For Swimming

Facilities
 Competition pools
-Standard pools are either 50m or 25m in length.
-The Competition Pool is a state-of-the-art, 10-lane-by-16-
lane pool with the ability to change from meters to yards by use of a
movable bulkhead, set according to activity. The Competition
Pool accommodates varsity teams, masters swimmers, lap swimmers,
classes, and competing groups.
 Depth
-For pools with starting blocks, the minimum depth is
1.35m, extending to at least 6.0m. A minimum depth of 1.0
metre is required for pools without starting blocks.
-The depth and length of the swimming pool should be 5
feet and 25 feet if you want to have swim laps in it. Most
people are satisfied with the standard depths of 3-5 feet in
a pool with multiple depths but it cannot be a right
decision if you and your spouse's height are not suitable to
those pool depths.
 Walls
The end walls are at right angles to the swimming course and surface of
the water. They are made of a solid material, with a non–slip surface
extending 0.8m below the water surface, to allow competitors to touch
and push off in turning without hazard.
Rest ledges along the pool walls are permitted. They are located at least
1.2m below the water surface, and are up to 0.15m wide. Both internal
and external ledges are acceptable, however internal ledges are
preferred.
Gutters are placed on all four walls of the pool. If end wall gutters are
installed, they must allow for attachment of touch panels to the
required 0.3 metre above the water surface. They are covered with a
suitable grill or screen.
 Water temperature

The water temperature is between 250 and 28° celsuis.

During competition the water is kept at a constant
level, with very little movement. Inflow and outflow is
allowed as long as no appreciable current or
turbulence is created.
 Lanes

According to FINA rules World Championships require

8 lanes and Olympic Games require 10 lanes. The lanes
are a minimum of 2.5m wide, with two spaces of at
least 2.5m wide outside of the first and last lanes.
 Lane ropes

In an 8 lane pool, lane ropes extend the full length of

the course and are secured at each end wall to anchor
brackets recessed into the end walls. The anchors are
positioned so that the floats at each end wall of the
pool are on the surface of the water. Each lane rope
will consists of floats placed end to end. The floats
have a minimum diameter of 0.10m-0.15 metre.
In a swimming pool the colour of the lane ropes is as follows:

 Two green ropes for lanes 1 and 8.

 Four blue ropes for lanes 2, 3, 6 and 7.
 Three yellow ropes for lanes 4 and 5.

The floats that extend for a distance of 5m from each end of

the pool are red. At the 15m mark from each end wall of the
pool the floats are distinct. In 50 metre pools the floats are
distinct at 25m.There is only one firmly stretched lane rope
between each lane.
 Starting platforms

Starting platforms are from 0.5m-0.75m high above the

water surface. The surface area is at least 1.5m square
and covered with a non-slip material. The maximum
slope is 10 degrees. The platforms are firm and are
without a springing effect.
 Lane markings

The lane markings on the floor of the pool are a dark

colour and marked in the centre of each lane.
The width of the marking is 0.2m-0.3m for all pools. The
length for 50m pools is 46m and 21m for 25m pools.

Each lane line ends 2m from the end wall of the pool with a
distinctive cross line 1m long and of the same width as the
lane line. Target lines are marked on the end walls or on the
touch panels in the centre of each lane and are the same
width as the lane lines.
 Leisure pools
-A number of pool facilities include leisure water features that are
designed for recreational swimmers, lap swimming and specific areas
for toddlers and children. These may include:

 Varying water depths, with extensive shallow or beach areas.

 Wave pools and surfing pools.
 Water slides and flumes.
 Fast flowing river rides & rapids.
 Water jets and water cannons.
 Water features eg rain showers.
 Spa facilities, including varying temperatures.
Equipments
 Swimsuit
-You'll need a swimsuit unless you plan on skinny-dipping! Like many
other things, technology has entered the swimsuit arena as well.
Fabrics are designed for minimal resistance through the water, they
tend to last a long time, and they resist fading even when used
repeatedly in chlorinated pools. Of course, not all of us would be
comfortable in the skimpy racing suits that you see Olympians wear,
but the good news is that you can find more modest suits at sporting
goods and department stores as well as through a number of online
vendors (see the resources section). Comfort is the most important
quality in selecting a swimsuit. You're less likely to swim if you're
uncomfortable in your suit.
 Goggles
-Goggles protect your eyes from chlorine (and anything else that may
be in the water), and they help you keep your eyes open while you swim
so that you can see where you're going. You can even get prescription
swim goggles if you wear glasses (check with your optician for
availability). To find the right pair of goggles, do the following:

 Put the goggles over your eyes without slinging the strap over your
head.
 Press the goggles into your eye sockets and let go.
 The goggles should stay in place.
 Experiment until you find the pair that fits your eyes best.
 Bathing caps
-Bathing caps can serve several purposes. Some pool
managers will require individuals with long hair to wear
caps to keep hair from getting into the pool, and some
people just like to protect their hair from the chlorine in
the water. You may also decide to wear a bathing cap to cut
down on resistance in the water. This really works, and so if
you're looking to increase your time a bit, a bathing cap
might help. Many caps are made of latex, although you can
find silicone, neoprene (keeps you warm), and Lycra as
well. Choose the one that fits your head and is most
comfortable.
 Flotation devices and other equipment
-There are a number of flotation devices and other
equipment available to help you learn how to swim,
improve your swimming times if you start to get
competitive, and add resistance to your water workouts to
build muscular strength and tone. Flotation devices help
keep you afloat so that you can slow down and work on
your swim stroke without sinking or causing too
much fatigue, and they help with confidence for
individuals who don't know how to swim. Read on to learn
more about floatation devices.
 Kickboards
-Kickboards are devices made of foam or other materials that
float, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The main
purpose is for you to hold on and stay afloat while your legs do
all the work. It's good exercise for coordinating your kicking, and
it gives your arms a rest. One technique that I suggest to
swimmers who want to keep swimming continuously without a
break is to leave a kickboard at the end of the pool, and when
they get tired, grab the kickboard and do a lap or two with it
until they get their arm strength back, and then drop the
kickboard off at the end of the pool and swim again until they
need the kickboard again. Many pools have kickboards available
to try out.
 Pull buoys
-Like kickboards, pull buoys are flotation devices that
come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but unlike a
kickboard, which gives the upper body a rest, pull
buoys are placed between the legs to keep the legs
afloat without kicking so that you can work your upper
body. Pull buoys are excellent training devices for
building upper-body strength, endurance, and cardio
respiratory fitness. They can also help you work on
your form because you can swim slowly and
deliberately without sinking.
 Fins
-Fins fit on your feet and add propulsion to your kicks
(think of a duck's webfoot). They are great training for your
legs and will help you swim faster. They come in long fins
for beginners who want to work on their stroke and build
up leg strength and ankle flexibility and short fins to help
you go faster without overworking your legs. Fins should fit
snugly but not so tight that they cut into your foot or cut off
circulation. Wear socks with your fins if that feels more
comfortable.
 Hand paddles
-Hand paddles attach to your hands and add propulsion to
your arm stroke because they move more water. They can
be a lot of work for the arms and shoulders because of the
resistance in the water, and for this reason, they are used in
water aerobic classes to mimic the resistance exercises that
you do on land with dumbbells (for example, biceps curls).
Hand paddles make a water workout difficult, and so you
should warm up in the water without them first, and then
build up slowly like you would with any resistance exercise
workout so that you don't overwork your arms and
shoulder joints.
Gloves
-Gloves, like hand paddles, also add resistance for your
arms, although they are smaller than paddles and so
the resistance is lighter. These might be a better choice
than paddles if you're just starting out with resistance
exercises in the water.
 Water dumbbells
-Some manufacturers produce dumbbells made of
foam for use in the water. They add resistance like
paddles or gloves, but you can release them quickly
after a set and then grab them again when you're ready.
Water creates lots of resistance, and so water
dumbbells will make you stronger if you use them
consistently
Noodle
-A noodle is a flexible, tube-shaped flotation device
that you can wrap under your arms or around your
waist to keep you buoyant so that you can keep moving
in the water (kids love to play with them). The
advantage of being able to keep moving is that you can
work on your stroke without fatigue and increase your
strength and endurance.
Aqua jogger
-Aqua jogger is a flotation device that you wear like a belt. Like a noodle,
it permits you to keep on moving without fatigue so that you can work
on your stroke as well as your strength and aerobic fitness, but it's more
heavy-duty than a noodle and will accommodate heavier people and
create more resistance. Aqua joggers also allow you to participate in
water aerobic classes and water running without having to know how
to swim or break frequently.
 Water Treadmill
-There are two types. One is a device that you install in your pool that
works with a propeller to create a current of water that you swim in
place against (okay, it's not really a treadmill, but you do swim in
place). This type is a great training aid and is also used for
rehabilitation, but it is very expensive, depending on the model and
whether you have it installed when your pool is being built or in an
existing pool. The other type is a treadmill that is designed for use in
water. You walk on it just like any land-based treadmill, only there is
less strain on your joints because of the water. This type of treadmill is
frequently used in rehabilitation. See the resources section or search
online for "water treadmill" to learn more.
-There is one other option for swimming in place, and it's inexpensive.
Swim stretch cords attach to the side of a pool and to your body so you
can swim without going anywhere, or they come with a drag belt (sort
of like a mini-parachute) that catches water as you swim and drag it
behind you. Both are fine options for getting a great workout.
THANK YOU!!!