide them with
no direction or organization, you will fail to make
the best use of their abilities.
CHAPTER 4: BUDGETING
Chapter 6 focuses on the topic of lifeguards.
Valuable information you will fi nd in this chapter
Budgeting for your aquatic facility involves manag-
includes how to station lifeguards and how to set
ing where your money comes from, where it goes,
up lifeguarding systems such as rotations, safety
and how to keep track of it properly. If you can’t
zones, and communication procedures. Additional
budget your money properly, you will habitually
helpful tips such as how to operate buddy boards
mismanage your fi nances.
and guarding procedures for persons with disabili-
Chapter 4 provides an explanation of the vari-
ties are also included.
ous budget types as well as an explanation of
purchasing procedures and spending controls. It
CHAPTER 7:
also includes a description of income and expen-
ditures. By reading through this chapter, you MANAGING RISKS AND
can decide which budgeting type is best for your
PLANNING FOR EMERGENCIES
facility based on your needs. You can also explore
ideas to help you better track and manage your
money. Ideas presented in this chapter include Chapter 7 goes hand in hand with the chapters on
budget reviews and computerized budgeting facility operations and lifeguarding. Risk manage-
programs. ment has to be a total package of staff policies and