Due to the crowds in the pools, the board has decided to introduce a membership stop as of April 21, 2023. It is no longer possible to come and test swim. However, you can register for the waiting list via the registration form
Everyone is welcome to join Plons provided you have a positive attitude to LGBTI+ people. Be aware that Plons does not provide swimming lessons. You must have a swimming certificate. We expect you to be able to move freely and safely in the water and keep yourself afloat.
For this reason, your swimming skills will be assessed by a trainer before you can become a member during a trial lesson. In principle you can participate in 1 trial lesson, after which you will be asked - if the trainers agree - whether or not to become a member. You do not have to be a top athlete to swim at Plons, but we don't give swimming lessons. As soon as places become available, you will be invited by the secretary to participate in a trail lesson on a Friday evening. The order on the waiting list will be used.
If you feel the need to take proper swimming lessons first we would like to refer you to Your Personal Swim Coach.
How does it work?
This text applies to members. Please make sure you arrive 15 minutes before the session start. A host is waiting for you in the pool. The trainer whill will direct you to the appropriate lane. It is possible that during the training session the trainer will redirect to another lane having established your swimming skills. Make sure to bring a towel, proper swim wear and a pair goggles on your first session.
If you have any further questions get in touch with us through the contact form.
Pool etiquette
Plons is an association that likes to offer its members good quality trainings, wants to prepare for competitions in a pleasant setting and thrives on volunteers. In order for everything to run smoothly, it is necessary that we adhere to a number of rules. It is necessary to briefly repeat it here:
- Please be on time!
The training starts with preparing the pool and a short explanation from the trainer before we enter the water. These are both part of the training. The request is therefore to be present no later than 15 minutes before we enter the water. The times in Spond have now been adjusted accordingly. The board would like to make it possible in the future that members who are always late are not allowed to participate in the training.
- Please bring your flippers, pull buoy and your own board!
In this way we prevent large speed differences and it is more pleasant for everyone to swim. These attributes can be purchased for little money at Decathlon or Perry Sport.
- Please stay until the end of the training!
The training sessions have a certain structure and it is unpleasant for the trainer and other swimmers in your lane if people keep leaving. It remains possible to stop earlier if you have indicated this to the trainer in advance. Plons is not intended for free swimming, for that you can go to the free swimming hours in all swimming pools in The Hague.
- Please let a faster swimmer overtake you!
If you notice that someone is eager to overtake you, give them space by waiting at the far right end of the lane so that the overtaking person can make a turn. Everyone has their own best style. As a result, the best order in the track is not always the same.
- Please let everyone finish!
At the end of the exercise, leave space on the right side of the pool so that everyone can hit the wall. And please don't sit on the lines.
- Please treat our trainers with respect!
All our trainers are volunteers. The Board's request is to take this into account and treat our trainers with respect, thanks in advance!
Membership
As a member of Plons you automatically attain membership of the KNZB thus enabling you to take part in (international) tournaments. Any swimming record attained by you will have official status. Furthemore, as a member you will receive our monthly digital club magazine. In addition you will have free access to all the club’s recreational events, have voting rights at the yearly general meeting and have access to the club's face library as well as have your personal data registered in that same library.
Plons members pay a quarterly fee of €75,-. For students and holders of a so-called ‘Ooievaarspas’ a 50% reduced fee applies, provided they can show proof of active registration The fee allows swimmers to attend all weekly training sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. On Friday evening there are two training sessions: one focused ontechnique and the other on competitive swimming. Members are only allowed to attend one or the other.
In case members want to cancel or alter their membership they can do so by sending an e-mail to the secretary at the latest one month prior to the end of the current quarter. Their membership will then end as from the following quarter.
Donorship
Despite the fact that relations are excellent between donors and Plons, the majority of them rarely attend training sessions. There is therefore no waiting list for donors. All donors receive Explonsief, the Plons monthly magazine and are able to take part in all the club’s recreational activities and events. In addition they are allowed to take part in one training session each quarter in consultation with the board. Donors, however, cannot participate in tournaments and neither have they voting rights at general meetings.
In addition to a regular donorship, Plons also offers a donorship-plus applicable to those who live on a radius of 50 kilometres or more from The Hague. Also for the donorship-plus there is no waiting list. They too receive the monthly club magazine Explonsief, the Plons newsletter, they too are able to take part in all Plons events, and they are allowed to attend one training session at a quarterly basis. In contrast to regular donors, donors-plus are allowed to take part in tournaments and have access to the club’s face library. Like regular donors, donors-plus have no voting rights at the annual general meeting.
To become a donor of Plons, please fill in the registration form and pay your membership fee into our bank account. A membership fee of €.45,- a year is applicable for regular donors while donors-plus pay a fee of €59,75 a year. Membership cancellations and alterations must be made at least one month prior to the end of the current calendar year by sending an e-mail to the secretary. The cancellation will be effective from the start of the new calendar year.