General Participation Guidelines

Participants are asked to be able to:

• Meet age, registration and any established skill requirements
• Follow the rules of conduct
• Voluntarily participate
• Actively participate in scheduled programs
• Use a consistent form of communication to indicate basic needs and follow simple directions
• Manage own behavior and belongings and attend to personal activities of daily living with minimal staff assistance
• Be independently mobile
• Function as a member of a larger social group (10 or more) depending on the program

Individuals who do not meet these guidelines may access Inclusion Support Services to explore reasonable accommodations for meeting their needs. Patrons should schedule an appointment with our inclusion specialists to develop an accommodation plan.

General Recreation Center Rules

• Membership Cards or Visitor Passes must be presented in order to use the recreation center or participate in programs.
• Proper footwear, shirts, and appropriate dry clothing are required in the facility.
• Please eat and drink in designated areas, such as the snack bar. All Virginia Beach municipal facilities are smoke-free.
• Radios, CD players, and MP3 players require headphones.
• Animals, skateboards, roller blades, and bicycles are not allowed in the facility. Skateboarding is not permitted within the facility grounds.
• Only City materials may be posted on City property. Other items may not be displayed or solicited.
• Only Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation employees are permitted to provide instruction for a fee in the recreation center.
• Courteous conduct is expected from all those using our facility or on the facility grounds. Loitering and disruptive language or behavior (such as horseplay, profanity, and language or behavior that is profane, vulgar, sexual, ethnically degrading, disrespectful or threatening) are prohibited.
• Weapons, dangerous toys, alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs are not allowed.
• Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items.
• Patrons are expected to dress appropriately. Clothing should not depict lewd graphics or obscene language. Undergarments should not be visible.

Fitness Room Policies

• Each fitness room is equipped with circuit training, free weights, and cardiovascular equipment. A staff person supervising the use of equipment and assisting with fitness development will be on duty at all times.
• Patrons 12 & 13 years old must be supervised by a parent/legal guardian at all times while in the Fitness Room. No one under the age of 12 is allowed in the Fitness Room at any time.
• Present your Membership Card or Visitor Pass to the staff at the Service Desk.
• Patrons may request assistance from staff at any time about the proper use of any circuit, cardiovascular, or free weight equipment.
• In order to use cardiovascular equipment, sign up at the Fitness Room desk no more than 2 hours in advance. Sorry, phone reservations cannot be taken. There is a 25 minute time slot (20 minutes at Kempsville), which includes a 5 minute grace period, allotted for each person.
• Personal training is permitted only by Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation staff. Please contact fitness staff to arrange for personal training services.
• For your enjoyment and safety, please review the posted Fitness Room Rules before working out.

Fitness Room Orientations

• Appointments may be made in person at the Fitness Room Desk or by phone.
• Orientations are voluntary and are available on a first come, first served basis.
• Patrons going through an orientation have priority on the equipment.

Group Fitness Classes

Each recreation center offers group fitness classes. Participation is on a first come, first served basis. Schedules are available at the recreation center and are posted online.

• Group Fitness participants must be age 14 or older. Those age 12 & 13 may participate if supervised by an adult.
• A Group Fitness Card is required for these classes.

Racquetball, Handball & Wallyball Court Policies

Racquetball courts are located at Bayside, Great Neck, Kempsville and Princess Anne Recreation Centers. Reservations are accepted by phone or in person on a first come, first serve basis the day before play, the day of play or on a walk-in basis. There is a one hour time limit.

• Players must be 14 years or older. Patrons age 12 & 13 may play if accompanied by an adult.
• Patrons need to supply their own racquets and balls. Eye protection is strongly recommended.
• Proper attire and shoes must be worn. Only rubber-soled shoes that do not mark the floor are permitted.

Racquetball, Handball & Wallyball Court Reservation Procedures

• When making a reservation, please give the phone number of all players and inform the staff if you are making a wallyball reservation.
• Reservations may be made in person or by phone on a first come, first served basis the day before play (starting at 8 am Monday through Friday, 9 am Saturday and 11 am Sunday <Great Neck's reservations are taken starting at 8:30 am Saturday and 11 am Sunday>), the day of play, or on a walk-in basis.
• You may reserve one court for one hour of play per day. Unused court time is available on a walk-in basis.
• All reservations include a 5 minute grace period.

Racquetball, Handball & Wallyball Challenge Court

• Players must be 18 years or older and sign-in on the board posted outside of the court.
• The first two names on the waiting list will start play.
• Players are permitted to win two games in a row. After that, the next two players on the waiting list will start play. Players may only put their name back on the list after they have lost or have won two games in a row.
• Each match will consist of one game to 15 points.

Lockers & Locker Rooms

• Lockers cost 25¢ per use and are available for day use only.
• Children age 6 and up must use their respective locker room. Parents who take children under 6 of the opposite sex in the locker room are requested to respect the privacy of other patrons, and may use handicapped bathrooms or assisted care changing areas.

Program and Trip Registration Policy

Reservations are necessary for all trips and programs requiring a fee. Trips and programs will be cancelled if the minimum registration numbers are not met. The entire fee is due when reservations are made.

Children and Our Recreation Centers

• Youth ages 6-8 may participate during scheduled program hours until 8:00 pm as long as there is a person age 16 or older in the building who is responsible for them.
• After 8:00 pm, children under the age of 12 must be directly supervised by a responsible person age 16 or older.
• Children age 5 and under must be directly supervised by a responsible person age 16 or older at all times.
• Children age 6 and up must use their respective locker room.
• We offer many programs for youth and follow the Virginia Beach City Public School calendar for programming for school-age youth. Specific program information is available at each center.
• To ensure their safety and to prevent anxiety, please do not leave children at the recreation center for long periods of time. Youth are advised to remain in a supervised program area.

Unattended Children Policy

To ensure your child's safety and sense of security, please pick up your child at least 15 minutes prior to the building closing or at the end of program times for children unfer age 12. Please verify operating hours and the center schedule for age appropriate activities offered for your child prior to leaving them at any public facility. Parents are advised that staff cannot take responsibility for children left unattended. Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation staff will contact the Virginia Beach Police Department for assistance if children are left at the facility 30 minutes after closing.

An "unattended child" is defined as any child below the age of 18 whose safety and well-being is threatened by being left unattended for an inappropriate length of time considering the child's age, maturity and level of development.

• There will be no monetary charge for the first time a child is left unattended after the program hours of the facility. The parents will be informed of the closing time and asked to arrive prior to closing in the future.
• After the first occurrence, the parents will be charged the average staff rate for the time spent waiting with the child. Currently, this is $10 for every fifteen minutes or portion thereof.
• Third or subsequent occurrences may be grounds to revoke the privileges of the child to use the facility. This decision, intended to protect the child, will be based on the circumstances involved.

Swimming Pools

• Each recreation center has an indoor pool featuring open swim, lap lanes, and instruction. A schedule of pool activities is available at the recreation center and is posted online.
• Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by someone age 16 or older. This person may accompany up to 3 youth under the age of 9.
• Proper swimwear, such as a bathing suit or swim trunks, is required.
• Cutoffs, basketball shorts, and t-shirts are not allowed.
• Children who are not toilet trained must wear rubber pants and swim diapers under the swimsuit.
• Inflatables are not allowed.