POOL RULES

2024 HIGHLANDS POOL RULES

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All members and their dependents should be familiar with these rules. They are designed for the safety of all members. This is a family facility and the rights, privileges, and safety of all members should be respected. Failure to follow these rules will be grounds for the suspension or revocation of your privileges and/or membership.

  • The lifeguards, pool manager, and Highlands Pool Committee are fully authorized to enforce all rules and regulations, and may temporarily suspend violators, as they deem necessary.
  • If an individual has been suspended from the pool, they may not enter as the guest of another member during the period of their suspension.
  • If a member or a member’s guest repeatedly disobeys rules and regulations, the Highlands HOA may revoke the member’s membership without a refund.

APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

  • We foster an environment of safety and respect in which our members, guests, and staff feel safe and comfortable. The Highlands reserves the right to have an individual removed from the facility, and/or to suspend or revoke membership or program participation privileges to anyone who displays inappropriate and harmful behavior toward staff, fellow members, or guests.
  • As in any emergency, if you see something that needs police, fire, or ambulance assistance please call 911 immediately. Otherwise, please report any unsafe situation or suspicious behavior immediately to the Manager on duty. They will react accordingly and alert the appropriate people as needed. If you do not feel comfortable or confident directing your concern to the staff in person, or if your concern is related to staff members themselves, please send an email to both the Pool Committee and HOA Board of Directors: pool@highlandsca.com and board@highlandsca.com.
  • Abusive, foul, discriminatory, and/or profane language or breach of the peace will not be tolerated anywhere on recreation facility property.
    • No horseplay including dunking, pushing, and running.
    • No water balloons or water guns.
    • No hanging on the dividing ropes, lane lines, fill pipe, or lifeguard stands.
    • No throwing sports balls (ex: footballs) on the pool deck.
    • Spitting of water or any similar unhygienic actions will not be allowed.

BABY POOL 

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times in the baby pool. The supervision and safeguarding of users of the baby pool are the responsibility of the parents or caregivers of the children using the baby pool. SwimMetro and/or the Highlands shall not be responsible for any injury or loss resulting from the use of the baby pool.

BATHROOMS

  • The lifeguards clean the pool bathrooms regularly throughout the day. Please notify any lifeguard on duty if the bathrooms need immediate attention.

BIKES/SKATEBOARDS/SCOOTERS

  • Baby strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs are the only wheeled vehicles allowed in the fenced pool area. Any other wheeled vehicles should be parked in the bike racks provided.

CHILD WAIVER PASS

  • No separate child waiver for ages 11 – 15 is required this year because it is included in the pool membership application. The following criteria must be met for children ages 11 – 15 to use the pool without a responsible person (16 years or older):
    • Swim the length of the pool without assistance.
    • Be mature enough to follow pool rules and obey lifeguards. 
    • Waiver access will be revoked if a child does not follow these criteria or pool rules.
    • Children under the age of 11 years are not allowed in the pool area unless accompanied by a responsible person (16 years or older).
    • Parents must explain these rules to their child(ren) before pool usage.

DAMAGES TO THE POOL 

  • Any facility property damaged by any member or their guest will be repaired or replaced at the member’s or guest’s expense.

DIVING AND SLIDE RULES 

  • Divers will have priority over other swimmers in the diving well.
  • Non-swimmers are prohibited in the diving area.
  • When diving, you must dive straight off the end of the board. You may not jump/dive to the side.
  • Only one person is permitted on each diving board or ladder at a time.
  • The diving well must be clear BEFORE the next swimmer jumps/dives; meaning the previous jumper/diver must be either out of the pool or on the exit ladder before the next person jumps/dives. After diving/jumping into the water, the swimmer should quickly exit the diving area.
  • Never hang onto the edge or ends of the diving boards.
  • Only one person on the blue slide at a time.
  • Anyone using the blue slide must know how to swim without flotation devices and exit the slide area on their own.
  • No “catching” anyone at the bottom of the blue slide. 

EMERGENCIES

  • Everyone must leave the pool deck in the event of an emergency. The signal for this is three (3) blasts of the lifeguard’s whistle. There may be emergency drills throughout the season.
  • If the pool closes due to an emergency, the pool deck will be cleared for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes.

FLOTATION DEVICES

  • Approved life jackets, water wings, and ring vests may be worn only in the intermediate (3-foot deep section) area of the mushroom and baby pools.
  • Flotation devices, soft pool toys, balls, diving rings, swim masks, snorkels, and fins will be allowed in the pools at the discretion of the lifeguards.

FOOD AND DRINKS

  • Coolers, food, and beverages are permitted in the pool area; lifeguards may inspect coolers for glass bottles.
  • Food, chewing gum, and drinks are not permitted in the pools.
  • NO GLASS is permitted anywhere on the pool property.
  • No chewing gum is permitted within the fenced pool area.
  • Please throw away all trash before you leave the pool.

FURNITURE

  • Please be respectful of our new furniture at the pool. Do not drag tables and chairs or use them for anything other than their intended purpose (ex: no turning chairs on their side to make forts).

HEALTH

  • Admission to the swimming pools shall be refused to any person who has an infectious or communicable disease, irritated or inflamed eyes, a cold, nasal or ear discharge, excessive sunburn, open sore, or bandages of any kind.
  • Any person with heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, fainting spells, or those who wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace must make this known to the head lifeguard on duty upon entry to the pool area. This in no way implies that the lifeguard assumes responsibility for the health or physical condition of the member or guest.
  • Showers are required before using the pool.
  • Band-Aids and bandages must be removed before entering the pool area.

LAKE

  • No swimming in the lake or jumping /diving off the gazebo. Please see the Covenants and Restrictions on the Highlands Community Association’s website for other lake use rules and regulations.

LAP SWIM / SAFETY BREAKS 

  • A ten to fifteen-minute safety break where all individuals must exit the water may be implemented, as needed, throughout the season. Individuals may remain in the main pool as long as they are continuously swimming laps.
  • We intend to have two (2) lap lanes available during regular pool hours. If a lap lane is unavailable during pool hours due to swim team practice or any other reasons, please notify a lifeguard and they will assist you.

LIFEGUARDS

  • A lifeguard’s main job is to keep our pool members safe throughout the summer.
  • Unless an emergency arises, all conversations with the lifeguards should be restricted to “off-duty” time and “break” time.
  • Lifeguard stands/stations are located on the deck of the pool. Only authorized personnel are allowed to be in or to use these stands/stations.
  • Lifeguards have the authority to close the pool at any time, in consideration of the health and safety of members (ex: cold weather, rain, electrical storms, accidents, equipment malfunction, etc.).
  • A lifeguard’s word is final and will be supported by the Pool Manager, the Highlands HOA Board, and the Pool Committee.

NO TRESPASSING 

  • Security cameras are installed on the pool property.
  • Unauthorized visitors will be asked to leave the property.
  • No trespassing in the pool area or parking lot when the pool is closed.
  • Violators will be prosecuted.

NOTICE OF LIABILITY

  • The Highlands Homeowners Association and/or ACS West Property Management ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURIES TO MEMBERS, DEPENDENTS, OR GUESTS. Members use the pool at their own risk, even when the pool is open and lifeguards are on duty.
  • The Highlands Homeowners Association and/or ACS West Property Management are not responsible for the personal property of members, dependents, or guests that is left, lost, damaged, or stolen in or on the property.

PARKING LOT AND VEHICLES

  • Speed limit is 10 MPH. Pedestrians have the right of way.
  • Handicap parking places are for use by those who have an authorized handicap sticker or license plate.
  • Vehicles parked overnight will be towed at the owner’s expense.

PETS

  • Pets are not permitted inside the fenced pool area.

POOL ATTIRE

  • The Highlands pool is a family pool and the attire worn is to be consistent with a family pool setting. Appropriate body coverage is required. Cut-off shorts are not considered appropriate swimming attire.
  • All persons, regardless of age, must wear swimming attire while in the pools.
  • No thong or European-cut bathing suits are permitted to be worn in the pool area.
  • Any person who is incontinent or not fully potty trained must wear appropriate waterproof clothing when entering or being carried into the pool. No disposable diapers.

POOL PARTIES

  • Members may request to reserve space for parties by emailing pool@highandsca.com.
  • All requests must be made at least ten days in advance.
  • Guest fees apply.

SMOKING, DRUGS, AND PUBLIC INTOXICATION

  • Smoking and drugs are prohibited anywhere on or near the pool grounds. This includes all forms of tobacco, vaping, electronic cigarettes, THC, CBD, marijuana, and other drugs.
  • Absolutely no public intoxication (of drugs or alcohol) anywhere on the pool property.
  • Anyone in violation of this policy will be asked to leave immediately.

WEATHER CLOSINGS

  • Pools do not close for rain alone unless it rains hard enough that the bottom of the pool cannot be seen by lifeguards. 
  • A weather break occurs when a lifeguard hears thunder and/or sees lightning from inside the pool fence.
  • If the pool closes due to weather, the pool deck will be cleared for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes.

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THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE HIGHLANDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, POOL COMMITTEE, ACS WEST, AND SWIM METRO.

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