Designed for Sport

When contemplating a new aquatic facility there are many options for communities to consider, none ideal for every need.  Water slides, movable floors, retracting water cannons and flumes in a pool tank, with both very deep and very shallow water is not practical. Leisure facilities with a wade-in pool, slides and other amusement features limit the opportunity for sport. Our purpose is to consider a community pool configuration that would not limit access to most aquatic sport and leisure interests.

It is also difficult to build a single pool to fit all aquatic sports. But the Aquatic Sport Council is recommending a minimum standard for pools in order to access a broad range of aquatic sports.

• Width:
  • 20.4m provides 8-lanes (8x2.5m = 20m) and outside lane rope buffer
• Length:
  • 25m plus the width of a bulkhead and timing equipment (which will vary on supplier selection)
• Shallow water depth:
  • 1.5m if there is no learner pool or funds for movable flooring
  • 2.0m if there is a learner pool or funds for movable flooring
• Deep water depth:
  • 2.5m (no diving) to 5m (with diving)

It is generally recommended that standard dimensions should be used to allow appropriate levels of aquatic competition and to help meet safety standards. On the other hand, relatively few pools need be designed to full competition standards and include spectator facilities.

Local competitions for many sports can be accessed through the minimum standard. Sporting organizations can train in the facility either together or under individual permit. The demand for teaching and modified activities tends to impact the demand for shallower depths. However, water-aerobics for seniors and teaching for all but the youngest ages can still be done with 1.5m depths in the shallow end.

Local competitions will attract teams and parents from the surrounding communities. Modest spectator seating around the pool will also be needed to accommodate competitive events in these activities. Diving from boards, artistic swimming (formerly synchronized swimming) and other sports will require deeper water. These can all be accommodated in one pool tank, which ideally should be in addition to a second pool.

A dedicated tank for deep-water use may be an essential requirement for some activities at certain levels of competition. The provision of separate water areas for different activities is however unlikely to be a cost-effective solution and difficult to justify, except where competition is a specific requirement. A more economical approach is to include a movable floor(s), and bulkhead(s) to divide a single pool tank and create separate pool water areas of different depths. This allows greater use and programming flexibility. Early advice should be sought from a range of manufacturers/suppliers on the overall design implications of integrating their plant / equipment into a design and a cost comparison carried out to determine the most appropriate option.

If the proposed pool water area is too small it will be under constant pressure during busy periods. Conversely pools that are too large will be under used, less cost-effective and likely to result in greater financial deficit. It should be recognized that new, replacement or refurbished pools, which meet present day standards, have the effect of increasing demand.

New pools should be designed to meet all community requirements and in many cases should consider the requirements of the Provincial Sporting Organizations. If you are contemplating a larger national or international competition pool, the requirements of the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) for training and competitions will be needed. You may view the requirements at www.fina.org.