Resources and Studies
Aquatic Sports and Canadians
If your community is thinking of building new sport facilities, but isn't sure if a swimming pool should be included, please seriously consider the information on this Fact Sheet. There is a need for aquatic facilities and they will be used! If your community has already decided to build a swimming pool, please use this Fact Sheet as as well as the other Fact Sheets to ensure a sport friendly swimming pool is built.
Sport Friendly Pools
If your community is considering building a swimming pool, we urge you to ensure that the pool is "sport friendly". Without careful consideration, one could build an aquatic facility tending towards a "leisure pool" with features tending to be amusement rather than the health and sport benefits of aquatic sport.
Community Advocacy and YOU
The first step to building a sport friendly pool is the assembly of an enthusiastic, knowledgeable team of community members. This team will work together to create a proposal that highlights the importance of a sport friendly pool.
Building a Case for Aquatic Sport Friendly Pools - A Guide
Canadian’s enjoy swimming as one of their top 5 favoured leisure and sport activities. Our country is surrounded by waterways and we care as a population about being safe in and around water. Swimming is one activity that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities as water buoyancy creates a level playing field for swimmers with physical limitations. The benefits of swimming on individuals and communities are significant as pools provide gathering places for social interaction and cohesion for neighbourhoods and a wide choice of aquatic activity that builds skills and confidence in individuals. Participating in aquatic sports is very popular and enjoyed by Canadians and as with any sport, adequate infrastructure has everything to do with promoting a choice of sport activities, providing opportunities to learn and develop and accommodate growing participation rates.
Making the Case for the 8–Lane Pool. A Presentation by Brian Connors
- A provincial understanding of how we came to have the pool inventor we have today and why it needs to change.
- A philosophical case for why building or retrofitting an existing pool should have sport training facility incorporated within its designs
- A Business case for a 7 and 8 lane vs. the traditional 6 lane pool or leisure pool.
- Sharing of best practices and program model building
Aquatic Federation of Canada - Ontario Aquatic Facility Needs Analysis & Strategy
In 2006, The Aquatic Federation of Canada partnered with the Canadian Parks & Recreation Association to undertake a needs analysis of aquatic facilities in Ontario. Based on the findings of the needs analysis, a strategy was developed to improve the extent to which aquatic facilities in Ontario meet the needs of the full range of current and potential aquatic users and to identify implementation costs and timelines to accomplish this change.
Aquatic Sport Council - PRO Conference Presentation
From the PRO Conference November 2009. This presentation begins the introduction of the Aquatic Sport Council and its upcoming direction.
PRO - Building an Aquatic Centre - A Quality Checklist
Building an Aquatic Center requires attention during the design stage to ensure a high level of quality. From the Design Praocess through the environment and the final use.
Sport England - Swimming Pool Design Guidelines
From 2008 Sport England began to focus on Aquatics and Aquatic infrastructure. Sport England believes that good facilities are fundamental to developing sporting opportunities for everyone, from the youngest beginner to the international class athlete. The buildings whether large or small can encourage civic pride and assist the process of revitalising deprived neighbourhoods. Facilities that are well designed built to last and well maintained are a pleasure to use and give an ample return on the time and money invested in their construction and day to day use.
Cannon - Design and Construction 101
A workshop outlining the major phases of pool design and construction.
From the FINA World Aquatic Conference presentations include:
