I started thinkng about this after swimming this morning at ASU and once again seeing that the 3 guards on duty were not in any of the chairs but instead were in the office texting and playing on duty.
So what happens if God forbid a swimmer is injured or dies in workout (I guess even if the guard is on duty)...can they sue the coach?
I know USMS has an insurance program for clubs and being to lazy wonder is anyone knows if it covers this?
I also wonder how many paidand/or volunteer coaches have any type of contract for this sort of thing?
Parents
Former Member
... Is it the coaches duty to watch the pool and save the athlete? Are the guards responsible for this?....
No. Yes.
... sometimes the guards do not watch for a while. The team is in the water when others are in the wadeing pool, so I assume the guards are the responsible ones?
If lifeguards are assigned to a pool facility, they are responsible for the safety of all persons at the facility, especially the swimmers. Some states require lifeguards be present at commercial facilities, but there are loopholes for lifeguard coverage. The loopholes typically only apply to adults, and you no doubt sign a waiver to this effect when you join a facility/club.
If you take an ARC WSI course you will find out that swim instructors are not responsible for preventing drownings... a certified lifeguard needs to be present for the class, and it cannot also be the instructor. There could be only one guard to cover all the swimmers in a pool, I believe it is up to the facility to determine coverage, but any facility director is going to want to protect themselves and provide enough guards for conditions expected. Typically, the rule is one guard per 25 swimmers in the water. YMMV.
At most facilities I'm familiar with, if guards were at the facility and not watching the water while people were swimming, heads would roll.
If you take an ARC Lifeguard class you will find out that while a guard is on duty ("on the stand"), they are allowed to do nothing but watch the water. (No talking to passers by, picking leaves out of the gutter, cell phones, i-pods, etc.)
It seems a shame that folks, especially qualified and well-meaning ones, who want to help with something like swim coaching are afraid to do so for reasons of liability.
... Is it the coaches duty to watch the pool and save the athlete? Are the guards responsible for this?....
No. Yes.
... sometimes the guards do not watch for a while. The team is in the water when others are in the wadeing pool, so I assume the guards are the responsible ones?
If lifeguards are assigned to a pool facility, they are responsible for the safety of all persons at the facility, especially the swimmers. Some states require lifeguards be present at commercial facilities, but there are loopholes for lifeguard coverage. The loopholes typically only apply to adults, and you no doubt sign a waiver to this effect when you join a facility/club.
If you take an ARC WSI course you will find out that swim instructors are not responsible for preventing drownings... a certified lifeguard needs to be present for the class, and it cannot also be the instructor. There could be only one guard to cover all the swimmers in a pool, I believe it is up to the facility to determine coverage, but any facility director is going to want to protect themselves and provide enough guards for conditions expected. Typically, the rule is one guard per 25 swimmers in the water. YMMV.
At most facilities I'm familiar with, if guards were at the facility and not watching the water while people were swimming, heads would roll.
If you take an ARC Lifeguard class you will find out that while a guard is on duty ("on the stand"), they are allowed to do nothing but watch the water. (No talking to passers by, picking leaves out of the gutter, cell phones, i-pods, etc.)
It seems a shame that folks, especially qualified and well-meaning ones, who want to help with something like swim coaching are afraid to do so for reasons of liability.
