Recreation & Fitness Center Policies

Updated March 18, 2010

Authorized Users of the Facility | Refund Policies | Guest and Spectator Policies | General Policies | Multi-Purpose Court Policies | Indoor Track Policies | Strength and Conditioning/Cardio Room Policies | Activity Room Policies | Social Lounge Policies | Equipment Checkout Policies | Racquet Court Policies | Locker Policies | Plaza and Lobby Policies

Authorized Users of the Facility

Participants must present their valid Gator 1 Card to access the recreation and fitness centers. False identification will be confiscated and turned over to University ID Card Services. Individuals who present false identification, or whose ID is presented by another individual may be suspended from the recreation and fitness centers as determined by the Associate Director for Facility Operations or his/her designee.

1. University of Florida Students – UF students currently enrolled in classes and who have paid the Activity & Service Fee are allowed to use all areas of the recreation and fitness centers.
2. Previously Enrolled Students – Previously enrolled students, by paying the appropriate fee, are eligible to join the recreation and fitness centers for no more than one semester after their most recent semester of enrollment.
3. Summer Continuing Students – Summer Continuing Students are eligible to join the recreation and fitness centers if enrolled in classes during the Spring semester and have not graduated, or graduated Spring semester and have been accepted into a UF graduate program for Summer B or Fall semester (and can show verification).
   1. To purchase this membership, students must bring a print out of their Spring schedule from the ISIS website. If they have graduated an official letter of acceptance to a graduate program for the upcoming semester will be required.
   2. Summer Continuing Students are allowed to participate in Intramural Sports.
4. UF Student Spouses/Partners – University of Florida student spouses/partners are eligible to join the recreation and fitness centers by paying the appropriate charges.
5. Faculty, Staff and Affiliates and their Spouses/Partners – Faculty, Staff and Affiliates and their spouses/partners are eligible to join the recreation and fitness centers by paying the appropriate charges.

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Refund Policies

All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to the administrative office at the Southwest Recreation Center.

1. Memberships
   1. All membership charges will be refunded if so requested by 4 p.m. of the third business day after the membership agreement was submitted.
   2. When refunds are issued, they will be paid on a prorated basis; and, be paid only for the remainder of the term of the membership period.
   3. A member who receives a refund must pay membership charges according to the charge schedule if he/she wishes to rejoin.
   4. A $10 processing charge will be deducted from the refund amount.
2. Single use guest passes are not eligible for refunds.
3. Personal Training charges are not eligible for a refund.
4. Massage Therapy charges are not eligible for a refund.
5. Special Event charges are not eligible for refunds. These charges include but are not limited to single day events, tournaments and races.

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Guest and Spectator Policies

1. Persons wishing to be a guest must purchase a $10 single use guest pass for access to a recreation and fitness center.
   1. All guests must be sponsored and accompanied by a fee paying student or a member of the recreation and fitness centers.
   2. Faculty, staff and affiliates of the University of Florida may purchase a guest pass using their own Gator 1 card and will not be required to have an accompanying sponsor.
2. Guests must be at least 18 years old.
3. To gain access to a recreation and fitness center, guests must check-in with a government issued picture identification, a single use guest pass, and an accompanying sponsor.
4. Sponsors are responsible for the conduct and actions of their guests.
5. Faculty, Staff, and Spouses/Partners of Students/Faculty/Staff wishing to participate in sport clubs and Intramural Sports in the recreation and fitness centers may utilize the single use guest pass for access to the facility.
6. Guests that are not Faculty, Staff, and Spouses/Partners of Students/Faculty/Staff are not eligible to check out equipment, reserve courts, participate in personal training, intramural sports, and/or sport clubs.
7. Persons wishing to spectate intramural events must have a current UF student or RecSports member register for a spectator pass with the Membership Office Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.-7 p.m, by phone or in person.
   1. The single use spectator pass will be required for the spectator to enter the facility. The spectator will be provided a wristband to wear while in the facility. The wristband must be returned at the conclusion of the event to prevent a $15 charge from being issued to the sponsors’ student account.
8. Individuals seeking access to the recreation and fitness centers may not solicit members to sponsor them as a guest.
9. The management of the recreation and fitness centers reserves the right to refuse access to any guest.

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General Policies of the Recreation and Fitness Centers

1. In accordance with the University's Tobacco-Free policy, the use of any tobacco products is prohibited in and around the recreation and fitness centers.
2. Food and drinks are not allowed beyond the access control point in the recreation and fitness centers, with the exception of non-glass bottles containing only water.
3. Non-marking athletic shoes must be worn in the activity areas. Examples of prohibited shoes include, but are not limited to, cleats, sandals, stocking feet and/or hard soled shoes.
4. Martial arts clubs and group fitness classes may obtain prior approval from an Associate Director, or designee, to have bare feet in activity areas.
5. Shirts must be worn at all times in all public areas.
6. Mopeds, bicycles, and electric scooters are not allowed inside the recreation and fitness centers.
7. Skateboards, roller-skates, rollerblades and non-electric scooters are not allowed to be operated in the recreation and fitness centers under any circumstances.
8. Chewing gum is not allowed in the activity areas.
9. Pets, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed.
10. Photographic devices may not be used in the locker rooms and restrooms.
11. Disorderly conduct, abuse of the facility, equipment, or staff and/or disregard for the recreation and fitness centers' policies will result in immediate dismissal from the facility. Additional sanctions may include: disciplinary action, reimbursement for damages, and/or potential suspension from the facilities and programs.
    1. A user asked to leave by the staff will not be refunded any paid charges.

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Multi-Purpose Court Policies

1. Hanging on the basketball rims or nets is not allowed. Dunking is not permitted in the Student Recreation and Fitness Center but may be safely performed at the Southwest Recreation Center.
2. Non-marking athletic shoes are required.
3. Throwing objects, including balls, against the walls, bleachers, and lights is not allowed.

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Indoor Track Policies

1. Users must follow signage for proper direction of traffic.
2. No more than two runners or walkers side by side. Inside lanes are designated for walking; outside lanes are designated for running/jogging.
3. Stretching is not allowed on the track. Sitting, leaning or stretching on the railing is not allowed.
4. Spike shoes, turf shoes, boots, sandals and open-toed shoes are not allowed.
5. Wheeled devices are not allowed on the track, with the exception of ADA designated assistance devices.

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Strength and Conditioning/Cardio Room Policies

1. Users are required to wipe down equipment after each use.
2. Sandals, flip-flops, open-toed or open-heeled shoes of any kind are not allowed. Shoes and a shirt must be worn at all times.
3. Chewing gum is not allowed.
4. Lifting chalk is not allowed.
5. Barbell Olympic lifting (i.e. snatch and clean, clean and jerk) is not allowed.
6. Each participant is only allowed to have one set of dumbbells off the rack at a time.
7. Equipment may not be altered or removed from the rooms, unless under the direction of a uniformed RecSports Personal Trainer.
8. Removal of signage is not allowed.
9. Personal items such as backpacks are not allowed in the rooms unless placed in designated storage units. Staff members are not responsible for lost or stolen property.
10. Collars must be used on all free bar lifts with plates.
11. There is a 30-minute limit on all cardiovascular equipment when someone is waiting.
12. Selected cardiovascular machines may be reserved according to the following policies:
    1. Reservations are taken for the current day only.
    2. Reservations must be made in person.
    3. One 30 minute reservation is allowed per day.
    4. You must be present at the reservation time or the machine becomes first come, first served. No grace period.
    5. You must exit the machine at the end of your reserved time.
13. Users are to abide by all staff requests.
14. Personal radios are not allowed in the recreation and fitness centers unless used with headphones.
15. Personal training or private instruction at any RecSports facility is restricted to those individuals who are specifically employed by RecSports for this purpose. No solicitation is allowed. This includes Southwest Recreation Center (SWRC), Student Recreation and Fitness Center (SRFC), Broward Outdoor Recreation Center (BORC), Stephen C. O'Connell Center (SCOC) Weight and Cardio Rooms, recreation tennis courts and Lake Wauburg.

Questions or conflicts regarding the above policies will be referred to and interpreted by the Assistant Director for Fitness, or his/her designee.

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Activity Room Policies

1. Personal items such as backpacks are not allowed in the rooms unless placed in designated storage units, except during Sport Club practices. Staff members are not responsible for lost or stolen property.
2. RecSports programs and student organization reservations are the only approved uses for the activity rooms.
3. Wrestling, tatami mats, and stretching mats may only be used during RecSports sponsored activities.
4. Group fitness class numbers are handed out on a first come, first served basis 30 minutes prior to each class. Entry to any class is not allowed after the warm-up is complete.
5. Equipment provided in a group fitness class (hand weights, tubing, rubber bands, etc.) may not be taken out of the room in which the class is being held.
6. Personal hand weights are not allowed. Hand weights will be provided for appropriate classes. Hand weights may only be used at the direction of the leader.
7. Activity room A/V equipment may only be used/changed by RecSports staff. Student organizations with a reservation must provide their own AV equipment.

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Social Lounge Policies

1. Reservation of space in the social lounge is restricted to RecSports events.
2. Tabling, individual or group solicitation is not allowed in the space.
3. Television and Radio programming may only be adjusted by RecSports staff.
4. Personal items may not obstruct the walkways. Users must move any item obstructing walkways at the request of staff; this includes laptop cords and bags.
5. Headphones are required for all audio devices brought in by users in this space.
6. Use of computer kiosks is limited to 15 minutes if others are waiting.
7. Use of both kiosks and personal laptops must follow guidelines outlined by the University of Florida’s Acceptable Use of Computing Resources Policy.
8. Staff is not responsible for items left unattended and/or lost or stolen items.
9. Users are responsible for attempting to intervene and/or reporting any incidents of vandalism, destruction of property or misuse of equipment.

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Equipment Checkout Policies

1. Only UF students, faculty, staff and members of the recreation and fitness centers may check out equipment.
2. To check in/out equipment for outdoor use you must present your Gator 1 Card.
3. All indoor equipment must be returned by the close of the facility each day. All outdoor equipment must be returned within 48 hours of check out. A $1.00 per day late charge will be assessed.
4. Equipment is checked out on a first come, first served basis and may not be reserved.
5. If the equipment is not returned within two weeks of being checked out, the equipment will be considered lost and the individual must pay the established replacement cost.
6. Users will be charged for damaged equipment.
7. Users that have not returned equipment and/or paid the applicable charge cannot check out equipment or use the facilities. A non-student will have his/her membership suspended (without a refund) until financial restitution is made.

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Racquet Court Policies

1. General Policies
   1. Non-marking athletic shoes are required.
   2. Racquetball and paddleball racquets must have a wrist strap which must be used at all times.
   3. Only racquetball, handball, paddleball and wallyball are allowed on the racquetball courts.
   4. Squash is the only activity allowed on the squash courts. No racquetball is allowed.
   5. No more than eight people can be on a court playing wallyball.
2. Protective Eyewear Policies
   1. Lensed eyewear designed for racquet sports is required for all racquetball, squash, paddleball and handball players. The protective eyewear must be worn as designed and may not be altered. Players who require corrective eyewear also must wear lensed eyewear designed for racquet sports. Protective eyewear can be checked out in either building.
   2. If a player is not wearing the protective eyewear properly, all players on that court will immediately lose their racquet sport privileges for that day.
3. Reservation Policies
   1. Racquet courts are scheduled on the hour and reservations are taken in person at the lobby desk or by calling SWRC at (352) 846-1081 x32445 or by calling SRFC at (352) 273-2400 during operation hours.
   2. Courts can be reserved no earlier than the previous day.
   3. Reservations will be taken alternately between those who walk-in and call-in, if there is a line.
   4. An individual must indicate his/her first and last name, phone number and partner's name when reserving a court.
   5. An individual can reserve one court for one hour per day. The partner of someone who has made a reservation cannot reserve a court for that day.
4. Check-In Policies
   1. Users are allowed to check in with their partner up to five minutes after the hour. If they or their partner do not check in, the next team from the waiting list will be given the court. One person cannot hold a court. One person can play on a court only if no one on the waiting list desires to play.
   2. Individuals who reserve a court can cancel the reservation up to two hours prior to the reserved time without penalty.
   3. Individuals who do not check-in, or do not cancel within the time period indicated above will be restricted from reserving courts for one month.

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Locker Policies

1. The lockers in the locker rooms are available for daily use only.
2. Items left in a locker overnight will be removed and held for no more than one week.

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Plaza and Lobby Policies

University recognized student organizations may request to table in these areas in front of the Southwest Recreation Center.

1. Requests for use of the plaza or lobby must be made through RecSports and the Center for Student Activities and Involvement online permitting process.
2. Vehicles may not be parked in the plaza, including mopeds.
3. Bicycles must be parked in bike racks.
4. Skating and skate boarding are not allowed in the plaza.
5. Users must provide their own tables and chairs, and must remain in their assigned area to prevent blocking the flow of traffic.
6. Amplified sound is not allowed.
7. Use of tobacco products is not allowed.
8. Animals may not be left unattended in the plaza. Animals are not allowed in the lobby.
9. Chalking or posting of any advertisements is not allowed.

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