{"id":111,"date":"2014-04-02T15:55:17","date_gmt":"2014-04-02T19:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2026-04-21T07:10:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:10:30","slug":"restricted-pools-water-parks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/restricted-pools-water-parks\/","title":{"rendered":"Who should be restricted from pools and water parks?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Britain\u2019s equality watchdog recently warned that it\u2019s illegal<\/a> for a British school to ban an 80-year-old swimmer because he \u201cswims so slowly that he will get in the way of other pool users.\u201d Aside from the obvious reasons such policies are unacceptable, they raise thorny questions about safety versus discrimination, especially when the question is something other than age.<\/p>\n

\"elderly<\/a>

From Jon Feinstein<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s first take a look at the question of age. Just how old does a person have to be before they aren\u2019t allowed in a pool? So far, it seems that question hasn\u2019t been raised in the United States. Historically, pool managers have left that question up to patrons themselves. Many pools <\/span>encourage senior swimming<\/a>, providing special times for them to swim. Smart move, given that the elderly are a major swimming demographic. The <\/span>U.S. Masters Swimming<\/a> organizations claims more than 60,000 members, and that doesn\u2019t include the thousands of seniors who take to the waters for exercise and rejuvenation.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, while swimming is one of the <\/span>best exercises<\/a> for all people, it\u2019s especially <\/span>good for the elderly. Studies have shown it can:<\/span><\/p>\n