Aquatics Benchmarks: Personnel, Programming, and Facilities

Among professionals a need exists to compile benchmark data in all areas for the field of aquatics. To address this need, the questionnaire “Benchmarking Study for Campus Aquatic Programs” was created and distributed to NIRSA members. The questionnaire focuses on gathering data related to aquatic staff, facilities, and programs. Results indicate that the job responsibilities and certifications for hourly staff positions are similar across institutions. Pay rates for each hourly position are not unanimous for each position, but rather have a range that was common. Programming questions address available pool time and how it is divided among various activities. This article presents the collected data to establish benchmark statistics for the aquatics community with the intent that it be used as guidelines or benchmarks by aquatic professionals and decision makers in the development of recreational aquatics programs.