When you purchase a seasonal membership, you gain access to the pool from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend*, and to the tennis courts year-round with a properly registered access key.

*In certain seasons, the pool may remain open beyond Labor Day; in such cases, these rules will continue to apply during any extended period.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all, facility use is limited to SHRA members. Members and their guests are expected to follow our club bylaws and the rules outlined below at all times.

1. Pool Deck and Main Pool

1. No Running: No running, shoving, or horseplay on the pool deck
2. Showering: Everyone must shower with soap prior to entering pool
3. Talking to Life Guards On-Duty: Do not talk to a lifeguard who is on duty unless it is a matter of safety. Questions should be addressed to the manager on duty or lifeguards not in a lifeguard chair
4. Child Supervision: Children who cannot swim, or have marginal swimming skills, must be under the direct and immediate supervision of a responsible adult. “Marginal” swimming skills is defined as an inability to swim two lengths of the pool and tread water for a minute without assistance
5. Arm Bands and Vests: “Arm floaties” and swim vests are permitted. They do not replace the requirement for marginal or non-swimmers to be under the direct and immediate supervision of a responsible adult
6. Toys: Hand-held toys, squirt toys, soft toys and balls are permitted in the pool provided their use does not interfere with others
7. Inflatable Chairs and Life Rings: Inflatable lounge chairs and life rings are not permitted in the pool. Only on designated Float Nights, temporary exceptions are made for inflatable use.
8. Lap Lanes: Lap lanes are for lap swimming only. Do not hang or pull on the lane lines
9. Basketball Hoop: Hanging on the basketball hoop or shooting from more than ten feet away is not permitted
10. Swim Diapers: Children who are not toilet trained and incontinent adults must wear swim diapers and rubber pants
11. Mandatory Breaks: There will be a fifteen-minute break at the end of every hour except the last hour of every day. Lifeguards will blow their whistles to start and end each break. During break times only swimmers over the age of 16 are permitted in the pool
12. Illness: Do not enter the pool with an infectious disease, ear or nasal discharge, an open wound, skin inflammation, or if you have had diarrhea within the past week.
13. Food and Beverages: Only beverages in non-breakable cups and bottles are permitted on the pool deck. Food and glass are not permitted on the pool deck, but only permitted on the stone patio and walkways outside of the immediate pool deck.

2. Diving Area

1. One Person Limit: Only one person is allowed on the diving board at a time
2. Safety Clearance: Ensure the previous diver is clear of the diving area or standing on the ladder prior to beginning a dive. Do not try to “catch” small children. They can be encouraged from the side
3. One Bounce Maximum: Only one bounce is permitted on the diving board
4. Straight Dives Only: Dive straight out from the diving boards. Forward and backward diving are both permitted
5. Immediate Exit: After diving, swim directly to the nearest ladder or directly out into the main pool
6. No Sitting: Sitting on the diving boards is not permitted
7. No Swimming in the Dive Area: General swimming is not allowed in the diving area when diving boards are in use. If diving boards are not in use, swimmers may ask the manager on duty for permission to swim in the diving area, and the diving area is to be partitioned off with visible means to signify diving is temporarily not permitted. Swimmers must clear diving area for any person wishing to use the diving board

3. Baby Pool

1. Age Six and Under: Only children six and under are permitted in the baby pool. Rough-housing by guests of any age is prohibited, and those swimmers asked to leave the baby pool area altogether.
2. Adult Supervision: All children in the baby pool must be under the direct and immediate supervision of a responsible adult
3. Small Toys: Small toys are permitted in the baby pool
4. No Glass: Glass is not permitted in the baby pool area. Food and drinks, stored securely are permitted at the tables around the baby pool.

4. Patio, Grass, and Pavilion Areas

1. Alcohol: Responsible consumption of alcohol by adults at least 21 years old is permitted
2. Smoking: Smoking is permitted only on the perimeter of the facility and not in the seating areas. Smokers should please respect others by staying clear of non-smokers.
3. Grills: Mind lit grills and clean them after use; replacement of empty propone tanks is a member right and responsibility to collect a new tank and bring it to the necessary grill.
4. Cleanliness: Help keep the facility clean by using trash cans, recycling containers and wiping up any spills. Immediately notify staff of any broken glass and thoroughly clean it up.
5. Clothing: Exceptionally revealing clothing is not permitted, including thongs.

5. Tennis, Basketball, and Shuffleboard Courts

1. No Wheeled Vehicles: Bike riding, roller blading, and skateboarding are not permitted on the courts
2. General Play: Children may play on the tennis courts, provided no one is waiting to play tennis
3. Rough-housing by guests is prohibited, and those engaged in too rough play, bullying behavior and harassment, to include poor language and cursing, will be asked to leave the courts and possibly the entire facility altogether. Refer to section 8 below.

6. Weather

1. Rain: The pool will close if it is raining so hard the bottom of the pool is not visible
2. Thunder: The pool will close for 30 minutes and all members must clear the pool deck if any thunder is heard. If more thunder is heard, subsequent 30 minute wait periods will occur.
3. Lightning:
   • In accordance with Article 9 of the bylaws, clause 2: The pool and the entire facility will be closed immediately if a lightning strike or thunderstorm occurs within 5 miles, and will remain closed for 30 minutes after the last lightning strike and/or passage of the thunderstorm by 10 miles. All guests must exit the premises. Minors awaiting the arrival of a parent or guardian may stay inside the main guard office until the parents’ arrival.
   • Lifeguards monitor lightningmaps.org and consult other guards at nearby pools for lightning and thunder reports to ensure the safest decision can be made.

7. Parking Lot & Entrance

1. Speed Limit: The parking lot speed limit is five miles per hour
2. Sign In: Membership passes are not issued, but all members and their guests must enter and sign in at the bathhouse entrance using the primary or co-primary account holder’s name/website account.
3. Age for Entry: Children under ten must be accompanied by a responsible individual fifteen years or older
4. Guests: Guest passes may be purchased through the member’s account for $6 each and each guest aged 5 or older must have a guest pass to enter the facility
5. Pets: Pets are not permitted inside the facility

8. Conduct, Decorum and Disciplinary Action

1. Abuse and Profane Language: Bullying, verbally threatening and the use of lewd or profane language is not allowed anywhere on the SHRA property. Violations should immediately be reported to staff. Criminal threats will immediately be referred to Fairfax County Police. SHRA has “zero tolerance” for any type of abuse against a member, including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental, and emotional abuse (as well as any type of bullying, hazing, or harassment). Verbal bullying involves repetitive behavior and includes the use of words and gestures. Emotional bullying involves rejection, terrorizing, extorting, humiliating, rating/ranking personal characteristics such as race, disability, ethnicity, or perceived sexual orientation. Physical bullying can include a single incident of pushing, hitting, or kicking a person or interfering with their property. Any individual with an offense involving or against a member, will not be permitted to participate in any SHRA programs or activities, including face potential revocation or immediate termination of their membership, or any/all memberships associated with the individuals involved, as determined by the BOD.
2. Disciplinary action: Anyone violating the stated rules or an instruction from a lifeguard or person in authority will be subject to the following disciplinary actions, pool manager has full discretion to enact the highest level of disciplinary action they feel is warranted to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the other members:
   • 1st violation – verbal warning
   • 2nd violation – 15 minute “bench time”
   • 3rd violation – expulsion from the pool for 24-72 hours, including ineligibility for team practices, events, matches and meets during this time periodAs determined by the BOD, if the offensive behavior violates the “zero tolerance” policy as stated in 8.1, the BOD may potentially revoke or immediately terminate membership of any/all members associated with the individuals involved. This would require an emergency meeting requested by the President and a majority vote of all members present during that meeting. The President would then have authority, at their discretion, in consultation with the board and majority vote, to issue expulsion, termination of membership and/or involvement of local law enforcement.
3. Repeated Violations: Repeated minor offenses, and all major violations, will be documented in the pool records and will result in any/all of the following actions: Discussions with the individual’s parent or guardian (if under 18), inability to be at the pool without a supervising parent for the summer, expulsion of that individual from the pool for the summer, and/or revocation of family membership and all team registrations without refund.

9. Manager’s Authority

1. Manager’s Discretion: No set of written policies may adequately address every situation. Consequently, the manager on duty has the authority to provide direction, instruction and revocation of privileges as circumstances dictate to help ensure a safe and enjoyable environment
2. Interpretation and Enforcement: The manager on duty has the authority to interpret and enforce all rules on site. The manager’s authority includes, but is not limited to, denying admission to or ejecting any persons who fail to observe the rules or who, in the manager’s judgment are endangering themselves or others or interfere with the enjoyment of the pool by other members or their guests. A member who disagrees with a manager’s decision may forward his disagreement to the Board (bod@shrasharks.org) for consideration, but the member must comply with the manager’s decision at the time it is made.