With the outdoor pool officially opening today at the Weyburn Leisure Centre, some may be a little intimidated by the new rules, from the online registration process to the no changeroom access. There's no doubt this year at the outdoor swimming pool will be different, but there will likely be more space for everyone to enjoy their pool time.

"We prefer if everybody registers online, so that's even if grandma is coming with a couple of her grandchildren, or any adult comes but they're not swimming, they still need to register and they do still need to pay. So there is a non-swimmer fee of $2, but everybody from infants, to children, to teens, to adults, to seniors, everybody has to register through our booking system," explained Aquatics Manager Tina Clay. Register HERE.

Only 40 swimmers will be allowed to be registered to swim in each time slot. This in constrast to the typical summer during a free swim, when they'd have about 300 swimmers in the pool at one time.

"We were given guidelines by the Lifesaving Society in the province on surface area, and we've calculated it out, and that's what we can have for now," Clay said.

Swimmers who need to cancel are able to do so up until one hour prior to the time slot they're booked into, and if they don't cancel in time they'll be charged five dollars. Those spots can be claimed by those hoping for a drop-in swim, if spaces are available on that given day.

As for how the process will go once there, Clay said they have a pretty smooth plan in place to ensure everyone's safety.

"The doors will still be locked to the building, so once you get here you'll wait outside," she explained. "Five minutes before the time slot begins, the cashier will come and open all the doors, so there's less touch points for you, the doors will be open so that you can walk in."

All pre-registered swimmers must still pay on their way into the Leisure Centre.

Clay noted they are still accepting cash. In fact, if you're unable to book your swim time online, there is another option.

"If you don't have a computer or don't have access, you can actually call the pool and we will book you in over the phone during our business hours. Our business hours are only while the pool is open, so you have to call during those times. We will have a schedule posted online about two weeks in advance on weyburn.ca," said Clay, adding that you can book over the phone up to two days in advance.

Find the pool schedule HERE.

For parents and guardians, there are some old and new rules in place, including that children 12 and under will be required to have an adult present to encourage physical distancing. Five to six children can be supervised by one adult, but only two children five years old or under can be supervised by any one adult.

"I guess we say only two of them can be five and under is because you only have two hands, so if you're in the water with more than two kids under the age of five, you can't properly be within arms reach of them and care for them properly."

"We know there's lots of kids who were probably really excited this year to come to the pool by themselves, but with COVID, there are lots of changes," Clay commented.

"Our lifeguards are actually really happy about it," she noted. "It'll make maybe less fights happen, and it gives them the ability to focus more on the pool and worry about that kind of stuff than having to worry about who has to physically distance from whom. That's up to the parents to do that."

Clay said lane swim timeslots are usually 45 minutes, but some lane swimmers like to leave early.

"If they need to leave early, they just need to let the cashier know, and they can probably zip out a bit early," she clarified.

"For public swim times, they are only an hour to an hour and a half long, so we're assuming that everybody will stay, but if you need to get out, you can ask the cashier to let you out."

Clay said the Weyburn Leisure Centre staff will open the gate on the west side of the facility through which swimmers can exit.

"So, you come in through the Leisure Centre front doors, and you exit through the gate," she explained. "Probably five, ten minutes before the end of each swim, they'll open the exit through there."

To limit contact, no concession will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages. As well, no patio chairs will be supplied, and patrons are asked to bring their own. Ear plugs, nose plugs, swim diapers and those kinds of products will, however, still be available for sale.

While the Aqua Climb has been taken down for this year, Clay noted that lifejackets will be allowed on the low diving boards.

No change room access this summer at the WLC.

All swimmers will need to line up to shower before entering the pool.

Distancing tape has been placed even on the steps for the waterslide.

Only one slide, the one that lands in shallow water, will be available this year.

The exit will be at the west gate.

The Fun in the Sun Day Camp participants got to enjoy a sneak-a-peek swim on Tuesday.

Read more HERE.