For entry to the pool, all Members must be properly registered. Members must identify themselves and any guests by name at the admission gate.
Do not forget to update your photos in your portal. We will have new guards and a new manager this year so having your photo on file will make the check-in process faster and easier.
General Pool Rules
• All Members must adhere to these rules as well as all of the posted rules around the pool (i.e., at the slide, baby pool, diving board and other locations). Failure to follow the rules will result in consequences as determined by pool management and/or board.
Access to Pool
• Members may use the pool when it is open and staffed with lifeguards.
• Members under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult
• Members 12 years old and under must leave the pool at 5:45 unless accompanied by a responsible adult (i.e., individual over 18 years of age).
• Children under 6 years old MUST be accompanied by an adult/babysitter/someone above 16 years old – and such responsible adult must be near the child – AT ALL TIMES
• Swimmers who are 16 and over may remain in the pool during break
• Baby Pool Use: Only children 6 years old and under are permitted with an ADULT in the baby pool, and the adult MUST be present at all times
In the Water & on Pool Deck
• No running or horseplay on deck
• No throwing people into the pool from the deck
• No horse play in the water (e.g., dunking, wrestling in the water, excessive splashing in face, riding on shoulders, pushing into the water from the deck)
• No throwing people or carrying another person on shoulders while in the pool.
• No diving in the shallow end
• No back dives from the deck of the pool anywhere
• Only pool noodles allowed in the pool; rafts, boogey boards, snowboards, inflatable flotation devices such as inner tubes and other such devices ARE NOT PERMITTED
Slide, Diving Board & Deep-end
• Swim tests (see below) must be complete/passed for anyone to use the slide, dive well, or swim outside of the shallow area.
• Deep end – boards are either open or closed and is determined by the guard in the chair at the time. Swimmers should confirm with guard when “opening” or “closing” the boards
• Swimmers who haven’t passed the swim test must have an adult within arm’s reach and CANNOT use the diving board or slide (even with parent’s ‘help’)
• For the slide, you must go feet first and there is no catching people at the end of the slide
• For the diving board, you must go straight off the diving board and there is no catching peoplejumping off the diving board
• You may not wear goggles when using the slide or diving board
Swim Test
A swim test is required for members under 16 years old to be able to swim in the deep-end and use the diving board and slide. The swim test includes the ability to:
• Swim 25 meters continuously; and
• 1 minute of continuously treading water – treading water must be done with head and face above water at all times.
The swim test will be administered at times determined by the pool manager and may only be attempted twice in a day. If a member fails any part of the test s/he is considered to have failed the test and must do the entire test at another time.
We encourage members to complete the swim test at the beginning of the season.
Food & Drink
• With the exception of plain water, no food or drink is permitted on deck or near the pool, including at the pool edge.
• There is no eating or drinking in the pool, and this includes feeding babies.
• NO GLASS of any kind is permitted on deck or in the pool area, especially in the baby pool area.
• In the grass areas, if you have anything in a glass bottle, please pour it in a non-glass container and bring any empty glass containers home (i.e., do NOT throw glass away in the pool garbage cans).
• The responsible consumption of alcohol is permitted only in the grass areas.
• No gum is permitted in the pool or pool area
• When the snack shack is open, exact change, gift card, or credit/debit card is needed to make purchases
Unaccompanied Children
• Children under age 10 years old may not be at the pool unaccompanied (i.e., at the pool without a parent or guardian over 16 years old). An exception is when a family has added a babysitter/caregiver to your account. (See more under the Babysitter/Caregiver section).
• Children aged 10-12 years old can be at the pool unaccompanied until 5:45 pm each day if they have:
– passed the Swim Test, and
– have written permission from their parent on file
• Children ages 10-12 years old may not bring guests unless they are with a parent or guardian over age 18 years old.
• Member children 13 years old and older may be at the pool unaccompanied and bring guests. This policy can be revoked for any child who does not follow the rules and guidelines. If your child is 12 years old but going into 8th grade, please reach out to us at membership@rutherfordpool.org so we can add an exception to the age policy for that child.
• At 5:45pm every evening, the lifeguards will announce that all unaccompanied children 12 years old and younger will have to exit the pool grounds unless they are with a parent or guardian over 18 years old. There are no exceptions to this rule. Members who continually violate this policy could have their membership suspended or revoked. These policies are in place for the safety of all members.
Babysitters/Caregivers
• Members may designate an individual who is older than 16 years old as a babysitter or caregiver (each a “Babysitter”) of the Member’s child(ren) when a parent is not with the child(ren) at the pool.
• A bonded Members may add one Babysitter who is not a family member to their account without charge. Summer Only and Military members may add a Babysitter to their account for $50 per Babysitter.
• In order to designate a Babysitter, the Member must complete and submit the Babysitter/Caregiver form available, which is available at the pool entrance or online at www.rutherfordpool.org. This form needs to be submitted and any applicable fee paid for before the Babysitter may enter the pool grounds.
• A Babysitter must be 16 years and older. Note that if your babysitter is under 18 years old, they will not be able to bring the children to the pool after 6 PM. No exceptions.
• Babysitters are not added to our online portal. However, the completed Babysitter/Caregiver forms will be maintained in a file with the lifeguards.
• The Babysitter may only attend the pool with the child(ren) of the Member family. They cannot come to the pool on their own unless they are a Member.
Guests and Guest Passes
• Guests only will be admitted to the pool with an appropriate guest pass.
• If you bring Guest(s) to the pool at any time:
– You must accompany all guests with they are on pool grounds. Guest passes cannot be used on their own without an adult from the Member family in attendance.
– Guests must follow all our rules and guidelines, or they will not be allowed to return.
– Adult guests will be required to show ID to sign in.
– Guest Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years old unless you have a Babysitter form on file.
– Guests who are 13-18 years old must adhere to all our rules and policies, or they will not be allowed to return.
Guest Passes
• All bonded Members will receive ten guest passes for the season. The guest passes will be added to your account.
• Summer Only, Military and Bonded Members can add guest passes to their account at any time buy purchasing additional passes through our portal:
– Login to your account:
– At the top, scroll over “memberships,” Click on “Buy Guest passes.”
– You can purchase guest passes for $5 per pass or a package of 10 for $4 each ($40.00). You must pay by credit card, and there is a convenience fee.
– You can also purchase guest passes at the pool entrance. But remember that purchasing passes in person will take longer, especially at the beginning of the season, as new lifeguards learn to use the system. And, you do not get a discount for passes unless you purchase online. All passes are $5 if purchased at the gate.
• Guest passes are not allowed to be used on the days we hold one of our Holiday Parties (see below).
• Guests can only use our pool a few times before they will not be admitted. This policy prevents neighbors from using neighbors’ guest passes all summer. If your neighbors want to come to the pool, have them join. Exceptions can be made for children and teens, depending on the circumstance. Please reach out to us at membership@rutherfordpool.org if you have any questions or need an exception.
• If you have family or friends visiting for an extended period of time, please reach out to us at membership@rutherfordpool.org. We have special weekly passes for out-of-town guests. Please give us enough time to process the information and enable you to pay.
Holiday Party Guest Passes
• For this season the Holiday Party days are schedule to be:
– Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (May 26th); Independence Day (July 4th), and Sunday of Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2nd).
– These dates are subject to change based on the weather.
• On the day of a Holiday Party, guests only will be admitted with a Holiday Party Guest Pass.
• Summer Only, Military and Bonded Members can purchase Holiday Party Guest Passes online and will receive details via newsletter in advance with details.
• There will be a limited number of Holiday Party Guest Passes available for each Holiday Party (approximately 30 passes).
• Holiday Party Guest Passes will be sold on a “first come, first served” basis and may not be purchased after 5pm on the day before the Holiday Party.
