Swimming masters in the outdoor pool fight against disrespectful behavior from guests!

Swimming masters in the outdoor pool fight against disrespectful behavior from guests!

When the temperatures rise to 30 degrees, the outdoor pools transform into a hustle and bustle full of joy and cooling. But unfortunately the heat also brings with it challenges that are far from just small. If you inspect the outdoor pools in Rheinhessen, it becomes clear: disrespectful behavior by bathers causes increased stress and overwork among the swimming masters. As the operations manager of the Ingelheim outdoor pool, Rainer Fehlau, reports, the supervisory staff increasingly have to deal with disrespectful behavior from guests who often show up without swimwear and come to the pool not to swim, but mainly to “hang out”. Outdoor pools, traditionally known as quiet family places, are facing an increased need for security services to ease the situation and ensure safety. Ingelheim can see up to 3,000 visitors on hot days, while the Rheinhessen-Bad in Nieder-Olm even sees up to 4,000 guests in mid-summer temperatures. Here too, security staff are deployed to preserve the outdoor pool culture and avoid unpleasant incidents, as SWR reports.

A worrying trend

The pressure on outdoor pool employees is not only growing due to disrespectful behavior, the general safety situation in German outdoor pools is also becoming increasingly critical. Specifically, there have been increased outbreaks of violence and attacks in recent months. For example, a boy was pushed under water in an outdoor swimming pool in Mannheim, which resulted in a massive argument. The Mannheim city administration responded with strict measures and the announcement that security personnel would be deployed to provide support. Similar incidents unsettle visitors, and criticism of the security situation in Rheinhessen is also common. In Mainz-Mombach, on the other hand, fortunately there was no need for security services, as there you can rely on trained staff who receive de-escalation training in order to deal with such situations, as FAZ shows.

Education and prevention

In order to counteract parents' growing concerns about sexual assaults on children and young people in outdoor pools, nationwide campaigns such as “RespektPommes” are now coming to the fore. This initiative not only refers to multiple cases that were recently reported from other federal states, but also carries out checks and information measures for children in outdoor pools. A concept that is already bearing fruit in the outdoor pool in Büren (NRW) is called “Safeword”. Children can use a code word to quickly get help in the event of an attack. Such initiatives are urgently needed because the worrying number of incidents, such as in Hesse, where 74 cases were reported in 2024, is increasing the pressure on the safety architecture of outdoor pools. Mayor Burkhard Schwuchow appeals to the population to take responsibility in such situations and not to look the other way. The enormous discrepancy between the desire for freedom and the existing dangers makes it clear that one must look for allies in order to create a safe environment, as Echo24 shows.

Conclusion – A look into the future

It is clear that the situation in the outdoor pools is not easy. The swimming masters currently have the challenge of ensuring a safe and pleasant atmosphere despite the high number of guests. While security measures are being strengthened, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. What is certain, however, is that respectful interaction and an awareness of one's own limits should be the cornerstones of a relaxed outdoor pool season. Currently, even the police departments in Rheinhessen are reporting no sexual assaults in these pools, which gives hope that the public's awareness of safety and consideration will grow. The coming months will show whether this will continue or whether additional measures will be necessary to best protect all visitors.