3 tips on keeping patrons interested in your pool activities
Aquatic facility managers and pool management services know that their sites can offer unique programs for patrons. From swimming lessons to water aerobics, there are pool activities that can only be enjoyed at the local pool. But what happens when participants finish a program and don’t have another that draws their interests or can increase their skills?
Planning aquatic programs is a delicate balance of rudimentary courses, such as swimming, and more exciting classes, such as water polo. Having a range of programs allows your facility to not only attract patrons, but also retain them in the long run.
1. Start with basic lessons
There’s bound to be interest in swimming courses, and you should offer these for different age groups. Depending on the community, it could be beneficial to experiment with classes that include teens and adults. This way, families can attend sessions and spend quality time together. It’s important to remember to include people of all ages in swimming programs, to ensure that everybody has easy and fair access to learning this essential life skill.
2. Schedule programs according to the time of day
According to Recreation Management magazine, the issue of pool patrons “aging out” of programs can be a problem. It’s essential for facilities to retain these swimmers through various interesting courses. According to Jim Clark, the assistant general manager and aquatics director of LifeCenter Plus in Hudson, Ohio, pools should also consider which people are available during different times of the day. Cater morning hours to fitness buffs, who likely swing by for a quick lap. As the day progresses, work in some lessons for seniors or moms and their young children.
After school lets out, explore different water sports that kids and young adults are likely to enjoy. This can range from water polo to underwater hockey. You can get a better idea of what kind of sports or pool activities that patrons would like to participate in by taking a poll. Alternatively, you can simply experiment with different classes and gauge interest from there.
3. Keep it interesting
Once you’ve figured out the most popular courses, consider creating a rotating schedule to help ensure that patrons won’t get bored or grow accustomed to the pool activities. Additionally, if these classes are sports-themed, you can collaborate with pools in other areas to feature seasonal competitions.
