Böblingen outdoor pool closes at noon: swimming master sick!

Böblingen outdoor pool closes at noon: swimming master sick!

The outdoor pool season has us in full control with sunshine and lots of bathers in Cologne. But the joy of the water is somewhat clouded, as the Böblingen public utility company announced on July 2, 2025. Due to illness-related absences among the swimming masters, the Böblingen outdoor pool had to close at 12:30 p.m. This emergency measure was taken because the safety of bathers could no longer be guaranteed. The municipal utilities are working hard to restore regular operations as quickly as possible, but the situation is tense.

In Böblingen there are a total of seven full-time swimming champions and one part-time employee responsible for operations. In addition to absences due to illness, there are also vacation-related absences, which make the situation even more complicated. Under these circumstances, the legally prescribed traffic safety obligation could no longer be fulfilled. Volunteers from the DLRG as well as Bäderhilfe GmbH and the service provider Poseidon step in to provide support. However, it remains to be seen whether further closures will occur in the coming days.

Background to the personnel situation

However, the problem is not new. Other outdoor pools in the area also had limited opening hours last year due to a shortage of skilled workers. This is a phenomenon that not only affects Böblingen, but can be observed throughout Germany. As kommunal.de reports, many outdoor pools are struggling with a lack of staff: the outdoor pool season in Bonn, for example, also starts with reduced opening hours, due to the same challenges.

The President of the Federal Association of German Swimming Masters, Peter Harzheim, sums up the dilemma: There is a shortage of over 2,500 skilled workers across Germany, which endangers the existence of numerous outdoor and indoor swimming pools. In many cities, opening hours have been restricted, in some cases to just six hours a day. The lack of qualified supervisory staff is not only an acute problem, but also has deeper causes. Bachelor's students who could work as temporary workers are few and far between and the corona pandemic and the energy crisis have caused many skilled workers to migrate to the industry.

Future of outdoor swimming pool operations

The gap between supply and demand remains large: Young workers increasingly value a better work-life balance, which makes jobs in the pool management sector seem less attractive. Municipalities are trying to attract new employees by increasing salaries. The starting salaries for specialist employees for pool companies are between 2,800 and 3,000 euros gross, while certified masters can earn over 4,000 euros. However, private operators often pay less, which further complicates the situation.

The outdoor pool faces a challenging future. More than ever, there is a need to find new solutions to ensure water enjoyment for everyone. For the coming season, creative approaches are necessary to ease the staff situation and find the way back to regular opening hours. We will keep you up to date on all developments - both on our website and on social media.