Our Pool Facilities (Modern Day Issue)

I say a modern day issue because how things have changed when it comes to our pool facilities. Local Governments and School Districts were once able to operate huge financial negative programs for the community, as they were able to use money from the government to cover the money. Now to today. Local governments and school districts are being squeezed in this new economy, and the the programs in the red are being looked at as possible casualities.

I just heard of a high school team possibly losing their pool. The city and school cannot afford to eat that cost which they once were able to do. This is not a new problem, this has been growing more and more, and the last economic crisis just made it worse. Many High Schools and Local Governments continue to run things at status quo saying they are doing just the same as before, but then it sneaks up on them when they say, well it looks like we are going to have to shut down the pool this year.

Sue Nelson with USA Swimming now has worked to help come up with solutions, and trying to communicate to everyone that a comprehensive aquatics program for the facility is needed to be sure that your swim facility does not end up on the chopping block. Every pool is different, so a pool can't offer everything, but people operating pools need to be open to not just programming, but year round revenue.

A Year Round swim club is a way to have year round revenue. We have seasons that keep kids involved and in the programs to be sure that the club can continue to provide revenue. High School Swimming has relaxed the training rules, so now they can train more than before. So, High School teams look to use their pool to develop their team, and push out club teams that can offer development for athletes and also revenue for the facility. They think that they are doing fine, until that day of reckoning of district budget cuts and your facility is one of the biggest red spots on the budget.

I am not against water polo. I was for awhile, but I recognize that there are Swimmers, Polo players, and then two sport aquatic athletes. All of these athletes would benefit greatly from club swimming. The problem with water polo, as told to me by a pool operator, they can fit only so many people into their practice area, and either the program is expensive or they have to get a better rate, which hurts the facilities budget, and putting it at risk later down the road.

My opinion: Water Polo programs should partner with their Club Swim Programs and try to negotiate a rate for the water polo players to train with them for some days, and then rent the pool for their polo practices. It takes advantage of the water available, and also serves both programs while not risking the pool facility.

Community programs like Open Swims. I remember as a Pool Manager and working with another pool manager, I did the math, and it was amazing how much of hit Open Swim and Lap Swim can be to a pools budget. These are good programs for a pool, but without the other programs to help bring in revenue, a pool that is just community based is in for trouble. Swim Lessons is where they get their profit, but those only bring in big revenue for 2 - 4 months. You can't fund a whole year in that time.

Many go for the solution of emptying the pool. I have seen this done, and many times after a couple years you see more big maintenance needed to be done, which ends up being the same cost in the long run. They decide to just cover the pool and not heat it. This one saves money, but you still have to run the filtration system. Yes, you save money, but having a year round program can bring in more than you would save by more than just turning off the heater.

The old problem for USA Swim Clubs was, "how do we get more swimmers?" Now more often, as pools are getting shut down more often the new problem is, "Where are we going to put all of these swimmers?" In October, Southern California Swimming had their Coaches Clinic, and this was one issue no one had an answer. Teams are starting to having waiting lists because they can't put any more kids in the pool time that they have. Then, you hear about a pool getting closed due to budget cuts, and you know that they didn't have a year round swim program in the pool. Many clubs are looking for places to grow, and here clubs and facility operators can help each other out. Instead they remain focused on just providing for their small community and their high school, as the red on their budget remains and possibly grows.

What a shame.