Prepping Your Community’s Pool Guards for a Winning Summer Season

Summer is finally here and everyone is anxious for opening day at the pool. Having solicited competitive bids, reviewed online ratings, checked references and interviewed bidders, the board is confident they have selected the best pool management company to meet the needs of the community. So, what could go wrong?

As most of us know, there are a multitude of things that can go wrong at the pool: mechanical failure, patron injury, patron misbehavior, staffing problems, etc. While some situations cannot be prevented, the key is to ensure that the pool staff is fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise.

You may ask, isn’t it the pool management company’s responsibility to train the guard staff? Yes, but it’s the community manager’s responsibility to ensure the pool staff is equipped to succeed at the community.

Many of the guards are teenagers, and this will be their first job. This alone can be intimidating. Added to this is the fact that they will be the first responders to any emergency at your pool. This is a huge responsibility, especially for a teenager or young adult. Therefore, it is imperative that they are both prepared and supported by the community to ensure the safety of the residents.

You cannot expect the guard staff to understand your community’s expectations and specific policies and practices – unless you tell them. First, the community should require the pool management

Next, prepare a packet of information to review and share at the meeting. Clarify that the pool staff is employed by the pool management company, not the association. The pool management company has contractually obligated the guard staff to perform certain duties for its client, the association, and to perform those duties to a certain standard. Therefore, sharing the pool management contract (with any monetary or confidential information redacted) or contract specifications with the guard staff can help them understand what is expected of them. Also, if the contract includes punitive provisions that may apply to the pool management company if the guard staff does not meet expectations, they need to be aware of this.

In addition to the pool management contract and/or specifications, the packet should include the pool operating hours, a review of the pool pass system, guest check-in procedures, the pool rules, and any other expectations of the pool staff. Remind the guards that their primary goal is to protect the health and safety of the pool patrons. Everything they do should be with this goal in mind. Consider issues that have arisen in the past and provide guidance that may prevent recurrence. Provide detailed instructions for cleaning, daily procedures and guard decorum.

It is also important that you empower the guard staff. Reinforce and support the fact that the pool guards are in charge of the pool facility. They must speak and act with authority and expect respect from the pool patrons. Help your community understand the role of the pool staff and the importance of obeying them. If your association has established a policy for addressing misconduct at the pool, make sure the guards are aware of and understand the procedures. It is equally, if not more important, that the guards understand the association will support any disciplinary action they take, provided they have followed proper procedure.

Lastly, make the guards feel like members of the community. This can greatly assist in ensuring a good relationship and open communication between the pool staff, management and residents. Invite the lifeguards to community events, bring them a snack when you go for a swim, or even plan a guard appreciation day. These small expressions of gratitude will foster a personal relationship with the guards and make it easier to discuss any issues that may arise.

In many communities, the pool is the central gathering place during the summer months. Adults, children, and guests of all ages wait patiently for the gates to open every season, and when the gates close for the last time around Labor Day weekend, they begin to look forward to next summer. Employing these tips to ensure your pool staff is well-prepared will provide fir a safe and fun pool season for your community.