Aquatics Header
Aquatics Newsletter | September 2013 | VBgov.com/Parks
Compete in Adult Water Polo Tourney

 

Water Polo Put together your team of three and join our Pumpkin Polo Tournament at Great Neck Rec Center! The 3-on-3 coed tournament will take place on Monday, October 14 from 6-8 pm. Matches will last for five minutes and the team with the highest score continues on. 

 

Registration is only $7 per person. You can register online with your barcode and PIN or register in person at any Virginia Beach Recreation Center

Swim Tip: Improve Your Freestyle

 

Tips

1. Your hand entry should be shoulder width. Most of us were taught to pull under our body. The current teaching is to enter at shoulder width and pull straight back.

2. After your hand enters, stretch using your hips to get a better reach. You are stronger if you use your core by moving your hips.

3. Don't rush the stroke, use the momentum to glide. 

Connect with Us!

Like us on Facebook    View our photos on flickr    View our videos on YouTube

4. Check out this video of the world record holder for the 1500 meter swim. The slow-motion, underwater photography gives you a great perspective. Note how his elbow stays near the surface of the water and check out how much his hips rotate.

Meet Our Outstanding Lifeguards!

 

Each season, we weigh the accolades and accomplishments of our lifeguards to select the Outstanding Lifeguard of the Season for each recreation center. The criteria include being a proactive lifeguard, going above and beyond the call of duty, providing excellent customer service, excelling in training and drill scenarios, successfully performing rescues, working a flexible schedule, performing regular maintenance tasks without being prompted and maintaining excellent physical fitness through swimming and skills practice. Meet three of the Outstanding Guards now and meet the remaining three in October. 

 

JessicaJessica Law, selected as Williams Farm's Outstanding Lifeguard of the Season, has been with the department for just over a year. She said that her mom encouraged her take a lifeguard class since she has loved swimming ever since she was little. Jessica's favorite part of her job is working with her co-workers and teaching the Passport to Water Safety program. She thinks the program is a positive experience and has really enjoyed teaching the kids. Jessica feels that she makes a difference in people's lives by promoting a safe and fun environment and cannot wait to get further training.

 

SeanelleSeanelle Thom has been a lifeguard at Kempsville for five years and earned the honor of Outstanding Lifeguard of the Season. She is always available to take extra shifts and comes into work every day with a positive attitude. Seanelle utilizes her years of experience as a lifeguard to handle situations before they escalate, and her fellow lifeguards use her as a resource because of her tenure. She serves as a mentor to new lifeguards and Junior Guards because she is extremely thorough and leads by example. Seanelle is a senior at Norfolk State University where she is majoring in Kinesiology and pursuing a minor in Psychology. 

 

ElizabethElizabeth Watson, selected as Outstanding Lifeguard of the Season for Princess Anne, has been with the Aquatics Unit since 2009. Elizabeth's flexibility is shown when she helps cover shifts for other team members and when she is willing to work split shifts to provide adequate coverage for programs and activities. She is a model of expected behavior and is a positive mentor for other members of the department. She recently became an Aquatics Instructor and has proved to be an asset when working with our instructional programs. 
End of Season Pool Closure & Safety Tips  

 

Pool Covered As summer winds down and the days are getting shorter, those with backyard pools are probably beginning to think about when to close it up for the season. If you are in this group, keep in mind these tips:
  
1. Prior to closing the pool, make sure your water is chemically balanced and adjust chemical levels if necessary. This is a very important step because chemically balanced water protects the pool from corrosion or scale buildup that can occur during the period the pool is shut down.
  
2. Remove all deck equipment (ladders, rails, etc.), and then brush down the sides and floor of your pool and vacuum it thoroughly. Debris or dirt in the pool may cause staining.
  
3. Follow manufacturer's instructions to winterize equipment such as filters, pumps, hoses, etc.
  
4. Place a safety cover on the pool and make sure it's secure and unable to be lifted or removed. A cover pump is useful to help prevent water from accumulating on the top of the cover.
  
Even if your pool is not open, it can still pose a potential risk to your children or others. Here are some additional safety tips to ensure your family members are safe in and around the pool:
  
5. Secure your pool with appropriate barriers. Completely surround your pool with a 4-foot high fence or barrier with a self-latching gate.
  
6. Educate your children about water safety, including winter ice safety. Be sure all household members know how to swim. 
  
7. Keep children under active supervision at all times.
  
8. If your child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.
  
Learn more about water safety
Please Note Our Upcoming Facility Closures

Bow Creek Recreation Center is closed for a long-term modernization project

 

The pool at Bayside Recreation Center will be closed today, but will reopen tomorrow, September 19.

 

Williams Farm Recreation Center will be closed on Monday, September 23 through Sunday, September 29 for annual maintenance. The pool will remain closed through Sunday, October 6.
  
Kempsville Recreation Center will be closed on Monday, October 7 through Sunday, October 14 for annual maintenance. The pool will remain closed through Sunday, October 20.

  

Don't forget that your membership is good at all Virginia Beach Recreation Centers! If your usual center is closed, take the opportunity to visit another center. Use this locator to help you find one!

Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation believes all of our diverse citizens have a right to participate in community recreation and we are committed to creating equal access for everyone who may have a challenge or barrier. If you or your child requires additional support, we can help. Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services.
We welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to email us at fun@VBgov.com.
Aquatics Footer 
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA,
the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association.