3 ways to encourage swimmers to get rid of winter blues by jumping in the pool

3 ways to encourage swimmers to get rid of winter blues by jumping in the pool

Nothing encompasses summer fun quite like spending a hot day at the pool. Members of pool management know this, and a recent survey funded by the Water Quality & Health Council’s Healthy Pools program revealed that many people plan to get rid of their “cabin fever” symptoms by jumping into a pool this summer, further underscoring the role that local pools play in the community.

This is promising data for pools that are experiencing a slow start to the season. Highlighting the survey results can encourage more would-be swimmers to visit the facility. You can do this by posting about it on your website, social media pages and on community bulletin boards.

Expand pool activities
According to the study, 37 percent of participants between the ages of 18 and 54 stated that swimming was their preferred method of putting the cold days of winter behind them. This was followed by gardening at 24 percent and hiking, biking and camping at around 12 to 15 percent.

If your pool doesn’t host specialized programs or lacks interactive features, you may be missing out on a great opportunity. Here are three tips to draw more attention from community members.

1. Interactive features: There are many amenities that pool management can look into, from waterslides to climbing walls. Because of the variety, there’s also a wide range in prices, which guarantees that any facility will be able to find at least a few items that fit their budget. If you aren’t sure what swimmers will like, conduct a quick survey on-site and online.

2. Patron-hosted parties: Everybody wants to hold and attend pool parties in the summer. Allow families to do so by offering your facility as a venue. Of course, this will require preparation. A lifeguard should be required for each event. You can provide these individuals or you can work with a pool company.

3. Additional programs: If your pool has no programs other than swimming lessons for children, it’s high time to add more. This can be something as simple as hosting adult swim lessons or it can involve more work, such as hosting underwater hockey games.