1. Definitions
| Block/Contractual Booking |
A series of bookings of University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation sports facilities at regular days/times. |
|---|---|
| Centre Manager | The University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation Head of Sport (Business Development and Operations) |
| Duty Supervisor | The University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation manager on duty at the relevant location. |
| Facilities | The premises, equipment and other facilities of the University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation. |
| External Facilities | Facilities in the local community that are used by members as part of their University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation membership. |
| User | Any person who uses our facilities for any service we have on offer. |
| Core |
34 weeks of the year where our Langstone Sports Site opening hours are Monday – Friday 9.00am – 10.00pm Saturday – Sunday 9.00am– 6.00pm |
| Non-Core |
18 weeks of the year, where our Langstone Sports Site opening hours are Monday – Friday 9.00am – 9.00pm Saturday – Sunday 9.00am – 2.00pm Specific non-core dates can be found on our website. |
| Peak times |
A period during the day that’s considered popular, and higher charges and fees may apply where applicable. Peak times only apply during our Core seasons.
|
| Off-peak times |
A period during the day that’s considered quieter and lower charges and fees may apply where applicable.
|
| Members | A user who has a valid membership of the centre by currently paying an annual, bi-annual, monthly, or a special offer fee for use of some or all of the facilities. |
| Non-members | A user who does not have a valid membership but still uses some or all our facilities or services. |
| Guest | A user who attends a booking with the member or person making the booking. |
| Induction | A face-to-face induction delivered by a suitably qualified member of staff employed by the University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation. |
| Fitness Class | A face-to-face, group fitness activity delivered by a suitably qualified member of staff employed by the University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation. To ensure the safety of users while carrying out activities to maintain or improve fitness. |
| Session | A booking for the use of facilities at one time and for the duration of a booking. |
| Department of Sport and Recreation | The University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation operates from the centre's locations on University premises, being Ravelin Sports Centre, St. Paul’s Sports Hall and Langstone Sports Site. |
| Sports Staff | Any person or persons who obtain an employment contract for the University of Portsmouth Department of Sport and Recreation. |
| Website | sport.port.ac.uk |
| sport@port.ac.uk |
2. Duty of Care
2.1 Our Duty of Care: The rules of Ravelin Sports Centre, Langstone Sports Site, and St. Paul’s Sports Hall set out below are not intended to limit your enjoyment of the facilities. They are part of the duty of care that we, as operators, owe to you, the customer, by law. As such, they are not negotiable, and if you are not prepared to abide by them, then the staff must politely ask you to leave.
2.2 Your Duty of Care: You also have a duty of care to act responsibly towards the other users of the centre. Statements of ‘Good Practice’ can be found in the UOP Sport Charter and are posted around the centre on digital screens. These describe the accepted methods of use and how customers would normally be expected to behave towards each other.
3. General
3.1 New members must visit the reception on their first visit to activate their membership, have their photo taken and activate their student or staff card. Once this has been completed, members will have access to the facilities and can check in using either their student or staff card, the UOP Sport Mobile App check-in tiles or purchase an access wristband.
3.2 All members must present their membership card or wristband/RFID sticker to gain access to the University facilities. Failure to present your student, staff, or contractor member card or wristband/RFID sticker upon arrival may result in you being denied access to the facilities, activities or services.
3.3 Both members and non-members must read the Health Commitment Statement, which is available in the Facility or through the online joining process and agree to its terms prior to obtaining their membership. If you know or are concerned that you have a medical condition that might interfere with your ability to exercise safely, you should seek advice from a medical professional before using the Facilities.
3.4 Members must behave in an appropriate manner at all times in line with the UOP Sport Charter. The University of Portsmouth reserves the right to refuse entry and use of the Facility should an individual’s behaviour, appearance, clothing or footwear be deemed inappropriate.
3.5 The University permits the use of its facilities on the understanding that you will seek guidance from a member of staff if you are unfamiliar with any equipment or type of exercise. You are also expected to consult staff on an ongoing basis to ensure the safe and appropriate use of all facilities and equipment.
3.6 Users are expected to use all equipment safely, responsibly and follow the guidance of our staff.
3.7 You should report all injuries, medical emergencies or operational issues to a member of staff.
3.8 Appropriate attire and footwear should be worn for each activity. Unless using the swimming pool or outdoor facilities, tops should be worn at all times. Jeans, slip-on shoes such as flip flops, sliders and Crocs are not permitted in the gym.
3.8.1 Only non-marking indoor shoes can be worn in the indoor activity areas.
3.9 No food is allowed in the sports halls or indoor activity areas unless agreed as part of a Sport and Recreation event. Drinks are allowed as long as they are in sealed bottles.
3.10 Alcohol is strictly prohibited in all sports facilities, as well as in any outdoor sports or spectator areas, unless provided as part of a licensed supervised event.
3.11 Sport and Recreation staff will refuse entry to the facilities if they deem the user is in an unfit state to use the facility, or they appear to have consumed alcohol or drugs.
3.12 Smoking and vaping is strictly prohibited in all sports facilities, as well as in any outdoor sports areas or spectator areas.
3.13 Children under 16 years are not permitted to use the centre’s facilities on a casual or drop-in basis without adult supervision unless they are attending a structured session.
3.13.1 Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied and actively supervised by a responsible adult (aged 18 or over) at all times while in the centre.
3.13.2 Children aged 8 to 15 may only be left unsupervised while participating in a supervised, pre-booked session (e.g., swimming lessons, climbing lessons, or sports camps).
3.13.3 Children under 11 years old must be accompanied by an adult in line with clauses 6.3.2, 6.3.3 and 7.26 of the terms and conditions when using the swimming pool.
3.13.4 For climbing and bouldering, all under 16s must be supervised by an adult deemed competent in the activity they are engaging in, unless they have been registered and assessed by our climbing instructors to engage in ‘Unsupervised climbing’ in line with clause 9.4 of our rules and regulations.
3.14 Children must not be left unattended in any communal areas, including the café, reception, changing rooms, or spectator areas.
3.14.1 In the event a child is found unsupervised, staff will attempt to locate their parent/carer immediately.
3.14.2 If a parent/carer cannot be contacted within a reasonable timeframe, the incident will be escalated to senior staff and managed under the centre’s safeguarding policy.
3.14.3 We reserve the right to refuse access to any child or parent/carer who does not comply with these rules.
3.14 Bags are not permitted in any activity area for health, safety and cleanliness. Personal belongings should be left in a locker while taking part in any activity; lockers are provided in all changing areas.
3.15 All lockers must be emptied when the customer is not using the facilities. Any property left in a locker overnight or when a member is not in the building will be removed and retained for one month by the Department of Sport and Recreation. This property, if unclaimed, then becomes lost property. Please see clause 3.17 and 3.17.1, which outline what we do with lost property.
3.16 All belongings are brought onto the premises at your own risk. We cannot accept responsibility for any lost or stolen items.
3.17 Lost or stolen property should be reported to reception as soon as possible, where the matter will be dealt with in the appropriate manner. For more information, please speak to our reception team.
3.17.1 Lost property will be retained between one and four weeks, depending on the item, following which it will be taken to local charity bins. Close contact clothing/items are binned immediately.
3.18 Pets and other animals are not permitted on/in any Facility, including outside Facilities. The only exceptions to this are assistance dogs.
3.19 Photography and filming is restricted in certain areas. Please visit our terms and conditions for more information.
3.20 Bicycles and E-scooters are not permitted in University buildings, including bringing bicycles and e-scooters inside buildings for storage.
3.20.1 E-scooters are not permitted on University land, such as Ravelin Park and University building courtyards.
3.21 Any person utilising the Sport and Recreation Facilities or partaking in activities within the department is expected to comply with the Sport and Recreation department Health Commitment Statement.
4. Activities and bookings
4.1 Members and users are required to register their attendance for their activity using the swipe access on doors or gates, QR codes or NFC mobile in line with clause 8.1 of the terms and conditions. Failure to do so may result in a no-show charge of £2.
4.1.1 For sports hall and squash bookings, please check in using the QR Code or NFC tap-in tiles, or check in at reception before the start of your session.
4.1.2 For climbing session attendees, check-in is completed by a member of staff at the wall or by scanning through the access gates.
4.2 At the end of the booked session, users must leave the activity area promptly and before the next session starts.
5. Outdoor facilities
5.1 Appropriate footwear must be worn on all outdoor facilities; players with inappropriate footwear will not be allowed to partake in the activity. Footwear guidance signage is provided in each facility space.
5.2 Any problems, accidents or incidents during a booking at the outdoor facilities are to be reported immediately to sports staff on the duty mobile (077 1465 8 924).
5.3 No Chewing Gum or litter to be left on the courts, pitches or grass areas, please use the litter bins provided.
5.4 Bookings of grass football pitches will require assistance from participants to move portable goals in and out of position to ensure safety when setting up and breaking down after use. Please phone the sports staff on Duty Mobile 077 1465 8924 at the end of your session for assistance.
6. Studios
6.1 Anyone arriving after the scheduled start time will not be allowed access due to health and safety reasons, and so as not to disrupt the class for others. Fitness class members and users should arrive a minimum of 5 minutes before the advertised start time of the fitness class.
7. The Gym (Free-weights, Cardio, Resistance and Functional Areas)
7.1 New users and members are advised to book and attend an in-person induction.
7.2 Under-18 users must attend an in-person induction before using the gym facilities.
7.3 Only equipment specific to your gym workout can be bought in the gym that can fit in a small bag. These can be purchased from reception.
7.4 Members must book a session via the UOP Sport app to gain access to the gym.
7.5 Members can book a maximum of two 60 or 90-minute sessions per day.
7.6 Members will not be able to exit via the turnstiles if they exceed their booked time slot.
7.7 A limit is placed upon the number of members in the gym at any one time. This may vary during inductions, maintenance work and external bookings.
8. Swimming Pool, steam room and sauna
8.1 For health and hygiene reasons, you must make sure you shower and use the toilet before entering the pool and sauna and steam room.
8.2 You must at all times follow the pool and sauna and steam rules and guidelines displayed in the Centre and any instructions the lifeguard or manager gives you.
8.3 The use of masks covering the nose, snorkels, fins, flippers or inflatables in the Centre’s pool is not permitted, unless it is part of a structured session led by qualified instructors or coaches and following Swim England guidelines.
8.4 To protect the privacy, safety, and comfort of all facility users, the use of mobile phones and recording devices is prohibited in changing rooms, showers, toilets, and poolside areas, unless authorised for specific purposes (e.g. technical coaching or medical conditions).
8.5 Sports Staff reserve the right to refuse entry to a session if the participant is wearing inappropriate clothing. For appropriate clothing guidance, signage is displayed outside the swimming gates and is also provided in the entrance to the changing areas.
8.6 Make-up should be removed before entering the pool, including fake tan.
8.7 Variations in standard acceptable swimwear can be made within reason to accommodate religious preferences and medical conditions. The Sports Duty Supervisor/Senior Sports Operations Assistant will decide on what is reasonable.
8.8 Only plastic drinks bottles are permitted in the wetside areas. Glass bottles are not permitted poolside, in the steam room, sauna and viewing gallery.
8.9 No chewing gum is permitted in the pool and surrounding area.
8.10 If you have or have had diarrhoea, you must not use the swimming pool for 48 hours from the day you last had symptoms. If diagnosed with Cryptosporidium, then you must not use the swimming pool for 14 days after the last day diarrhoea stopped.
8.11 Do not enter the pool with open or unhealed wounds. If you have a verruca, you may still swim but please wear a protective sock.
8.12 Due to the nature of swimming activity, the wearing of jewellery is not permitted except plain, tight-fitting wedding bands or medical alert jewellery, which may be permitted at the discretion of staff, but should be secure and non-obstructive. Jewellery such as metal objects may become hot and cause injuries when using the steam room and sauna.
8.13 All users attending lane swimming sessions must adhere to the following rules:
- Fast Lane: Spend most of their session swimming front crawl and on average complete 25 metres in under 30 seconds.
- Medium Lane: May adopt a variety of strokes and will regularly complete 25 metres in 30-45 seconds.
- Slow Lane: Spend most of their session swimming breaststroke and are likely to take over 45 seconds to complete 25 metres.
8.14 Under no circumstances will any photography or video filming be allowed in the swimming pool and sauna/steam room area, changing rooms, viewing gallery, toilets, or showers unless agreed with the Wetside Officer as part of a technical coaching session. This includes taking pictures through the window of the pool.
8.15 You should leave the changing room area in appropriate dry clothing and footwear. Do not walk through reception in your swimsuit or with wet feet; this can cause a slip hazard to others. Should you need assistance while wet, please speak to a lifeguard.
8.16 If you are currently receiving medical care, please seek your doctor’s advice before using the sauna/steam room.
8.17 If you feel any discomfort, such as dizziness, while using the sauna/steam room, please leave immediately and inform a member of staff.
8.18 For your own safety, do not exceed 15 minutes in the sauna/steam room.
8.19 Sandals or flip flops are the only footwear allowed in the wetside areas.
8.20 Exercising in the sauna/steam room is not allowed.
8.21 Use the emergency panic alarm in the event of an emergency.
9. Climbing Wall
9.1 The British Mountaineering Council recognises that climbing and bouldering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement. Although the climbing wall is an artificial environment, the risks involved are no less serious than when climbing outside on a crag or mountain.
9.1.1 “All climbing and bouldering activities have a risk of serious injury or death. Participants must be aware of and accept that even if they follow all good practices, there may still be the risk of accident and injury. It is the responsibility of the participant to adhere to the conditions of use.”
It is important that you understand this document. There is inherent risk involved with climbing centres and associated activities. By signing this form, you are stating that you understand that these risks cannot be completely removed. If you do not understand any of the terminology or content, ask a member of staff to clarify.
9.2 Roped climbing: Before you can use the top ropes, you have to demonstrate you can:
- put a harness on correctly
- tie a figure of 8 and a stopper knot
- be able to catch a falling climber and lower a climber down safely
You are required to register to say that you know how to use the equipment, that you are prepared to abide by the Code of Practice and that you understand the risks involved in your participation. You must also pass a safety test through our induction process.
9.3 Auto Belays: The centre expects you to understand the dangers involved with Auto belays and accept the risks. Climbers must demonstrate a physical check to prove they are competent to use the auto belays safely. Non-competent climbers must be supervised by instructors. Instructed sessions do not have dual responsibilities.
9.3.1 When using the Auto-Belays, you must identify the line your route climbs and not deviate off this line.
9.3.2 Descending from the route must be done in a controlled manner with, where possible, the landing zone and path checked to be clear before letting go.
9.3.3 Never attempt to grab back onto the wall when descending, as the Auto-Belay will continue to lower.
9.3.4 Solo climbing on the Auto-Belay routes is unacceptable; always use the Auto-Belay safety line to protect yourself on these climbs, and only clip into your harness belay loop.
9.3.5 Helmets must not be worn when using the Auto-Belays, and all harness hardware and loose clothing must be removed.
9.3.6 Please do not kick off from the wall while you are climbing or descending down.
9.4 Supervised climbing: An adult who has registered and passed the safety test at the centre may supervise a maximum of two novice/junior climbers as long as they are prepared to take full responsibility for the safety of those people.
9.4.1 Supervised climbers must still complete a registration form and sign in on the “Supervisory Form”, which is available at reception.
9.4.2 Novices: Anyone who has not registered as a competent climber for auto-belay, Bouldering and ropes is classified as a Novice. Novices must not climb without the supervision of a climbing instructor or a competent climber. All novices understand and must agree that they remain with their supervisor and or instructor at all times.
9.4.2.1 A novice is any user unable to satisfy the minimum requirements set by the centre for unsupervised Climbing, Bouldering or Auto Belay. This may be because they are not experienced enough, do not meet age requirements or there may be another reason that they require supervision in line with clause 9.3.
9.4.3 Groups of up to six novices must be supervised by a qualified instructor.
9.4.4 All under-16s must be supervised by an adult deemed competent in the activity they are engaging in.
9.4.5 Staff will provide whatever help and advice they can, but instruction in the use of equipment or climbing techniques will only be provided where it has been booked as an induction and paid for in advance or a novice climbing session.
9.4.6 If you are not confident in the use of any climbing equipment or technique, then do not attempt to use it without the supervision of someone who is competent to do so.
9.4.7 Groups of novices can only be supervised by qualified instructors or authorised supervisors. Novice climbers are the responsibility of the supervisor, and the supervisor must remain with their novice(s) when in the centre.
9.4.8 The Supervisor has a duty to inform the novice of relevant risks and help them manage these risks. A novice supervision form must be completed to ensure both the supervisor and novice understand the responsibilities of each party.
9.5 Before using the climbing wall or bouldering wall, and on your first visit, you will be asked to complete a registration form identifying your competency to climb. You will be required to undertake an induction before you can climb unsupervised.
9.6 Sports Staff reserve the right to refuse entry to a session if the participant is wearing inappropriate clothing. Long hair should be tied back, loose clothing should be secured, and jewellery and any items from pockets removed before using the climbing or bouldering walls. Baggy clothing, including hoodies and dresses, and peaked caps, is not permitted. Please only use flat soled shoes, no heels, studs (including astro turf shoes), flip-flops, sandals or open-toed shoes are permitted.
9.7 You must exercise care, common sense and self-preservation at all times, be aware of the other climbers around you and how your actions will affect them.
9.8 Climbing shoes must be worn when climbing, and protective shoes when belaying. Barefoot, open-toed shoes, including flip flops and sandals, are not permitted.
9.9 Report any problems with the wall, including loose or spinning holds, equipment or other climbers’ behaviour/bad practice to a member of staff immediately. Misbehaviour will not be tolerated.
9.10 Unless you are belaying or spotting a climber, please stand well away from the climbing wall. Never stand directly under someone who is climbing.
9.11 Do not distract people while they are climbing or belaying.
9.12 Do not attempt to tamper with overhead lighting – danger of electric shock. Do not grab or touch the top of the wall or any girders, metalwork or lights.
9.13 Traversing across the climbing wall is permitted up to 1m above the ground, but only when routes are not in use.
9.14 When bouldering, always climb within your capabilities and descend by down climbing, or a controlled fall. The soft mat does not remove the risk of injury and does not make the climbing any safer.
9.14.1 Never climb directly above or below another climber when bouldering.
9.14.2 Do not lie or sit on the bouldering mats.
9.14.3 Do not boulder whilst wearing a harness or with any hardware hanging from your clothes or chalk bag.
9.14.4 Keep the safety mat free from objects or obstructions such as bags, clothing, brushes, shoes, etc.
9.14.5 Do not sit or stand under the wall when people are bouldering.
9.15 Do not open the gate for other climbers; they may not be competent or registered.
10. Incident Procedure
10.1 In the event of any accident/incident, please contact a member of the sports department staff on duty, who will deal with the situation and take appropriate action.
10.2 If you are unable to locate a duty member of sports staff at Langstone Sports Site, ring the duty mobile on 077 1465 8924 for outdoor facilities.
10.3 If you are unable to locate/contact a duty member of sports staff, please contact university security on 023 9284 3333. They will liaise with the emergency services and ensure they arrive at the right location - without delay. University buildings have different codes, and the quickest route is to be directed via their codes.
10.6 All accidents and/or incidents must be reported to sports staff and recorded on HS1 forms as per University policy.
10.7 Please cooperate fully with the sports staff on duty and the emergency services.