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swim culture /swim/ v. • /ˈkəlCHər/ n. 1: Hard work. Dedication. Friendships. Life. 2: More than a sport, but a place where athletes become family.
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spring. 6 8 10 13 14 17 18 23 24
Fitness for the Competitive Swimmer Tips for the competitive swimmer looking to spruce up their workout routine and get into primo shape. Parent’s Guide: How to Survive the Swim Team Season Helping parents everywhere survive the swim team season. Summer Pool Safety Essentials Top parental responsibilities to staying safe in and around the pool.
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Reflections: Jim Darke President of American Pool Aquatic Solutions speaks on his journey at American Pool. American Pool Family of Companies Let us introduce you to some of the many companies that help make us great. Testimonials We treat our customers like family. Here are some of their stories.
Buyer’s Handbook: Personal Flotation Devices A guide to finding the best Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for you and your family. Starting Young Swimmers Why you should enroll your child in swim lessons as early as four months of age. Pinkies Up! Pool Etiquette Learn all the proper protocol and become a pool rule master. Swim Culture Hard work and dedication are just two of the many values that make up swim club culture. Common Pool Myths Test your pool knowledge while we debunk some of the most popular pool myths.
Starting Young Swimmers, page 14
Get Aquatic Leader on the Go! Always have the current issue with you and convenient access to back issues - wherever you go. Visit americanpool.com/aquaticleader.
Size Matters: How to Maintain a Highly Active Pool Tips and tricks to keeping your active pool in shape. 3 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
creators Creative Director / Lauren A. Deckard Editor / Keisha Rigby Managing Editor / Scott Small Staff Writer, Editor / Julia Southerland Digital Designer / Alana Hardee
content contributors Ben Basch Chris Snyder Julia Southerland Julie Nelson, Goldfish Swim School Keisha Rigby Rick Naden Sabraya Isaacs Scott Small
photography Alana Hardee Amy Raab Photography Goldfish Swim School LaChandra Burks, City of Atlanta Lauren A. Deckard Rick Naden Ronin Aquatics
publishing notes Aquatic Leader Magazine™ is published semi-annually by American Pool Enterprises, Inc. It can be viewed online at: americanpool.com/aquaticleader Please send reprint requests and letters to: American Pool Enterprises, Inc. Attn: Marketing Department 11515 Cronridge Drive, Suite Q Owings Mills, MD 21117 P: 1.877.920.7665 General information about the company and its services may be found at americanpool.com.
advertising partners Alliant AutoPilot Hayward Commercial Pool Products Heartline Fitness Merlin Industries, Inc. Pentair Commercial Aquatics
american pool enterprises, inc. At American Pool, safety is our core value and everything we do is built around it. From lifeguard training to managing your water chemistry to repairing or renovating your pool, safety is our number one focus. Nothing, and we mean nothing, is as important to us as your safety at the pool. American Pool was founded in 1984 and has since grown to be the largest commercial swimming pool management, maintenance, renovation and recreational facility management operation in the United States. We currently have 27 wholly-owned subsidiaries that are operating in 16 U.S. States and Washington D.C. Internationally, we have locations in Toronto and Ottawa, Canada. As a whole, our company serves over 3,000 commercial swimming facilities and over 9,400 residential pools. Commercially-focused American Pool companies service apartments, homeowner associations, country clubs, swim clubs, hospitality businesses, condominiums, fitness clubs and active adult communities. In addition, we employ over 7,200 lifeguards and 550 full time, yearround employees.
aquatic leader magazine™ Aquatic Leader is a semi-annual pool magazine that provides information about the swimming pool service industry. Our mission is to provide commercial property owners, managers and board members with content that helps them become informed decision makers. We cover topics that address all areas of swimming pool management, lifeguard services, pool maintenance and pool construction. With in-depth articles, unique sources and a fresh design, Aquatic Leader Magazine is a resource tool that you will reference over and over again.
find us on social media @myamericanpool | @guardforlife
@guardforlife
@myamericanpool | @guardforlife
@myamericanpool
rick naden President, Chief Executive Officer American Pool Enterprises americanpool.com
teaching our staff and our children how to prevent aquatic injury and how to employ these skills in critical situations is key - safety needs to be second nature... Welcome to our eleventh edition of the Aquatic Leader Magazine. Birds are chirping and flowers are blooming, which can only mean our favorite season is upon us. As we dust off the patio furniture and begin our opening day preparations, we at American Pool are always making sure your safety is on the top of our list. One of the most important skills you can teach your child is how to swim. As a father myself, I know just how much we want to protect our children from the dangers of swimming. The older a child gets, the harder it will be for them to hone swimming skills. There are a growing number of swimming organizations opening across the
country dedicated to teaching infants and helping families become more confident in their child’s water safety. Here we explore the basic mission and goal of these new young swimmer organizations, to help you learn more about how their training can help keep your family safe. As the aquatic industry grows, we believe that our understanding of safety should as well. Teaching our staff and our children how to prevent aquatic injury and how to employ these skills in critical situations is key - safety needs to be second nature. That’s why we believe these young swimmer schools and swim organizations are central to teaching our children how to be safe in
the water. With many conflicting ideas of how distressed swimmers may look, we wanted to take it upon ourselves to make sure you knew exactly what to look for vs the “Hollywood” signals, and debunk any myths that may cause confusion. After a foundation of swimming is taught, many of our kids will want to jump into the pool again and compete. Being part of a swim team is no easy feat, for parents and swimmers alike, but it is a community and culture that embodies hard work and dedication. For many, joining a swimming facility is a life changing experience that helps them build strength, learn valuable life skills, and make long lasting friendships. We want to share a little piece of what makes the swim club world tick in hopes you’ll think a little harder about checking out your local swimming facility. We know they’re waiting and eager to have you as part of their family! Your safety is always on the forefront of our minds and we believe this edition can help you manage your family’s safety and enjoy the exciting summer ahead. We very much look forward to coming out to your pools again this season, keeping them sparkling clean and running smoothly for your family and all to enjoy more safely.
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fitness for the
competitive
swimmer by Julia Southerland, Marketing Assistant, American Pool Enterprises
Even the most talented competitive swimmer can’t spend all of their time in the water, no matter how much they’d like to. Sometimes swimmers find themselves missing practices or having to skip swim workouts which can hinder their progress. We wanted to show you some exciting and valuable ways to pump up your workout routine without diving in. Though there are thousands of exercises to choose from, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorites and the benefits they will have on your swimming success!
develop explosive power through strength training While power lifting can build muscle mass, that’s not exactly what swimmers should be looking for. A swimmer should aim
to gain as much strength as possible, while still remaining fairly lean. Other athletes may bench more weight, but their speed in the water decreases with additional muscle mass. The heavier your are, the harder it will be to move yourself through the water. This is why swimmer’s need to find the perfect balance between strength and staying lean in order to progress their training without hindering speed. Exercising in the water is a popular method for many, especially those with joint ailments. The lack of resistance relieves pain and pressure, a sensation that can’t be found on land. When it comes to strength training, it can be difficult to build muscle with little resistance while in the water. From jumping off the starting block to flipping on the pool wall, there are many moments within a race where a swimmers explosive power can come in handy. Strength training can help improve a swimmer’s reaction time, which will in turn make you faster! Many coaches recommend land exercises that incorporate a swimmer’s own body weight to provide enough resistance that builds muscle without over doing it. Exercises like pushups and squats allow swimmers to utilize their own weight in a safe manner. Focusing on toning core muscles is a great way to increase swimming speed. The core is always engaged while swimming, and the stronger it is, the longer you will be able to swim at top speed. While these muscles are the most important, they are usually some of the first to tire.
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by building core strength over time, you can increase the duration of your top speed in the water... Once you have settled on a routine, you may add weight a little at a time if you want to continue increasing your strength; just don’t forget to stay lean in the process. It is also important to remember that an injury can be devastating for competitive athletes, and that precautions should always be taken when performing exercises that you are not comfortable with. Always consult with your coach or trainer about the best exercises for your specific training path.
keep up the cardio No matter the torture, running or jogging is one of the best ways to improve your cardiovascular strength. When you’re unable to swim, getting out for a jog can help progress your cardio training. Running has many benefits including a healthy heart, increased happiness, strengthening of leg muscles, and building new blood vessels. An increase in blood vessels mean more oxygenated blood can be pumped throughout the body at once, allowing for a stronger athletic performance. Running seems like a pretty obvious way to improve your cardiovascular training, but it isn’t the only option. Jumping rope, bicycling, and certain plyometrics are also great exercises to help your heart and cardio training without running. It’s always important to find which exercises
you enjoy more, and build a routine that will fit with your training schedule. If you find yourself getting bored, switch up your routine! Just because you change exercises doesn’t mean you are abandoning the progress you’ve worked so hard on. Everyone gets tired of repetition, and switching up will also help train different muscle groups and benefit your strength training overall. There are thousands of strength training and varied exercise routine videos online if you are unsure where to start.
Elementary School and Patterson High School announced they were swapping out detention with meditation. The reason why is no surprise — allowing kids to have designated peaceful time to think and relax helps their focus and attitude throughout the day. This is no different for an active athlete. Out of the pool in everyday life, there are stressors whether it be work, school, or family, and taking a few deep breaths a day can help calm those nerves. Meditation is about finding what works for you. Start by sitting in a
be flexible and improve mental toughness Over the years as Eastern techniques have become more popular, many different sports are using yoga and meditation in their training routines. Any yogi will tell you that it’s not just for “stretching,” it’s a great strength training, mind calming, and flexibility exercise. Flexibility can be the difference between winning and losing in the water. In swimming, small angles can make a big difference, and practicing yoga can help you stretch out those stiff areas that can slow you down. Yoga also helps increase balance and improves posture. A swimmer with bad posture can have sore muscles that tire from constant pressure or increase the possibility of an injury. Many yoga positions can aid swimmers in learning how to carry themselves correctly, which allows for the muscles to be developed properly.
comfortable position, and focusing on your breath. Breathe in, breathe out. By allowing your mind to focus on your breath, you begin to relieve the everyday worries and stresses that dominate your thought process. We recommend starting with ten to fifteen minutes of meditation practice for beginners.
In the fall of 2016, many Baltimore area schools including Robert W. Coleman
All of these exercises are beneficial to a swimmer’s training in one way or another. Strength will always be an important factor to a swimmer’s success, however there is a limit to how much muscle should be gained. Remember to strengthen while staying lean in order to keep your speed from decreasing. Cardiovascular training can help every athlete, and finding which exercise works for you can make it seem much less of a pain. Last but definitely not least, make sure to take time for your own mental health. An athlete’s training does not end with pumping iron and morning jogs. Keeping one’s mind in a good state bolsters mental toughness and can help keep stress and other factors that can inhibit performance from interfering with your training. Though every swimmer’s path to success is different, we believe keeping these exercises part of your training routine will help you find the right path. 7 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
parent’s
guide
how to survive the swim team season by Ben Basch, Chief Development Officer, American Pool Enterprises; Swim Parent
It’s 8:45pm on a Wednesday and I’m anxiously watching for my daughter from the observation bleachers. Parents are everywhere, some in work clothes and some in sweats for the evening swim practice pickup. I stand with my arms folded peering through the window trying to catch a glimpse of my daughter’s final laps of practice. After what feels like hours, out she comes and off we go back to the car where Julia groans, “Dad! I’m starving!” When I was my daughter’s age, many of my friends went off to camp during the summer, but mine were spent at the community pool. For a single mom with three young kids, the pool club was far more affordable than other summer programs and it kept my siblings and I out of her hair for a few hours. After a few summers, we found our way onto the swim team and the sport became part of our lives. For me, swimming pools became the foundation of my career. I began as a seasonal lifeguard and later moved into managing pools professionally after I graduated from college. I believe it’s important to involve your kids in a team sport when they’re young - the lessons and healthy habits learned with new friends will last a lifetime. Given my own love to swim, it was important to me that my kids learned to swim early and received
swimming lessons each summer. When they reached the age of being able to join a team, I wanted them to pick an event that they’re passionate about - of course I suggested joining a swim team, but it wasn’t until her friend said she was joining an indoor team that my daughter decided to give it a shot. From that moment on, I officially became a “swim parent.” Though the hours may be long and the mornings early, I enjoy what swimming has given us as a family. I do a good amount of the driving, especially the late night pickups, but truly enjoy the one-on-one time in the car. We chat, listen to music, run down her day, compare notes on practice. This time is not only helping us bond as father and daughter, but we are both learning valuable life skills. Julia is learning to be an athlete, a strong confident woman who has great time management skills and the motivation to be successful. I’m learning to step back, support her, and watch her grow into a strong individual. Just like any other parent, there are many mistakes that I have made along the way, but this experience has helped me learn many valuable lessons that I believe others joining the swim team community will benefit from.
parent to parent: survival tips working with coaches:
staying positive:
• The first rule, and possibly most important... let the coach, coach. Trust me, they’re the coach for a reason and they know what they’re doing.
• Set the example for your child on how to stay calm and collected in tough situations.
• Any support and helping hand you can provide is key.
• Stay engaged and excited. Show your child that you are fully participating and they will mirror your attitude.
• Make sure to communicate openly with them: any issues at home or in school that might be affecting your child’s practice.
• Enjoy yourself during the competition!
• Though you should steer away from giving coaching advice, don’t be afraid to ask about your child’s progress. Your coach should always be happy to discuss this with you.
• Praise practice and effort rather than the outcome.
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• Always stay relaxed and make sure they know you are their number one supporter.
• Don’t let your ego get in the way.
giving guidance: • Don’t compare your child’s progress or performance to other kids. • Don’t force or pressure them into meets or favoriting certain strokes, but make sure that you are there when they have questions or need a parent’s guidance. • Show them a path but don’t hold their hand. This can be a very good opportunity for a lesson on independence. • Remember that your child may want to take a break from sports occasionally and that’s okay. Give them space when
While no parent’s experience is the same, we’re all in it for the same reason: our kids. Let that be a constant reminder when a coach does something you disagree with, or a parent misses their why_heartline8x43172017bleed.pdf 1 3/17/17 1:01 PM
they need it. With time they will learn to figure things out for themselves. • Always step in and correct your child if his or her behavior becomes unacceptable at any point. • Make sure your actions don’t cause your child to feel guilty about the time and money spent on their swim team activities. • Sometimes your child may not be ready to talk after a meet. Give them time, and be there when they’re ready.
volunteer day and you have to pick up the slack. We are here to give our kids an invaluable experience we can be proud of, and our attitude should always reflect that.
an essential guide to summer pool safety prevention
Drownings and pool-related injuries are preventable. What can you do to prevent tragedy?
Always designate a caregiver who is not under the influence of alcohol to be responsible for maintaining visual contact of your child.
Parents, please pay close attention to your children. Never let a non-swimmer rely on pool noodles or floaties in the water - a big pool no-no! These are toys that should only be used when you are within arms reach of the child. Drowning is the...
number one cause of injury death for 1 ages 1-2... and the
number two cause of accidental death for children and 1 adults ages 5-44.
19%
of drowning deaths involving children happen at pools with lifeguards present. 2
Of all preschool-aged drownings, 70% are in the care of one or both parents. 75% are missing from sight for five minutes or less.4
75% If you need to leave the pool deck for any reason, bring your child with you.
75%
of non-swimmer drowning injuries happened in the shallow end between 2007 and 2013. 3
Children should only wear Coast Guard approved life vests. Before entering the pool, ensure that their life jacket is in good condition. There should be no rips, tears, holes or shrinkage of the buoyant materials. Ensure that your child’s life jacket is worn properly. A life jacket that is fitted correctly should feel snug with all straps and buckles secure, keeping the child’s chin above the water, allowing them to breathe easily.
importance of parental supervision Parents exert a much stronger influence over their children than a facility Lifeguard. Watching your children closely will allow lifeguards to focus on preventing injuries and drowning rather than correcting bad behavior.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injury Prevention & Control: Protect the Ones You Love — Child Injuries are Preventable. 2. Lights! Camera! Action! Hollywood’s take on drowning is a distorted view of a quiet killer. Dr. John R. Fletemeyer. 3. Redwoods Group, Shallow Water Does Not Equal Safe. 4. Infant Swimming Resource, National Drowning Statistics.
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UNLESS THERE IS AN
educate educate educate
ABSOLUTE
EMERGENCY,
STAY OFF OF YOUR CELL PHONE OR TABLET.
GIVE YOUR CHILD
• Enroll your child in a learn-to-swim program as early as possible.
YOUR FULL ATTENTION
Parental vigilance is a fundamental part of your child’s water safety.
No one will be as careful as you are about your child.
WHEN AT THE
• Review pool rules with your child and make sure they are able to understand each one. • Be sure they understand the concept of drowning: how it can happen and how they can prevent it.
SWIMMING POOL.
Have the swimmer take the test in a safe area, such as near a wall or in the shallow end. If successful, have the swimmer move to the deep water and take the test but be prepared to help the swimmer if they begin to struggle. The Red Cross water competency sequence is defined as being able to perform the following skills in a sequence. • Enter the water and completely submerge, then recover to the surface and float or tread water for 1 minute. • Rotate 360 degrees and orient to the exit. • Level off and propel oneself on the front or the back through the water for at least 25 yards. • Exit safely from the water.
keep your eyes peeled for these “Hollywood” drowning signals: • shouting for help • splashing • waving arms • kicking
58%
percent of parents do not consider drowning a threat to their children.4
Everyone should know the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Ask friends and family to learn CPR and safety techniques as well.
Talk to your lifeguards or pool manager about breakaway wristbands. They allow lifeguards and patrons alike to know everyone’s swimming ability, and to identify non-swimmers, giving them the attention they need.
Know the signs and what to look for so you are able to spot a drowning child
act immediately if you notice these signs of drowning: • head tilted back with mouth at water level • gasping or hyperventilating • glassy, unfocused eyes • body is vertical and legs are motionless • unresponsive when called to 11 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
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“Alliant understands the risks associated with general, trade and service contractors. From design to implementation to completed operations, they are the most knowledgeable and attentive broker in the industry. Trust Alliant to exceed your surety and insurance program expectations.�
Rick Naden
President and CFO, American Pool Enterprises, Inc.
For more information, please contact: Scott Cleinman, Senior Vice President | 602.707.1903 scleinman@alliant.com |www.alliant.com
12 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
buyer’s personal flotation devices handbook
by Scott Small, Learning and Development Manager, Marketing Manager, American Pool Enterprises
The Red Cross endorses only one kind of personal flotation device (PFD): those certified by the US Coast Guard. We’ve come a long way from boring, blaze-orange life jackets. Today’s PFD’s feature popular characters and other cool designs, making them much more fun for children to wear. Newer products also come in a wider range of sizes to accommodate infants and bigger kids. Still, it’s critical to remember that PFDs are no substitute for parental supervision. Popular inflatable devices, like rafts, inner tubes, and floaties, are not safe options to certified PFDs. THE THREE MOST COMMON TYPES OF PFDs: Type I Offshore Life Jacket Type II Near Shore Buoyant Vest (the “classic” life jacket Type III Flotation Aid generally considered the most comfortable with styles for various water activities.
$22.99
infant AMAZING SPIDER-MAN™ life jacket
$24.99
infant hydroprene life jacket Designed for infants, this Hydroprene constructed life jacket is another top of the line option from Stearns. Light weight, the vest features a oneinch webbing and double leg straps for a super secure fit. This Type II Coast Guard Certified Life Jacket fits infants under 30 pounds.
puddle jumper deluxe
The newest innovation is the Puddle Jumper series of Type III Coast Guard Approved kids life jackets. With a patented design, the vest provides superior stability for active, young swimmers. Ideal for youth 30 to 50 pounds, the jacket comes in a variety of designs.
infant antimicrobial life jacket Exclusively offered by Stearns, this infant sized Antimicrobial Watersport Life Jacket is Type II Coast Guard approved. Designed to control and inhibit growth of odor causing mold and mildew, these vests are perfect for lakes and rivers. A high flotation collar offers extra support and comfort for babies under 30 pounds. Child and youth sizes are also available.
Kids can’t resist donning an Amazing Spiderman vest to keep them safe in the water. This Standard Youth Type III Coast Guard approved jacket has a nylon exterior covering and an all-polyethylene foam core. Two sizes are available to fit children from 30 to 90 pounds.
$38.99
$24.99
$38.99
child hydroprene life jacket This pirate ship designed Hydroprene constructed child’s life jacket is top of the line. With a lighter weight design, one inch webbing and a leg strap, the Type III Coast Guard Certified Life Jacket will fit children 30 to 50 pounds. The vest also comes in a pink heart design, as well as in a larger version for children, 50 to 90 pounds.
Find the puddle jumper deluxe and more kid friendly life jackets at coleman.com/puddlejumper 13 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
starting young swimmers by Julie Nelson, Regional Marketing and PR Consultant, Goldfish Swim School
From keeping little ones safe in and around water to giving them the skills they need to perform at a competitive level, today’s swim schools are building strong, confident swimmers starting at a young age. At Goldfish Swim School, this is our passion and we want to give you a look into our growing industry, and show just how important learning to swim and practicing water safety is for your family.
why we need to learn Learning to swim can save your life – seriously. According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for kids ages one to four. For children with special needs, that age increases to fourteen. They tell us that the best way to keep kids safer in and around water is by teaching them to swim. The cornerstone of any good swim curriculum should be water safety. At Goldfish Swim School, we start with the basics. Kids are taught to wait for the teacher before entering the water, to reach for the nearest wall if they fall in, how to inch along the wall toward the exit, and how to climb out of the pool on their own. As children advance to the next skill level, important self-rescue skills are taught such as floating on their back and treading water. Water safety 14 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
always has a place in swim lessons, even for the more advanced classes. It is one thing to learn a water safety skill, but a child being able to use that skill in a critical situation is the goal – safety needs to be second nature. That is another reason to consider the perpetual lessons model. For example, if a child has swim lessons during the summer, will they be able to recall them while vacationing in January? Probably not. By managing a consistent routine, swimmers can maintain that level of comfort as well as keeping safety and swim skills fresh in their mind.
when should lessons begin? We believe parents should enroll children as early as possible. In fact, infancy is ideal, believe it or not. Since babies have no fear of water, it is great to get them into the pool and learning to be safer before they learn to be afraid. Once in class, it is incredible what a baby can learn to do. For example, Goldfish Mini 1 classes begin at four months old, while each baby is accompanied by an adult. The teacher leads the group in learning important skills through songs and games. These include putting their face
in the water, learning to go under and hold their breath, hold on to the wall and climb out. Eventually, these little ones are floating on their backs and learning swimming basics, like kicking and gliding! The incredible thing about introducing an infant to swim lessons is the affect the training has on their overall development. It can positively impact intellectual and emotional development, improve motor skill development and reduce the risk of drowning.
it’s never too late to learn Don’t feel like you’ve missed the boat if you didn’t get your children enrolled in swim lessons during infancy. No matter what age, swim lessons are always a good idea. The Goldfish Swim School program, for example, teaches kids up to 12 years of age, but there is a wide variety of swim lesson opportunities for teens and adults who would like to learn. Older children may have developed a level of fear. If this is the case, make sure to find the right swim program with the right teacher to help them overcome their fear and move forward. It is also important to be patient — getting comfortable in the water may be a huge hurdle for your child. If that is the case, it may take time
pool safety
to overcome the fear in order move toward additional swim skills. Stick with it, they will benefit from this skill for a lifetime. This topic provides a great opportunity to talk about perpetual lessons versus session-based lessons. With perpetual lessons, a child is enrolled in the program continuously for as long as it takes to achieve their goals. This allows a child to progress at their own rate as they master and build on swim skills. Sessionbased lessons, usually six to eight weeks long, typically have a set of skills that must be mastered before moving on to a higher-level session. This works well for many kids, but can also ignite frustration or feelings of failure for both the parent and the child if the specific set of skills required to move into the next level is not mastered within the time frame allotted. Choose the program that works best for your family and child’s learning style. Learning to swim and be water-safe is the most important thing.
more about goldfish swim school All Goldfish Swim School locations are dedicated, year-round, learn-to-swim facilities designed just for kids. They feature vibrant colors chosen to inspire children, a curriculum crafted to not only teach swimming, but also to build their character, and shiver-free pools heated to 90 degrees. Each teacher is Lifeguard and AED certified, to provide a safe learning environment. Class sizes are kept to one teacher per four students for kids older than three, and one teacher per six parent-baby pairs for younger kids. Great things are always happening at Goldfish Swim School!
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So pure, it’s like swimming in bottled water.
Unlike bottled water, pool water contains chemicals. Do not ingest.
HydroRite™ UVO3 eliminates 99.9% of chlorine-resistant microorganisms for 100% peace of mind. Take swimming pool sanitization to the next level with HydroRite UVO3 advanced water treatment system from Hayward.® HydroRite UVO3 combines UV and Ozone—two elements often used to purify drinking water—to form a third potent disinfectant, allowing you to use less chemicals while enjoying pool water so pure, you’ll swear it came from a bottle. For more information, call your Hayward sales representative or visit hayward.com/hydrorite.
Hayward is a registered trademark and HydroRite is a trademark of Hayward Industries, Inc. © 2017 Hayward Industries, Inc.
16 Aquatic Leader Magazine | FALL 2016
pool etiquette by Julia Southerland Marketing Assistant American Pool Enterprises
WELCOME TO OUR
It’s always good to occasionally refresh your memory of all the important pool rules, especially with summer around the corner.
“OOL” please notice there is no “P” in it.
let’s keep it that way!
While many of us have seen the rules and regulation signs posted at our facilities, it can be easy to forget some of them. These may vary based on the facility, but we believe the rules below are universal and should be followed by all pool patrons to help keep the pool area clean, safe, and fun for everyone.
don’t forget to rinse off
mind your music
This is really important if you want to help keep your pool clean and maintenance costs low. Body sweat, oil, lotion, and other substances on our skin can interact with the chlorine in the pool and inhibit its ability to sanitize the water. Rinsing off before entering the pool will help the pool chemicals stay balanced, keeping it clean and beautiful for all to enjoy.
While the most recent Beyonce album is all you’ve been listening to, you should respect the space of your fellow pool patrons and always use earbuds when listening to music. It’s courteous and expected that you refrain from disrupting other pool guests in general. If you respect your neighbor’s space and pool time they will respect yours!
don’t pee in the pool
no smoking, please...
Do we really need to explain ourselves here? Just don’t do it, people!
Most facilities have strict no smoking on the premises policies. Never smoke while in the pool or on pool property, and make sure to walk far enough away from the facility when you do decide to smoke. If you do smoke, make sure to dispose of cigarette butts safely in a designated container.
no eating in the pool No matter how hot the sun is that day, there should be no eating while in the pool. Food particles can get into the water, causing an imbalance in the chemicals and put stress on the filter system. Not to mention you could get a soggy sandwich with a side of chlorine. Yuck!
no glass of any kind It is crucial to avoid bringing any glass products with you to the pool. Most of us spend our time at the pool barefoot, whether walking around the pool deck or heading into the showers. Broken glass could become a serious hazard to pool patrons, and any injuries could result in shutting down the pool if emergency and clean up crews are needed. Always remember to bring drinks or other needed items in plastic containers.
swim diapers are a mom’s best friend The years of babies swimming with regular diapers (or no diapers) are long gone. Swim diapers are specially made to be used in swimming pools, and can help prevent any waste from entering the water. The pool and patrons alike will thank you!
lifeguards are not babysitters While all lifeguards should be highly trained and ready for any emergency, they do not double as your personal babysitter. Lifeguards have dozens of patrons to watch at one time, and they need your help to keep everyone safe. Make sure to supervise your child at all times and step in when needed to help prevent any injuries from unsafe conduct. 17 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
shaping excellence
through
swimming
swim team culture by Julia Southerland, Marketing Assistant, American Pool Enterprises
did you know? swimmers were depicted in Ancient Egyptian caves over 10,000 years ago, but Japanese Samurai were some of the first known competitors from 36 B.C., as swimming was considered a noble skill for these famous warriors.
Fast forward thousands of years, swimming competitions began surfacing on a large scale in Britain during the 1830’s. The breast stroke was the most popular method for British swimmers, and they were stunned when beaten in races by the quicker arm-flapping and leg-kicking motion of the Native Americans who used the freestyle stroke, formerly known as the “crawl.” Currently in 2017, swimming has become a worldwide sensation, with many thanks to the Olympic games. Though swimming has been an Olympic sport for a little over 100 years, it is only within the past fifteen years that a large audience began to tune in. The thrilling and tremendous successes of Michael Phelps drew in audiences that the world of swimming has never seen before — opening many eyes to the passionate sport and the athletes who drive it. Though Olympic pools may hold world class competitions, there are many smaller pools all over the country that are training future Olympic competitors. Currently, there are over 300,000 swimmers registered under USA Swimming for nearly 2,800 swim clubs from Boston to Albuquerque. These athletes spend much of their time training and socializing within their local club, in preparation for the many meets these athletes will compete in each year. At the 2017 Retriever Classic Invitational located inside University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Athletic Center, the pool deck is cluttered with fabric
folding chairs set up in circles, towels hanging, and sprawled out swimmers chatting amongst themselves. Some swimmers are preparing to dive in by carefully stretching a cap over their head, or cheering on a teammate. Others are relaxing between sessions, enjoying a snack, reading a book, or consoling teammates who were less than thrilled with their time. Officials donned in stark white polos stand in various corners of the pool deck, some armed with whistles and stopwatches while others sit in the recording booth to oversee all the times coming in. Towards the end of a single session, you can see one official head
to the lead swimmers lane and shake a bell emphatically to alert that swimmer he is on his way to victory. You can see volunteer parents standing patiently on the sidelines waiting to be needed, anxiously watching their child’s time, or directing swimmers to their corner of the facility if they’ve wandered off.
their own unique qualities, but there are certain values that seem to encompass what many swim teams strive for. As athletes, swimmers are not just competing against one another. Every time a swimmer dives into the pool at the sound of the horn, they are racing to please the most stubborn of judges: time. A clock will never have second thoughts or reconsider its decision. Every second that passes is spent; destined to become a memory that can rot the roots of a swimmer’s passion, or nourish it. This is where core values come into play — how coaches can teach swimmers to thrive off of the passion and desire to better their own swim times with hard work and dedication. Hard work and dedication are two core values that are universal to various clubs. There is no off-season for the competitive swimmer, year-round meets and indoor pools have helped create a culture where a week or two long break is at most once or twice a year (if you’re daring). Getting out of the water and taking a break from
There is no single aspect that is the driving force behind swim teams, but instead a combination of core values is what coaches, parents, and swimmers use as their foundation. Every team has 19 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
the practice routine can impede recent progression, and cause the swimmer to have a difficult time diving back into the familiar training routine. With three hour practices and all day meets during the weekend, swimmers cannot be casual about their dedication to the sport. Most swimmers are required by their swim club to maintain a good GPA at school, which is extremely important to their understanding and practice of time management. Every young swimmer has to find a way to complete all of their homework and class assignments while participating in over fifteen practice hours a week. This is not an easy feat for a young pre-teen or teenager who also wants to spend time with their friends. Many swim parents hold higher standards for their children than others of the same age when it comes to time management, mainly from their swim club values. Many swimmers will sharpie their session list onto their forearm before a meet, so they don’t worry about rushing to the diving block unprepared. By expertly balancing all of their activities, swimmers can continue to progress as athletes and academics, but don’t think that means they abandon socializing all together. Even though swimming is mostly an individual sport, the team aspect is immensely important to many of the kids who participate. Parents talk about the multitude of friends made while in practice or at a meet, and how much their children look forward to seeing these new friends every day before or after school. At larger monthly meets, it’s always a joyful reunion seeing friends from other teams. Kim Daugherty, volunteer parent and Director of the 2017 Retriever Classic Invitational, describes larger swim meets as “family reunions” — times when friends near and far get together to catch up on things past and cheer on the athletes.
“We’re a family. We’re dysfunctional, but we’re a family.” This is how coach Daniel Ascencio describes his group of athletes, coaches, parents, and all those involved at Ronin Aquatics Swim Team in New Jersey. Each swim team has their own version of family, and it’s easy to see why. With the countless hours of practice and meets, all members of the team are spending quite a lot of time with each other. Ascencio describes everyone’s relationship just as you would a family. The team’s parents 20 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
spend seemingly endless hours on volunteer scheduling, sleepovers, bathing suit shopping, chauffeuring, making snacks, prepping First Aid kits, and whatever else may be needed. Daugherty says that she is thankful for the parents who are “always stepping up,” providing her with anything they can to make sure that their swim club “family” keeps running strong. From the very beginning of their swimming days on summer leagues or in casual lessons, coaches begin to instill these core values. A swimmer’s journey is maintained by many coaches, volunteer parents, and other athletes who cross their path, and they all have their own unique story to tell.
Michael Phelps was a Tomato. Before he became the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps spent his childhood summers as a “Tomato” swimming for the National Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) at Meadowbrook in Baltimore, MD. NBAC was established in 1968 by Tim Pierce and Murray Stephens at Loyola High School, later moving to Meadowbrook in 1985. NBAC describes their “Tomatoes” as a summer swim league for children 5-18, with no competitive experience required. Practices are in the afternoon every weekday, time dependent on age group, and meets on Saturdays at various locations. They will learn to feel comfortable and safe in the water while receiving excellent training from NBAC coaches. One key value that NBAC aims to teach their swimmers is excellence. This means excellence in practice, meets, and daily life. Not only do they teach excellence and dedication, but they teach their students that no goal is unobtainable if you believe in yourself. It can be easy for a student to realize that there are many steps to accomplishing a goal, and to not mistake one of those steps for the actual end goal. If a swimmer aims to land a spot on the Olympic team, there are many steps they must accomplish before they ever dive into the water at the final Olympic meet. These steps are not the goal, but they help build it. Like rungs on a wooden ladder, the carpenter knows his goal is to complete each step so that they can reach the top; but each piece of wood must be hand carved and perfected before it can become part of the ladder. NBAC reminds their students to make the completion of the ladder their goal, not the individual construction of each piece. The construction of the rungs are every tireless day in practice, every visualization, every disappointment, every moment in the shower when you contemplate what you could have done better at practice. If the ladder is missing rungs, it only makes climbing to the top that much harder. As a young swimmer, Phelps was exposed to high caliber athletes at NBAC who were attending Olympic trials and even winning Olympic medals. Also a member of NBAC, Anita Knall
trained in the same facility as Phelps, and was close friends with his older sister. In 1992, Anita Knall won an Olympic medal of each color at age sixteen. For Michael Phelps, this meant Olympians were no longer demiGods seen only on television. He saw someone he knew personally compete and triumph in the world’s greatest athletic competition. This made Phelps realize, “hey, this is something I can do too!” One important training aid that NBAC coaches like to use is visualization. The coaches teach each swimmer to visualize in their mind exactly what will happen at the next meet. Phelps was widely known as a great visualizer, someone who could watch themselves win over and over again in their head. Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps’ coach, always discusses the importance of visualizing for competitive swimmers. I’m sure we all remember the famous Phelps scowl during the Rio 2016 Olympics that went viral, yet later Phelps announced in an interview that he was just “in his zone.” Bowman and NBAC instilled this ideology to Phelps at a young age, which greatly helped his ability to remain calm and collected during high pressure events. Though the event only happens once, Phelps has already imagined winning it dozens of times. Even as a young “Tomato,” Phelps had begun his Olympic training. Though he may not have been a world class competitor then, the core values of swim team culture were being sewn into his mind. All the lessons that are taught in swim teams, whether they are Olympic or not, help shape swimmers into organized and dedicated people. It is no surprise, once one understands swim team culture, how Phelps began transforming into a well oiled medal winning machine as a young “Tomato” swimming laps at Meadowbrook.
No Regrets - Just Dive In To parents or kids on the fence about joining a swim team, Ascencio says,
“Just try it. You’ll never ask yourself, what if?” Joining a team will not only increase athleticism and make you a better swimmer, but it provides the many values we’ve previously discussed. Even if in a few weeks or a few months you’ve decided that a swim team is not for you, you can walk away knowing there will be no future regrets. John Cadigan, Director of Swimming at NBAC, always likes to remind future swimmers thinking about joining NBAC that “you don’t have to be Olympic caliber to swim here.” Cadigan and other coaches have been training a variety of swimmers for decades, with their talents ranging all across the board. Joining a swim team can be about making the Olympic trials, if you’d like it to be, or simply just to make new friends while learning new skills. The coaches say that whatever your dream is, they are there to help you achieve it. Many athletes spend years on swim teams with their eyes fixed on one goal: improving their own times. Competing against yourself leaves the endless option of progress, allowing you to never feel “defeated” by ruthless competition. If your only competitor is yourself, then it is continued personal devotion alone that will allow you to accomplish your goals. We are sure that the love we all have for swim competitions will not die down anytime soon. Swimming champions continue to appear with each new Olympic Games, including Katie Ledecky, Missy Franklin, and more. Again in Tokyo 2020, all eyes will be glued to our screens as the buzzer sounds and the next champions dive into the world’s greatest athletic competition. For every year in between and beyond, swim teams across the country will continue to do what they love; provide a place for athletes to learn priceless core values that will travel with them as they grow and tackle the new phases of life’s journey.
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AP-86 9_16
SALT CHLORINE G E N E R ATO R
say it ain’t so! is it true?
You mu s an hou t wait eat r aft ing er sw imm befor e you can ing, o r and cram p dro wn .
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2.
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Myth! Fact: In reality, the smell that most people believe is from large amounts of chlorine actually comes from chloramines. Chloramines react with certain substances that come off of swimmers (lotion, makeup, possibly urine) and create that stinky chemical smell.
3
4 The r tha e is d ye t tu in w rns som p e urp ater the one poo pee le wh s in en l.
4. Myth! Fact: Though there is a large percentage
Myth! Fact: It is actually improper pH levels or high amounts of chloramine that can cause red and itchy eyes. In fact, you may need to add chlorine to the pool to remove the chloramines and sanitize the water. Myth! Fact: While pool operators maintain the chemical balance and check the pool’s cleanliness, all those who enjoy the pool are responsible for keeping it clean as well. Always follow the pool rules, which can include showering before entering the pool to wash off body oils, lotions, and makeup, which can affect the chemical balance of the pool.
It is ow the so ner le r s e po ol c and o spon si lea per n. ato bility o rs t o k f poo eep l the
The sm stron g e poo ll com chem ica i l is ng l by f chl cause rom t ori d h e ne.
lor i you ne w il rh air l turn gre en.
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2
test your pool knowledge
of people who believe this, it is almost chemically impossible to produce a dye for indicating urine. Though your pee won’t turn purple in the water, it is unsanitary and children should always be taught to leave the pool if they need to “go potty.”
5.
Myth! Fact: Copper sulfates are added to many pools to combat algae, however those sulfates can bind with the proteins in your hair which causes the green tint most people think is caused by chlorine.
6.
Myth! Fact: There is no scientific evidence to back this claim up. While some time may be necessary to settle your stomach after a meal, an entire hour is unnecessary. However, muscles can cramp at anytime, so we recommend always listening to your body’s signals and staying near the ledge if you feel you might need to get out of the water. 23 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
maintaining a highly active pool
IZ
Most people would agree that there is a difference between cooking a family meal and catering a wedding. Size and Scale. These two words make all the difference in the world when it comes to managing a facility or completing a task. To understand this sentiment one only has to look to the 2016 Summer Olympics. The total cost of the games has been estimated by the Oxford Olympics Study at $4.6 billion. While the Olympics had many lasting memories and incredible feats of superhuman accomplishments, one of the most surprising events this summer was the unsightly green pool water at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center. Time Magazine and The New York Times ran daily updates on the snafu and the impact it had on the world wide view of the Olympic games. To those in the pool profession, it was seen as an unmitigated disaster.
me at te si z
rs
by Chris Snyder, Vice President of Management, American Pool Columbia
If you have owned, operated or managed a swimming pool there is a very good chance that at some point you have seen green water lurking about. The problem Rio experienced in 2016 was not just having a green pool. The bigger problem was that their green pool was broadcast around the globe, to a reported 3.5 billion people. Their green pool was to be used for the pinnacle of swimming events, events that occurred once every four years. Size and Scale. On the biggest stage, for the biggest audience, a pool technician added the wrong chemical and created an international blunder. While most people will never have to deal with the scale of running the Olympic games, large and highly trafficked swimming facilities may encounter many of the same problems. All of the same components that affected Rio could affect your neighborhood swim club. Pool professionals must treat these facilities with a heightened sense of ownership and with a higher regard for problems they may face.
understanding your patrons Most large swimming facilities are not used solely for open swimming. Swim teams and aquatic fitness classes take place in these pools as well. The areas around the pools are used for tanning, recreation, and the occasional family dinner. These facilities are designed to be utilized for a multitude of purposes, and to encourage continual use throughout the pool season. In managing these facilities it is important to understand these specific components and ensure the operations are catered to these specific needs. For a facility with a swim team, or one that uses the swimming pools for aquatic classes, there are several design and operation components that can be of use. The vast majority of these activities require specific equipment including lap lanes, kick boards, diving blocks, and timing clocks. This equipment should be designated for use only during these activities and stored in an area that keeps them away from the general public. This will prolong the life of the equipment, while also maintaining the integrity of these special use programs, and help inform the general public on the use and benefits of the pool. Seeing lap lanes will indicate
to an average person that it is time for the swim team to practice. Kickboards and aquatic weights used by a large aquatic fitness class can demonstrate to an outside patron the possible benefits of a different type of workout program. Large facilities looking to entice a diverse populace should also look at the amenities offered. The pools should be kept up to date and the introduction of new aquatic/facility technology should always be expected. 20 years ago a swim club was considered advanced if it had a kiddie pool. In 2017, water features and splash pads are the new normal. Many aquatic facilities are now designed with specific shade structures to provide the public safe haven from the sun’s harmful effects.
mechanical and chemical operation The debacle in Rio was caused by an inattentive pool-maintenance worker adding hydrogen peroxide to a pool previously being sanitized by chlorine. The resulting chemical reaction nullified the sanitizing effects of the chlorine, and allowed an expansive algae bloom to take place in the pool. The first and most important method for avoiding chemical/mechanical mistakes is through proper staff training. Staff members who handle chemicals should be trained in their use, effects, and proper handling. The staff should also be trained on the chemical reactions that can take place between different
chemicals. One of the best ways to attain this training is through the enrollment in a local or national Pool Operators course. Staff should also be trained on the intricacies of their individual facilities. Hydrogen Peroxide can be used for pool sanitation, but not in conjunction with chlorine. If the staff in Rio had all been trained on the chemical specifics of that swimming pool, and not swimming pools in general, the entire situation could have been avoided. Automatic Chemical Controllers are a great method for mitigating human error. Chemical controllers maintain water levels by automatically dispensing chemicals into the filtration system for a perfectly balanced pool. While it makes maintenance easier, these systems require specialized training and the expertise of pool professionals for installation and application. Since these larger pools also tend to have a higher bather load, the chemical controllers can also provide stability throughout the day in the overall sanitation of a pool. The last method for preventing mechanical problems at a large aquatic facility is through backup. When police are writing a parking ticket, one officer is needed. When they are serving a high risk warrant, they never go in alone. Pool systems primarily operate on one form of chemical sanitation, either a chlorine or bromine sanitizer, but in the case of high-risk aquatic venues, backup can be a crucial element. These backup systems can utilize the powers of Ultraviolet light to eliminate bacteria or create Ozone to oxidize elements resistant to chlorine. The addition of these backup systems allows for a more effective sanitization
system on the pool resulting in a safer swim environment! Almost a year has passed since the aquatic problems at the Rio Olympics, and it will be another three years before the city of Tokyo gets the opportunity to display the events of the 32nd Olympiad. Even with all of that time to spare, I can guarantee you the staff at the Tatsumi International Swimming Center is already in preparation mode for their time on the international stage. While the average swimmer will not be counting down the days until the events in Japan, they will be counting down the days until their local swim facility opens for the summer months. It is the responsibility of all pools, but especially those serving large aquatic fanbases, to do everything to get ready for the 2017 summer season. The old adage, “the bigger they are, the harder they fall� was made concrete in Rio. Do not let disaster strike for your swimming facility. The time for planning, renovation, and innovation is now!
25 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
reflections Looking back, it seems like I’ve always been around swimming pools. I started swimming competitively at age twelve and later joined my high school swim team. I was a lifeguard along with my brothers at a nearby neighborhood pool for several years in high school and college. When one of us moved on, another took his place. That was over 30 years ago and we still run that pool today! At the time, I certainly had no idea that working with pools would become a career. I went off to college and received a degree in physics and was hired as a Systems Engineer with IBM in Greenville, South Carolina. In the early 90’s, IBM experienced its first round of employee cut backs. While I was not directly affected, it became clear that if I wanted to have more control over my destiny, I would need to make a change. A couple of my more entrepreneurial brothers had started a commercial pool business back in Atlanta. So I packed up, moved back to Atlanta, grabbed a skimmer net, and joined my brothers in the commercial pool business. We never did any formal market analysis, but we knew the city was rapidly growing with lots of swim and tennis neighborhoods under construction. Despite ourselves, the company grew. Over the years my brothers moved on to pursue other interests. I remained with the company and became the sole owner. In 1998, I received a phone call from Rick Naden, CEO of American Pools. At the time, Rick was pursuing acquisitions and had heard about our company’s success here in Atlanta. We met and shortly thereafter I joined the American Pool family! There were many reasons that combining forces with American Pool made sense. When your company grows, you find yourself working on things that take you away from the reasons you started it in the first place. I didn’t have a business background or significant accounting experience. However, American Pool had this skill set and could provide the resources to get us to the next level. With the partnership, we became a more sound and profitable company. I got back to doing what I enjoyed, creating long term relationships with customers and employees. We’ve been together for over 17 years now, and are coming off of our most successful year thus far.
with James Darke
President, American Pool Aquatic Solutions
It’s been an exciting time to be with American Pool during this period of significant growth and change. I firmly believe a lot of the change in our industry has been due in part to the things we have done. Things like our focus on safety, use of new technology, education, focus on regulation, and establishing a core set of company values that distinguish us from our competition. This has directly led to an improved aquatic experience for our customers and benefited the quality of life for our employees. As we have grown, we continue to develop a solid culture. A key piece of that culture is the collaboration among our team members. If you have an issue, it’s likely we have an in-house expert to help solve it. It’s no surprise that our local success is due to the unselfish collaboration among the experts within our offices. When we first started out 25 years ago, attending meetings at the pool chairman’s home over a beer and joining the neighborhood Labor Day Barbecue were regular events. There weren’t any cell phones, and pagers had just recently become popular. Customers did not expect an immediate response and were fine leaving a message on the office answering machine. You would call them back when you got home at night. Our e-mail addresses ended in aol.com, but a lot of people were not interested in using the internet just yet (because it took too long to dial in) so the inbox was never full. Customers sometimes left checks on the doorstep or in old milk boxes on the front porch. You always picked them up when payroll was due… and sometimes later; so you asked an employee to wait a day or two to cash that paycheck. There was a slower pace to that time that I miss. Today is much different. Property managers play a vital role and handle most of the direct communication. Offering our cell phone numbers is expected and providing instant communication is the norm. Government regulation and oversight has increased. In the old days, you were a hero for getting the pool opened after three days of the pump not working. Today, it shouldn’t close at all. With that being said, pools are safer today. Just remember that baby pools did not have any filtration... we just filled them up in the morning with a hose and drained them at the end of the day. I don’t remember
anyone asking for swim diapers back then. Pools, along with us, continue to change and evolve for the better. Evolving is a great word to describe our company and is what I find most exciting about being part of the American Pool family today. We are a company that is not afraid to try new things that will contribute to and reflect our core values. Some things work, some don’t, and sometimes we look back and say, “what we were thinking!” Regardless, we gave it a shot and that’s what is important. When I started, I believe we were around a $20 million company with about 12 offices. Our meetings were held around a small table with a handful of people. Today, company gatherings fill entire conference rooms. We have grown to over $120 million in revenue with 27 offices and $200 million is in the crosshairs. Certainly it can be said that some of those shots paid off. American Pool Aquatic Solutions (APAS), one could say, is our most recent shot. Traditional pool management focuses on supporting a customer set within a specific geographic region. Typically that region is near a central office that houses the company leadership, administrative and staffing personnel, construction and repair teams, and a warehouse. Suppliers are nearby and there is a large enough population to support lifeguard staffing requirements. The APAS mission is to look at any aquatic venue in the country regardless of location and formulate a management strategy. These aquatic facilities do not need to be located near our offices or suppliers. Not only do we bring basic aquatic services to those who thought the only option was to operate pools themselves, we also bring in the expertise needed to address ever expanding regulations. With our intimate knowledge of the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code, an in-house safety director, a Red Cross
relationship, knowledge of the Virginia Graem Baker Act, OSHA requirements, labor laws, legal considerations, etc., we can increase the level of safety and minimize risk in all facets of pool operation. Currently, APAS manages aquatic facilities in eight states and three times zones. My job is to add to those numbers! While I had no real intention of ending up with a career in the swimming pool industry, I can’t imagine doing anything else or working with a better group people. While I miss the old days where everything wasn’t as rushed, the changes within our industry have been for the better. Pools are safer, and American Pool will continue to evolve and be at the forefront of our industry. I look forward to making Aquatic Solutions a successful part of the American Pool family for a long time to come.
27 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
the american pool
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american pool maryland 9305 Gerwig Lane, Suite E Columbia, MD 21046 Ph: 410-363-6800 | TF: 1-877-540-7665 Fx: 410-363-9959 americanpool.com/md 28 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
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american pool pennsylvania 3580 Progress Drive, Suite E Bensalem, PA 19020 Ph: 215-283-0300 | TF: 1-866-267-7665 Fx: 215-283-1909 americanpool.com/pa
american pool pittsburgh 3261 Babcock Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Ph: 412-781-5950 | TF: 1-866-630-7665 Fx: 1-877-209-8315 americanpool.com/pitt
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EST. 1983 R
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29 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
client spotlight American Pool New York | americanpool.com/apnj
It is a pleasure to recommend American Pool. Norbert Wnuk has been my account manager for the last 14 years on multiple sites. He and his staff have always been courteous and friendly, and have done a great job listening to any client needs or demands. They are quick to respond and resolve any issues that arise. I know that I do not have to worry about my pools when Norbert and his staff are involved.
Liz Buttino
FirstService Residential
It is with great pleasure that I am recommending John Dugan, of American Pool New York. I am the Managing Agent for The Kibel Companies and have had the pleasure of working with John for the past seven years. John has overseen the operation and maintenance of our pools for two of our properties. He has been a tremendous asset during the pool season, as well as assisting in our design and development of our facilities. I have found John to be dependable, reliable, hard-working, conscientious and honest.
Lee Rosen
Managing Agent The Kibel Companies, LLC
American Pool of New York, under the supervision of Regional Director, Nick Vaccarello, has been managing and maintaining the pools at our multifamily residential housing facilities since opening of the pools five years ago. Each facility houses approximately 300 families comprised of adults, children and infants, all of whom use the pools and related facilities 30 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017
during the warm summer months. Management of the pools is no simple task as it encompasses overseeing and maintaining the mechanical, managerial, safety, operational and staffing aspects of the pools and ensuring that the pools are fully compliant with local Board of Health rules and codes. The pools are fully prepped well in advance of the opening of the pool season and at the close of the season they are rapidly covered, prepped and secured for the winter season. American Pool provides the lifeguard staff, all of whom are duly certified and highly competent in the daily maintenance of water and chemical levels, pool safety, lifesaving practices and procedures. Lifeguards have the additional responsibility of controlling access to the pools under a pool pass system where eligible tenants must present valid pool passes to access the pools. This requires lifeguards to deal with a multitude of personalities which they handle effortlessly and professionally. As the property manager responsible for overseeing our residential facilities, I highly recommend American Pool for the highly professional and expert service they provide. Communication is always open and responses are immediate with any service and/or operational needs being promptly and satisfactorily addressed. We will continue our relationship with American Pool well into the future as we, our pools and our tenants depend on the superior services they provide.
Sally Farruggio
Property Manager Montrose Management Associates, Inc. as agent for Crossroads Associates, LLC and Jefferson House Associates, LLC
American Pool has been working with the Rivington Club since the day it first opened in June 2015. Through the experience of getting to know the team, the clubhouse has had the fortunate experience of meeting some incredible people from the lifeguards to the management crew. Although this past summer, the lifeguards and management team were changed, this proved to be one of the best summers filled with challenges, laughs and even moments where we threw our hands up in the air. It seemed that the filters and pool heaters were breaking left and right amongst other things and at times it felt as if there would be no end to the summer season. Anthony Raymond and his crew however, never backed down from a challenge and instead, came at it full force. As Anthony is someone who has his own pool, he is extremely knowledgeable and helpful in determining problems and quickly resolving them as best as possible when it came to our own pool problems. The lifeguards, Anthony, and the clubhouse, bonded quickly and created a strong working relationship that built the grounds for easy communication and a level of trust. This communication and trust with American Pool has continued through the winter months as Anthony and his crew maintain our indoor pool. Seeing as the next pool season is just ahead, I could not think of another person who is more suitable than Anthony to continue on his journey with the Rivington community and all other pools that he and his team assist with.
Kendra Allen
Property Manager Rivington Club
Looking for a new construction, maintenance, renovation or management service provider for your pool? Visit americanpool.com/contact-us to tell us more about your property, we’ll review your information and be in touch within 48 hours!
AMERICAN POOL ENTERPRISES, INC. 11515 Cronridge Drive, Suite Q Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
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32 Aquatic Leader Magazine | SPRING 2017