Answers from AB Readers
|
You are flirting with danger if you allow cell phones in the locker rooms - period! Just because you haven't had any complaints or problems (yet) doesn't hold water because all it takes is one of your members showing up on youtube in his/her birthday suit posted by another member (or guest) with a cell phone camera, and whom do you think they will sue? Think your members are above such behavior? Think again. It has already happened to some clubs around the country. Plan for the exception because it can happen to anyone anytime in any club or recreational facility, and all it takes is once and you will wish you had a policy in effect (and enforce it). DON'T wait until it becomes a "bigger issue." It doesn't get any bigger than this if it happens to one of YOUR members. We don't allow cell phones in the locker rooms - period!
Jim Evans
Vice President
Bay Area Family Fitness
San Francisco
, California
Posted: March 2011
|
Since most cell phones have cameras, I'd say cell phones across the board. I would tell people that the mission is to protect the privacy of the individuals in the locker room.
Kevin Hatcher
Director of Athletics
Cal State San Bernardino
Posted: March 2008
|
Per our insurance company, we posted signs, as well as enforce the no cell phone policy. We allow one exception where members can use their cell phones in our lobby. It was not a poluar move, as first, but now many members enjoy the policy and actually help us enforce the rule.
Tija (Tia) Petrovich
Owner
Seattle Fitness
Seattle
, WA
Posted: February 2008
|
We do not alow cell phones in our locker rooms, swimming pool, fitness center, gymnasium and group exercise studios
Robert Darling
Personal Trainer
Embarcadero YMCA
San Francisco
, CA
Posted: February 2008
|
Members are encouraged to take cell phone use to the lobby.
Mark Feakes
Operations Manager
Akron General LifeStyles
Stow
, OH
Posted: February 2008
|
We do not allow cell phones in the workout area and ask that they are shut them off during their session. If someone is waiting for an important call, they will leave their phone at the front desk.
Sue Steinke
Manager
Poise Pilates
Northville
, MI
Posted: February 2008
|
We do not allow cell phones anywhere inside our facility due to respect for the "de-stressing" time exercise is supposed to provide, privacy issues, and other obvious reasons. We go over this and other policies during the orientation that every prospective trial member receives, so they are aware of it before they join.
Michelle Streif
Director
WellBound Health & Fitness
Omaha
, NE
Posted: February 2008
|
We opened in 2005 and had the cell phone policy ready for the opening. Cell phones are only allowed in the lobby and vending area of this facility.
Tim Stubbs
Facilities Coordinator
Bowling Green Training and Community Center
Bowling Green
, Ohio
Posted: February 2008
|
We began in 2004 in our newly renovated facility to not allow any cell phone use in our locker rooms in order to properly ensure the safety of our members. When we deal with a conflict we let people know it is a rule and that signs are clearly posted at entry ways as well as throughout locker room, but also explain to them our reasoning of attempting to protect all members of the irresponsible use cell phones can have especially in a very vulnerable place.
Eddie Papis, CSCS
Director of Fitness
Greater Peoria Family YMCA
Peoria
, IL
Posted: February 2008
|
We ban all cell phone use in the locker rooms. When people ask why, I take my phone out and take a picture of them and ask if they were naked would they have minded if I took that picture - they usually get it after that.
Adam Uscicki
Manager
Cheetah Gym
Chicago
, Il
Posted: February 2008
|
We do not have a policy on banning cell phones at this facility. We are aware of this issue and have not experienced any problems to date.
David Lewis
Pool Manager
City and Borough of Juneau
Juneau
, Alaska
Posted: February 2008
|
We do not allow the use of cell phones in our facility except in specifically designated "cell phone zones." We currently have six such "zones" throughout the club located in convenient areas easily accessible from any area of the club if members feel they absoutely must use their cell phones while on the premises. I agree that it is impossible to manage who has a camera phone and who does not, and all it takes is one inappropriate photo on the Internet from someone's locker room, and you will wish you had a policy in place.
Jim Evans
General Manager
The Big C Athletic Club
Concord
, California
Posted: February 2008
|
We have had no need to ban any electronic devices at our facility nor do we have plans to do so.
As adults we have to deal with many things, including the person next to you talking on their cell phone to get them through their tedious hour of cardio. The fact that it is annoying is just life....that person paid the same membership fees you did & should have the right to talk on their phone if they choose. It is not my activity preference, but who am I to say no one else can do so. Aside from that, a cell phone is imperative if you have children. I go nowhere without my phone just for that reason, a courtesy phone will not help your children or a sitter find you if there is an urgent problem. It is the way of the world now, and I do not leave home without it--nor will I leave it in my car while I workout.
Nicole Parker
Manager
Saddle Rock Fitness
Centennial
, CO
Posted: February 2008
|
We ban cell phones in all areas except for some common spaces like the restaurant, lobby, and waiting areas. You can't tell if a phone has a camera or not. Any club who does not at least have a stated policy, and signage indicating so, is taking a big risk that someone's teenage daughter or son, or a local politician or businesman will find their nude photo,taken while changing in the locker room, is suddenly the next big hit on Youtube. We had a situation at one club where a member had been photoed by a disgruntled employee. Fortunately, this was brought to our attention as it was happening and we prevented a very messy scenario. If people complain we explain the reason for the rule and we've had no problems.
Richard Synnott
Executive Director
Weymouth Club
Weymouth
, MA
Posted: February 2008
|
We ban the use of all cell phones in our locker room facilities. Differentiating between phones that do or don't have camera capabilities is not manageble. When enforcing our policy, most people never considered that people might use them to take pictures, and then, after the explanation, understand the policy. Patrons tend to enforce the policy more than staff, and they refer to the posted signs.
We also have a policy that prohibits any picture taking in our facilties without prior approval.
Ed Morford
Assistant Director - Risk Management
University of Illinois - Campus Recreation
Urbana/Champaign
, Illinois
Posted: February 2008
|
When this issue rose to prominence, we decided to rely on a pre-existant policy which prohibited photography within our complex without the express permission of the management/administration (with some exceptions, e.g. intercollegiate games/tournaments). We conducted a poster campaign to raise awareness of this policy among our membership. We have had to deal with very few incidents of violations of this policy.
Paul Dutchak
Facility Manager
University of Toronto
Toronto
, Ontario, Canada
Posted: February 2008
|
We do not have a ban on cell phones. And to this day I have only had once complaint about someone talking too loudly. And that is over the last two years.
Lou
owner
Fitness Plus
, MA
Posted: February 2008
|
For obvious reasons, camera usage has always been banned in our locker rooms. We do not ban cell phones. We made it part of our club rules. We have had absolutely no problems, as the members understand the policy.
Bill
owner
Fitness Inc. Health Club
Pocatello
, Idaho
Posted: February 2008
|
Ban all cell phones in locker rooms. After explaining the reasoning behind this decision to parents and athletes at preseason meetings we have had no complaints or even any questions.
Dave Schroeder
Athletic Director
Maple Lake Schools
Maple Lake
, MN
Posted: February 2008
|
For reasons of privacy atmosphere and interfering with waves of some of our equipment, we don't allow cell phone use in any part of our facility. We feel that people come to our facility to escape their world, so the last thing they need to do or want to listen to is talking on a cell. We also cannot be sure which phones have cameras and we know that working out, use of locker rooms, being in a bathing suit, are personal/private times that should not be subject to photos.
Alec Southall
Manager of Recreational Facilities
Boston University - FitRec Center
Boston
, MA
Posted: February 2008
|
We have had a no cell phone policy for the entire facility since we opened 4 years ago. However, it continues to be an issue, and especially in the locker rooms. We do have a sign, however, it is not large due to the risk of being obnoxious. It is just something that our team knows we have to constantly educate our members about.
Carlye Fabrikant
Fitness Coordinator
Carillon Wellness Center
St. Petersburg
, FL
Posted: February 2008
|
We do not have a cell phone ban in our locker rooms or in other parts of our facility.
As technology continues to expand more all-in-one gadgets appear and now a cell phone is also a camera, day planner, web browser, and media player. A blanket ban on cell phones takes away increasingly more than just a camera.
Ryan Hansen
Assistant Director of Intramurals & Sport Clubs
Western Illinois University
Macomb
, IL
Posted: February 2008
|
Our approach has been to not ban cell phones. However, we do have a policy of "The use of photographic equipment to take pictures of any person in CRS facilities without that person's permission is prohibited. This prohibition includes cell phones with built-in camera devices." This policy applies to all areas of our facilities, not just the locker rooms.
Wallace Eddy
Associate Director
University of Maryland
College Park
, MD
Posted: February 2008
|
We banned all cell phones from the locker rooms. It is just too hard to try to differentiate camera phones from non-camera phones.
We allow cell phone use only in the lobby area of the club. It became a disturbance and members complained. It can be annoying if someone is talking on the phone while walking next to you on the treadmill or if a phone starts to ring in the middle of a yoga class.
Members may carry their phones with them but we ask that they set them to vibrate and step outside of the locker rooms or any workout area if they are going to talk on the phone.
Rob Bishop
Owner
Elevations Health Club
Scotrun
, PA
Posted: February 2008
|
We've implemented a policy that "to ensure patrons’ safe and confidential use of the locker rooms, use of Cell Phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Camera and Camcorder is prohibited in the locker rooms." We do provide a courtesy phone at the Service Desk. The policy has been in place over two years, and we have not rceived any compaints.
Gansheng Xu
Director of Campus Recreation
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton
, New Brunswick, Canada
Posted: February 2008
|
Have you tried to purchase a cell phone w/o a camera? They are very hard to find. I wouldn't manage to that exception. We haven't banned them yet as it hasn't been a problem.
D. Kopas
Homewood-Flossmoor Park District
Posted: February 2008
|
Ensure that the facility locker rooms have courtesy phones, and explain the need for privacy in locker room areas.
Gord Bullock
Athletic Centre Coordinator
Havergal College
Posted: February 2008
|
I think that it is difficult to enforce picture cell phones only. I would simply have a blanket policy of no cell phones in the locker rooms.
Ken Ballard
Principal
Ballard*King & Associates
Highlands Ranch
, CO
Posted: February 2008
|
The cell-phone policy has become a central issue. One has to be consistent, regardless of camera or non-camera status. We have not had any pushback on banning cell phones in the locker room, as we view it as a team spirit policy.
Lee McElroy
Athletic Director
University of Albany
Posted: February 2008
|
Cell-phone use in public spaces to respond to private and personal needs is not appropriate. Develop well-worded signage requesting respect for personal and audio privacy in sensitive places. It is a great teachable-etiquette moment for your guests.
Diane Guse Dahlmann
Director of Recreation, Services & Facilities
University of Missouri
Posted: February 2008
|
We allow cell-phone use, but no camera use. We have not had complaints or reports of pictures.
Susan Trautman
Director of Parks and Recreation
City of Des Peres, Mo.
Posted: February 2008
|
We have decided (for now) to hold off on implementing a no-cell-phone policy. We have had very few issues, and 99 percent of people use their phones for the right reasons. We don't like to "manage to the exception," so to speak; therefore, we are letting this one go until it becomes a bigger issue.
Jan Van der Sanden
Recreation Program and Facility Supervisor
Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center
City of Thornton
, CO
Posted: February 2008
|
