Do you have a question about the Aquatics Center? Feel free to contact us at aquatics@utsa.edu with any questions or concerns.

1. Is the pool open year round?
2. What is the difference between a lap and a length of the pool?
3. What is the length of the Campus Rec Center Lap Pool?
4. How many yards would you swim to equal one mile?
5. 25 yards equals how many meters?
6. What type of swim wear is allowed at the pool?
7. What equipment is available to checkout at the pool?
8. What are some tips to beat the heat at the pool?
9. What are the four Olympic strokes, and how do you perform them?

1. Is the pool open year round?

Yes the pool is open year round. We have a heated pool which allows us to regulate the temperature and keep it warm even in the winter months.


2. What is the difference between a lap and a length of the pool?

A length of the pool refers to swimming from one end to the other end of the pool. A lap refers to swimming from one end to the other end and then back to your original position.

3. What is the length of the Campus Rec Center Lap Pool?

The Rec Center Pool is a 3 lane 25 yard pool.

4. How many yards would you swim to equal one mile?

1760 yards equals one mile (or 70.4 lengths or 35.2 laps of the pool)

5. 25 yards equals how many meters?

25 yards equals 22.86 meters

6. What type of swim wear is allowed at the pool?

Click here to see proper swim attire.

7. What equipment is available to checkout at the pool?

Click here to see available equipment for checkout.

8. What are some tips to beat the heat at the pool?

-Protect your skin: Sunlight contains two kinds of UV rays-UVA increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging, and other skin diseases. UVB causes sunburn and can lead to skin cancer. Wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 and make sure it has UVA/UVB protection. Reapply sunscreen every 45-60 minutes, or every time you get out of the pool.
-Drink plenty of liquids, even if you're not thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool.
-Wear eye protection. Sunglasses are like sunscreen for your eyes and protect against damage that can occur from UV rays. Try to wear sunglasses with labels that indicate that they absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight.
-Dress in light-weight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
-Eat light. Avoid hot, heavy meals and opt for foods high in water content: fruits, salads and soups.

9. What are the four Olympic strokes, and how do you perform them?

Freestyle
By definition, a freestyle swimmer can use any stroke. But the fastest is the "Australian crawl" (also known as the "front crawl"), which is characterized by an alternating overhand motion of the arms and a flutter kick. The arm movement has three distinct segments: pull, push and recovery. A two-beat-per stroke kick is used in the distance races; a faster six-beat kick is used in sprint events and in the final stretch of distance races. Breathing patterns vary depending on the distance of an event and a competitor's preferred style; in the 50m freestyle, for example, some competitors don't come up for air at any point in the race.

Backstroke
The backstroke is an alternating motion of the arms-much like the freestyle in reverse—with a flutter kick. Backstroke swimmers must stay on their backs, except during the turns (swimmers can "roll" their bodies up to, but not including, 90 degrees from horizontal). A backstroke swimmer's head must surface within 15 meters of the start of the race.

Breaststroke
The slowest of the four Olympic strokes, the breaststroke is highly technical and therefore difficult to master. The arms must move in the same horizontal plane simultaneously; the hands propel forward from the breast (on, under or over the water) and are brought back on or under the water surface but not beyond the hip bone, except during the first stroke after the start and turns; the elbows remain underwater except on the stroke before turns or the final touch; the kick is a simultaneous thrust of legs called a "frog" or breaststroke kick. No flutter or dolphin kicking is allowed, except for one dolphin kick per pullout; a pullout is done at the start and after each turn. Except for after the start and turns, some part of the swimmer's head must come above water during each cycle of a stroke and kick. Touching the wall at turns or the finish must be done with both hands.

Butterfly
The most powerful and physically demanding stroke, the butterfly involves simultaneous overhead stroking of the arms combined with a dolphin kick. The dolphin kick features both legs moving up and down together. No flutter kicking is allowed. A butterfly swimmer must touch the wall with both hands before turning and his or her head must surface within 15 meters of the start and after turns.