How to choose a swimming pool for training?
The swimming pool you choose for training is incredibly important, whether you are a serious swimmer or want to swim for fun. There are many factors that go into how to choose a swimming pool for training so that your swimming experience is both more enjoyable and more professional.
So what are the different factors you should consider when choosing a pool?
Here are some of the factors which would help swimmers choose a swimming pool.
1. What is the size of the pool?
The length of the average pool is 25m. This is ideal for all types of swimmers.
Pools come in all shapes and sizes. Typically, if you are looking for a swimming training center near you with a professional environment, you should use at least a 25m rectangular pool.
If you are taking up the sport competitively, finding a 50m pool will prepare you for competitions and be better for your training. An irregularly shaped pool will not help you understand how to practice turns and dives, which are essential for races.
The breadth of the pool does not make much difference, as most 25m pools will have a minimum of 6 lanes, which is sufficient.
The depth of the pool should be at least 3 ft on the shallow side and 5ft on the deeper side. If you are practicing for competitions or are a competitive swimmer, the pool should be around 7ft deep or more.
These pools will also have a level bottom, without a shallow or deep end, especially for 50m pools. Make sure that your height does not affect your diving practice wherever you choose to swim.
2. Is your swimming pool clean?
The cleanliness of a pool should be gauged by the color of the pool. Clear blue pools indicate cleanliness.
You will often see insects or leaves floating in outdoor pools, but these can easily be removed.
However, if your pool is green, has a lot of algae, or has dirt and sand on the bottom, it is not clean.
Pools should be cleaned once every week, so check when your pool is being serviced. Another important factor of clean pools is the chlorine content.
3. How much chlorine is enough for a swimming pool?
Chlorine has an infamous reputation for its effects on the body and its smell. Learn more about the effects of chlorine on swimmers and how to reduce them.
Chlorine is incredibly important in a pool. It kills bacteria and neutralizes the pool. A pH of 7-7.8 and 1ppm of chlorine is recommended.
If your chlorine content is too low, the pool can be infectious. If there is too much chlorine, it will have adverse effects on your body.
Chlorine also reacts with urine, cosmetics and perspiration to produce its signature smell.
4. Should pools have lane lines, markings, & flags?
If you practice with a group of people, choose a pool with lane lines. This will stop people from crashing into each other and give a more professional environment, especially for competition.
Lane lines are made of plastic or metal. On the bottom of the pool, you should see i-shaped markings. These markings are important to tell you the beginning and start of the pool while you swim so that you don’t crash into the walls while keeping your head down.
Flags are also important. If you are an advanced or competitive swimmer and need to practice backstroke, flags will keep you from hitting your head. They are good for practicing dives and flip turns as well.
Ensure your pool has lane lines, markings, and flags, especially for advanced practice. Swim kickboards, pull buoys, and swim noodles are some of the swim equipment that the swimming pool keeps.
“Make yourself an example, achieve it, but don’t hurt anyone on the way up.” —
Dawn Fraser
5. Why check for the location of the swimming pool?
If you swim often, try to choose a pool that is close to you. As a swim parent, it is not easy to drive your child all across the city. Traveling within a big city or small one after swimming late at night or early in the morning, is not an enjoyable experience.
You will feel cold, hungry, and uncomfortable if you have to travel large distances after the swim. Try to find a pool close by.
If you live in Bangalore, there are over 40+ pools to choose from.
6. Do you have good trainers and trainees coming to the pool?
Each pool will usually have designated trainers. Trainers play a very important role in swim training. So look for a swimming pool with a trainer near you with whom you would feel comfortable. Also, check for the timings of the swim batches and schedules to train different levels of swimming.
The swim coach or trainer should understand your needs as a swimmer.
They should keep you informed of events and competitions that come up.
The trainers can be personalized or for a group of swimmers. I personally recommend training with a group of swimmers, as this leads to healthy competition and company. It allows you to learn from your peers and you will make memories with your fellow swimmers.
7. Do pool tiles play a role in swim training?
Pool tiles may seem insignificant but they play a large role in the visibility and cleanliness of the pool.
Lighter colored tiles such as light blue make the water seem more inviting and help you see underwater. It is also clearer to see when the water is clean.
Dark pools can be difficult to swim in, especially at night or early in the morning. It can be as if you are swimming in the dark, and you cannot tell when it is clean. This can also be scary for younger swimmers.
8. What other facilities are available in the pool?
The pool you have should also have clean changing rooms and bathrooms.
Make sure there is running water, it doesn’t have to be warm, but it should be available.
Your pool should have parking and should be located in a place that is easy to access.
If you are a young swimmer, make sure the pool you choose has a place for your friends and family to sit. Especially if you swim a lot, they should be able to sit for hours. Chairs or galleries around the pool are a must.
Lastly, there should be quality floodlights so that you can see clearly at night. Lights inside the pool are also a plus.
Check if your swimming pool has safety equipment and if a trained person is available for first aid.
9. Should the pool be temperature controlled?
Pools can be temperature-controlled or not. If you live in a colder place, choose a swimming pool for training that is temperature-controlled. These pools are not hot, but the temperature is kept such that jumping in does not give you frostbite.
Some people prefer temperature-controlled pools but I personally do not. I prefer the temperature of the water to be colder. You should find whatever works for you.
Most advanced and competitive swimmers do not look for a temperature-controlled one when they choose a swimming pool for training. Membership at temperature-controlled pools is typically a little more expensive, but it is worth it especially if you live in a cold place, or swim early in the morning or late at night.
Know that late night and early morning is when the pool is the coldest. Of course, all of this is irrelevant should you choose an indoor pool.
10. Should you look for indoor pools for training?
Indoor pools are generally cleaner and require less maintenance than outdoor pools. They can be used regardless of the weather.
However, depending on where you live, they can be less easy to come across than outdoor pools and membership can be expensive.
Remember, finally, you should enjoy and look forward to swimming.
