Policies

ReSports strives to provide a wide variety of programs and well-maintained facilities. We have developed our policies to ensure a fair, fun, and safe environment. The following section of general policies applies to facilities and activities that are associated with RecSports.

RecSports policies are both specific to the department and in accordance with university policy found in the publications such as the Student Code of Conduct and Human Resources guidelines. Adhering to these policies will ensure one remains in good standing with both with RecSports Department and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards or Human Resources.

Membership information and pricing can be obtained by calling the Administration Office Reception Desk at 865 974-0492 during normal business hours Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

The Recreational Sports Department provides services to students, faculty, and staff of the University of Tennessee. All participants must provide a valid UT ID with the owner’s photo on it. Please present one of the following forms of identification to RecSports staff at the appropriate check in area for each facility listed before entering the facility: UT ID cards may be used only by the owner.

Physical ID cards used by individuals other than the owner will be confiscated and the person using the card will be required to leave the RecSports facility. (Note: the owner of the ID can claim their confiscated ID at the TRECS Welcome Desk after they sign a photo copy of the ID verifying they received it from RecSports staff). Both individuals will not be allowed to use the RecSports facilities and programs for the remainder of the day and will have a loss of privilege for 3 days. An ID Card not claimed the day it is confiscated will then be sent to Vol Card per Hilltopics regulations for misuse of an ID. Both individuals involved receive an immediate suspension. Incidents involving faculty and staff carry the same penalties and will be referred to the Human Resources Office on campus.

Students, faculty, and staff of the University of Tennessee are welcome to sponsor guests to use the facilities with the following procedures:

• Guest passes can be purchased online through the member portal
• Guest passes are valid for the day they are purchased at all recreation facilities.
• When you arrive at the facility please check in at the main entry point and show
  proof or purchase.
• Sponsors must stay with their guest at all times;
• Sponsors are responsible for the conduct of their guests at all times.
• Guests are expected to adhere to the same code of conduct as members and will
  avoid suspension of facility use by doing so.
• Equipment check out is reserved for only members, thus a guest must check out
  equipment through their sponsor.
• Sponsors are eligible to bring two (2) guests per day.
  • Additional guests may be sponsored under special circumstances such as family members visiting. Please call the RecSports Office at 865-974-0492 for additional details.

Note: Please see the Age Policy section for restrictions on members and guests 16 yrs old and under.

Keeping participants safe is the number one priority for RecSports employees. Many of the RecSports staff are certified in First Aid/CPR/AED and are trained to provide limited emergency care to participants if needed until professional emergency care can arrive.

In the event of an emergency, participants are required to report all accidents, incidents, or injuries to the nearest RecSports employee so proper care can be provided as quickly as possible.

If ambulance or emergency personnel is necessary, participants are asked to contact RecSports staff immediately so emergency procedures can be activated that include contacting UTPD. RecSports employees will not transport injured victims for the safety of the victim and the employee.

In any injury situations, the injured person (when possible) and any witness will be asked for personal information and questions related to the injury/incident for a university accident report. This documentation is required for the University Risk Management Office.

RecSports members or guests 16 yrs old & under must be accompanied by a UT Student or an adult RecSports member, 18 years or older, while using any facility. To promote a safe environment and prevent injuries, it is the responsibility of the sponsor to provide supervision of any child that enters the facility at all times.

For the safety of our members, children under the age of 16 are only allowed to use the track, basketball courts, racquetball courts and swimming pools.

With this policy, members wanting to work out who have members or guests under the age of 17 cannot have the person in the area or sitting on the side as they work out.

Locker rooms are located in both the Student Aquatic Center (SAC) and Tennessee Recreation Center for Students (TRECS) facilities.

The SAC has lockers available for day-use and rental by students & RecSports members. Locker fees and availability information can be obtained by visiting the SAC Welcome Desk. Day-use lockers in the SAC are for one-day use. Locks can be placed on lockers during participant’s visit to the facility but must be removed when they leave The TRECS offers lockers for day-use only. Locks can be placed on lockers during participant’s visit to the facility but must be removed when they leave.

Locks that are not removed by the end of the night in either facility will be posted with a warning notice to remove and after 24 hrs the lock will be cut, and contents removed from the locker. Items removed will be bagged and numbered to be claimed when the participant visits the Welcome Desk in the appropriate facility.

Participants may check-out locks at the Welcome Center of the SAC or the Equipment Check-out area in TRECS. Participants may also bring their own lock.

RecSports also provides day use lockers, located in the TRECS. If a locker is used overnight, it will be posted and after 24 hrs. the contents will be removed, bagged, and numbered. The bag will be stored at the Welcome Desk of the TRECS until claimed.

Proper ID is requested when a participant locks themselves out of a locker.

To provide the highest level of safety and prevent additional wear and tear on equipment and machines in Fitness areas and group exercise classes, all participants are requested to wear athletic clothing while working out or participating in activities.

Closed-toed athletic shoes with non-marking rubber soles are required in all activity areas.

The following list of clothing that can cause damage to participant while
participating:

• Open toed footwear
• Croc style or similar style footwear
• Dress shoes

Fitness area towels can be checked out at the Welcome Desk in Tennessee Recreation Center for Students (TRECS). Participants will be required to sign for and sign back in the towel for use. There is no cost for check-out fitness towels. Shower towels and pool towels are available to rent at the Welcome Desk of the TRECS and Student Aquatic Center (SAC).

UT is a tobacco-free campus. All RecSports facilities are alcohol and tobacco free (including free of vaping products).

Individuals who appear to be violating this policy will be asked to leave and referred to the Student Conduct Office or Human Resources.

The University Police will be called to assist with individuals who are not compliant with this policy.

Food and beverage services are available through VOLDining located at the main entrance of TRECS and vending areas in the TRECS and SAC lobbies. Food and beverage may be consumed in the lobby areas of the TRECS and SAC. For the health of our participants, we recommend that food or gum is not consumed once inside the facility.

Spill-proof plastic water bottles are welcomed in all RecSports facilities.

All participants are expected to respect the facilities and other participants as outlined in the Participant Code of Conduct. Included in this expectation is that certain aspects of personal hygiene are followed. This includes but is not limited to:

• Spitting and rinsing in water fountains only.
• Cleaning pads or equipment with disinfectant wipes or sprays following use.
• Cleaning products are provided in work out areas.
• Wearing clean and appropriate workout clothing.
• Avoiding visiting facilities when ill with contagious virus/cold.
• Covering open cuts or sores with proper materials.

Cases involving issues with the above bulleted items will be addressed individually and discreetly between RecSports staff and participants. Full cooperation in each matter is appreciated.

RecSports facilities, including the RecSports fields, only allow service animals. At this time emotional support animals are only allowed in and around the residence halls. Owners of the service animals are required to clean up any pet wastes that occur in any RecSports facilities and surrounding areas. Owners must also notify the Welcome Desk staff that an accident occurred and the location so that the area can be properly disinfected.

Requests should be presented to the Administrative Office (upper level) in the TRECS facility for approval by the RecSports Staff. Requests for the TRECS, Student Aquatic Center, Fields, HPER Building, and surrounding grounds must be submitted to this location for approval.

RecSports staff is responsible for controlling the type of music and volume level for any facility where music is played on a central system. The music played will be determined based on the general population using the facility and will not interfere with any other university policy or university group that may be in the facility.

Personal listening devices are welcome indoors, amplified music is allowed outside during informal recreation only.

During inclement weather RecSports makes every effort to offer facilities and hours and programs will be adjusted accordingly as staff is available to safely open a facility.

Information will be posted on the website.

IM hotline: 865-974-2382

In cases of natural disasters (i.e., tornados, flooding, etc.); RecSports facilities may be designated as safety shelters and be closed for recreational activity to support emergency action plans.

Lightning:

The RecSports Department staff will take a three prong approach to determine if activities should be suspended depending on location.

1. Utilization of the WeatherSentry app with a lightning setting of 12 miles from campus. This is a university wide accepted application recommended by the Office of Emergency Services. This will be the first approach at TRECS and the Student Aquatic Center.
2. Utilization of the THOR Guard with a lightning setting of 12 miles from the field complex. This will be the first approach at the RecSports Field Complex.
3. If both the Weather Sentry and THOR Guard are not functional properly, staff will cease outdoor activities if lightning is seen, or thunder is heard regardless of the distance away from the facilities.

Some guidelines that RecSports staff members will abide by when lightning or thunder is in the area are:

• Any outside activity will stop immediately.
• Participants using any outside facilities will be requested to leave the area, move away from any fencing or other permanent structures that could conduct electricity and seek shelter until instructed otherwise.
• When the last lightning is seen, and thunder is heard the staff will wait 30 minutes until they resume the activity.
• THOR GUARD- 12 miles a siren will go off, and provide an all clear or 30 minutes after last siren.
• Weather Sentry – will provide a recommended all clear within the app based off lighting within a 12 mile radius.

To better serve and protect the privacy of our participants the use of photography equipment is not permitted inside any RecSports facility during open recreation or classes offered without prior permission from a professional member of the RecSports staff. This includes professional equipment or cell phone cameras. Violators will be asked to present their photos and/or asked to leave the facility.

The use of photo equipment on RecSports fields is allowed during club or intramural events but people shooting photos must check in with RecSports staff overseeing the event, report themselves and get the permission of opposing players and the team they want to photograph.

RecSports staff will approach individuals with photo equipment to confirm that they have followed the outlined steps for taking photos.

Bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, hoverboards, or similar items are for outside use only. If bikes are being returned to the Outdoor Center from being rented or need to be repaired, please enter through the UT Drive entrance of the facility. All bikes must be locked to the bike racks located on the plaza outside TRECS and SAC. Bikes locked or chained to fences or benches around the facilities will be cut and picked up by parking services.

For participants looking to practice stunts and tricks please visit the Knoxville Skatepark in Tyson Park.

Current UT students and RecSports members are eligible to checkout equipment free of charge for use for a variety of sports in the TRECS, SAC and HPER Building.

To receive equipment, all participants will:

• Present a valid University of Tennessee VolCard to check out any equipment.
• The equipment should be returned to the location it is checked out from when leaving the facility.
• Indoor sports equipment is designated for use only in the facility it is checked out from.
• The individual checking out the equipment is responsible for that equipment, payment for unreturned, lost, stolen, or damaged equipment will be billed to the participant through the Bursar’s Office.