Riverside Gardens Swim and Tennis Club

RGSTC RULES AND REGULATIONS
(as amended for the 2012 season)

The Board of Directors has adopted the following Rules as the basis for governing activities of the membership and their guests.

Members are responsible for familiarizing themselves, their children and their guests with these rules. Compliance with the rules is required.

GENERAL

No member will be allowed admission until all dues, fees and fines are paid and the appropriate paperwork and photo are submitted.

All members, associates and guests will use the recreational facilities and property at their own risk. The Club is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to personal property or for articles left in automobiles or on pool grounds.

Members or their guests shall be held responsible for all willful or malicious damage to the facility.

All members and their guests must enter their membership number into the check in computer and appropriate fees collected or ticket relinquished before using the recreational facilities. Members and their guests using the tennis courts or ping-pong area must also be checked in.

All patrons must enter the pool area through the appropriate restroom.  Fairfax County Rules require all members and guests that intend to swim shower before entering the pool.

The gate to the right of the front office must remain closed. This gate may be locked. Members with strollers and large coolers may enter through the gate after acknowledgement from a lifeguard or office staff.

All bicycle/scooter riders must dismount before entering the gate and must park bicycles/scooters in bike racks - not dropped on the grass along the entrance pathway.  No bicycles/scooters are to be ridden on the tennis courts or sidewalks within the fenced area of the Club.

Games and other activities, which may damage trees, shrubs, the parking area, walkways, and distract other members, will not be permitted.

No part of the Club area will be used to operate gas powered models, airplanes, racing cars, go carts, mini-bikes, mopeds, skateboards, roller skates or roller blades.

Discharge of firearms, air rifles, or the use of archery equipment will not be permitted within the recreation area.

The Club Facility Manager (hereafter referred to as the Manager) has the authority to suspend privileges for a period of not more than 7 days. Serious or repeated violations will be referred to the Board of Directors for subsequent action as required.

The Board will take the following actions for suspensions that are a full day or more:

1st offense:	The Operations Chairperson will call and warn the offender or parents of the offender.
2nd offense:	A certified letter from the Operations Chairperson and the President will be sent to the offender or parents of the offender requesting a meeting to discuss the offenses.
3rd offense:	A certified letter from the President stating that, based on the discretion of the Board, the offender and/or member family may be expelled from the Club or minor offenders will require parent/guardian escort to use the facility.

Pets are prohibited from the pool and tennis court enclosures or from being left outside loose or tied to a fence, tree, or other object.

Rough play, running, offensive language, or other objectionable personal conduct will not be permitted in the Club area.

The pay phone will be used for all incoming and outgoing non-pool business calls.

For efficient operation and to establish lines of authority, all complaints should be made to the Manager on duty.

No one is permitted in the office except pool management staff and others authorized by the Operations Chairman.

Admission to the pool and tennis courts will be denied to any intoxicated person. Consumption of alcohol on pool grounds is discouraged; however, members of legal drinking age are permitted to bring modest amounts of alcoholic beverages for personal consumption, provided it is handled in a discreet and responsible manner and is restricted to the patio/picnic table area. No glass containers or breakable objects are permitted on the pool property per Fairfax County regulations.

On occasion, pool or tennis activities may be temporarily restricted from general use to permit special events, e.g., swim and tennis team meets and practices.

When the swim and/or tennis teams have practice sessions that fall outside of the general operating hours of the pool, any parents/siblings/care givers not on the teams are to remain in the picnic area of the facility and are not allowed in the shallow end of the main pool, the wading pool, or the playground. The pool is officially closed until the posted opening hour. Admission to the pool is not permitted outside the normal operating hours. Once practice is over all members must leave the pool until it officially opens for the day.


The number of guests is limited to 4 per member at any one time. All temporary guests must be accompanied by a member who will sign and pay for the guest at the gate. Guest fees are $3.00 (payable by check only, please or the guest ticket surrendered) per person over the age of 5. Anyone 5 years old and under is free. Guests must leave the pool grounds when the sponsoring member leaves-unaccompanied guests are not allowed at any time. Each family will be given five guest passes to use during the season - extra guest tickets are available for sale from the office.

A bona fide houseguest may use the pool unaccompanied by the member after the sponsoring member has made arrangements with the operations manager for pool privileges. Houseguest fees are on a per week basis and are $10.00 per adult, $5.00 per child and $20.00 per family.


These are unsupervised areas. Parents are responsible for the behavior and safety of their children in these areas. The lifeguards may ask children to leave these areas if necessary to maintain safety.

The volleyball court is for game play only, it is not to be used as a sandbox.  There is a designated sandbox for children to dig/play in the sand.

Children must be under 8 years old to use the swing set and slide - parental supervision is required.

All patrons must wash all sand from feet and bodies upon entering the pool area from the play area.

Athletic equipment may be signed out at the office for member and guest use. If equipment is not returned or is broken, the person who signed the equipment out is responsible for paying for the replacement cost. A $1 deposit is required to sign out ping pong equipment.


Parties must be scheduled in advance by an adult member of the Club by filling out an application. The party application is available on the RGSTC web site. The RGSTC Board member in charge Pool Operations keeps a master calendar. Applications for parties must be submitted to a member of Board Member in charge of Pool Operations. In the event of any conflict, Pool Operations has final approval for scheduling.

A minimum of two weeks prior notification must be provided to the Pool Operations when scheduling an event.

The pool will remain open to all members during any member party.

Member must provide attendance numbers for party, members must give an accurate count of guests, both member and non-member. Staffing may need to be adjusted to accommodate the total number of guests inside the facility.

Parties may not be reserved on the following holidays: Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. On all other dates, pool functions (swim and dive meets, as well as pool social events) have priority over parties.

A 4 hour time period will be granted for any party.

All parties must end NLT scheduled pool closing time.

No decorations outside the immediate party area may be used.

No live music will be permitted during the party.  DJ is permitted.

Groups may reserve only one of the following areas (a) the grill/picnic area; or (b) the playground and volleyball area. The patio area adjacent to the snack bar may not be reserved nor may tables be removed from this area. In the case of birthday parties all cake and ice cream must be served in the grassy areas. The snack bar area may not be used for this purpose.

The number of parties that can be booked at one time is at the discretion of the Board and Pool Operations, and may vary depending upon factors such as the day of the week and anticipated staffing. A “first-come-first serve policy” will be observed in the instance of any high demand reservation times. Out of fairness to all members, a party reservation which will not be used should be cancelled as soon as possible.

No party will exceed 40 people.

IMPORTANT: A party reservation for 10-25 people (members and non-members) will be required to pre-pay a $50 party booking fee. A party reservation of 25-40 (members and non-members) will be required to pre-pay a $100 party booking fee. This fee is in addition to the regular guest fees associated with the party and will be collected at the time of party reservation. This fee is not refundable, and will be put toward the additional lifeguard and maintenance staffing necessary to maintain safety for all swimmers.

Party guests are expected to comply with the rules of the Club, and the manager on duty may halt a party and/or eject individual participants at his or her discretion if the guests’ behavior is not compatible with the rules of the Club.

Food may be brought into the facility for a party, but no glass containers of any kind are permitted. The party host is responsible for the clean up after the party, making sure that the pool grounds are left in the same condition after the party as they were before the party.

THE CLUB DOES NOT PERMIT UNDERAGED CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.  MEMBERS WHO HOLD PRIVATE PARTIES ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLY WITH THAT POLICY AND ENSURE THAT THEIR GUESTS DO ALSO.

RGTC BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL OR POSTPONE SCHEDULED PARTIES/GATHERING AT THE BOARD’S DISGRESSION.

In the event of inclement weather the Pool Operations will work with the member to find a suitable alternative date. REMINDER: THE PARTY FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE

Contact the Board Member in charge of Pool Operations to fill out a party Reservation Form. Only the Operation Director can clear availability and staffing on the day and time requested.

For parties with 10-25 people (members and non-members), please remit the $50.00 fee (check or cash) in advance. For parties with 26-40 (members and non-members), please remit the $100.00 fee (check or cash) in advance. This fee is non-refundable due at the time of reservation.

All parties: Two days prior to the event, a list of members and guests must be presented to Operations Board Member. PAYMENT OF ALL GUEST FEES MUST ACCOMPANY THIS LIST. On or before the day of the party, a guest list must be presented to the on-duty pool manager. This will facilitate sign-in of party attendees. .




The Club Manager may, at his or her discretion, close the pool during periods of inclement or bad weather, and at any time when he or she considers safety or health endangered.

All persons will obey the instructions of the lifeguards and the Manager.

No person will use the pool unless it is officially open and guards are on duty.

One lane will be available for swimming laps at all times.

No Smoking anywhere within the pool property.

All food and drink must be consumed in the picnic area and not within the swimming enclosure.

Glass bottles, breakable objects or containers are not permitted on any part of the Club property.

The chewing of gum in the pool facility is prohibited.

The Manager will exercise his discretion in allowing such articles as balls, inner tubes, masks, snorkels, and pool toys in the swimming pool. Use of rafts and inner tubes will be restricted to weekdays during uncrowded periods only. Diving is not permitted from rafts or inner tubes into the water. Diving from the sides of the pool onto rafts or inner tubes is prohibited. Rafts and inner tubes will not be left on the deck surrounding the pool.

It is imperative for the cleanliness of the pool and as a courtesy to other swimmers that any children not completely potty-trained wear rubber pants and cloth diapers, or swim diapers in the pool. No disposable diapers will be permitted.

Children, 16 years of age and under, will clear the main pool and pool apron during the last 15 minutes of every hour the pool is open. Children 2 and under, who are accompanied by an adult, will be allowed to remain in the 2 ft. wading pool area. They will not be permitted in the main pool area during this time. No “break” will be called at the last 15 minutes of pool hours.

The use of floatation devices is limited to items that have the US Coast Guard seal of approval of water wings (a/k/a “swimmies”). Children using the pool with the aid of a US Coast Guard approved floatation device or water wings must always stay within an arm’s length of their supervising adult in the water and should remain in the shallow end of the pool during all non-break periods and never in the diving well.

A non-swimming child in the main pool must always be within arm’s length of the parent.

The wading pool is reserved for children who are 6 years of age or younger and they must be accompanied at all times by an attentive, responsible person who is 14 years of age or older.

Children under 2 years of age will not be permitted in the main pool without a responsible person 14 years of age or older.

Any child who has not passed the RGSTC swim test (administered by a Lifeguard) will not be allowed in the deep end of the pool unless accompanied by an adult. The terms of the swim test are:
      a) Demonstrate the ability to swim the length of the pool without assistance.
      b) Demonstrate the ability to tread water without assistance for 1 minute.

Expectorating or blowing of the nose in the pool is prohibited.

Members or guests who wish to listen to radios or tape players may be required to use earphones.

Lifeguards always have the discretion to prohibit water games that appear to be dangerous.

Chaise lounges or lounge chairs are not to be dragged or thrown across the deck when moved.

Chaise lounges and chairs must be covered with towels when using suntan lotion.

Bulkhead wall:
a. No activity of any sort if allowed on the bulkhead wall. This includes but is not limited to sitting, standing or walking on the bulkhead wall. Diving from the bulkhead is strictly prohibited.

Diving Regulations:
a.  The deep end of the pool will be closed for swimming and open to the general membership for diving during the first 30 minutes of each hour of pool operation.
b.  Only one person will be on the diving board at a time.
c.  A diver may dive only after the previous diver has cleared the area below the board.
d.  Excessive bouncing on the board is prohibited.

Pool Admission Policy:
a.  Children who are 10 years of age or older who can demonstrate acceptable social behavior and their swimming ability by passing the prescribed swimming test to the satisfaction of the manager may be at the pool alone. The swim test includes the ability to swim the length of the pool unaided and the ability to tread water for 1 minute. All children under 10 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible person who is 14 years of age or older.
b.  All persons must take a shower on the premises, before entering the pool.
c.  Admission to the pool will be denied to any person having a skin infection, sore or inflamed eyes, a cold, nasal or ear discharge, any communicable disease, excessive sunburn, open sores, or wearing bandages of any kind.

TENNIS REGULATIONS

The tennis courts are to be used for tennis matches and/or tennis practice only, no other activity is allowed.

All players must wear tennis shoes.  Proper tennis attire is required.

Tennis play may begin at 9:00 a.m. and will cease at dark, in accordance with the Country special-use permit issued to the Club.

Use of the courts is restricted to members of the Riverside Gardens Swim & Tennis Club and their guests.  Players are expected to clean up after using the courts, please put empty ball cans, water bottles, etc. in the trash can.

Courts may be reserved as follows: 1 hour for singles, 1 ½ hours for doubles. Ladder matches: allow for an additional 30 minutes. Players must sign in and take the court within 10 minutes of their reserved time or yield the court.

Reservations may be made in advance but must show the names of all players. No one may play by advance reservation more than once a day. Sign-up sheets will be available on the evening 2 days prior to play.

Courts may not be reserved by players less than 17 years of age on weekdays after 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays before 1:00 p.m. Players under 17 years of age are allowed to play on a court with adults during these periods.

Arrangements for lessons and clinics are made with the tennis instructor.