I'm curious about swimming at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. How are the pool facilities there? Are they only for athletic training, or can they be used for recreational swimming too?
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy features an outstanding aquatics center that serves both competitive athletics and recreational needs. Named the Roland Pool, the facility is part of the academy's Athletic Department and, as such, is primarily used for athletic training and meets, predominantly servicing the varsity swim and dive teams.
The Roland Pool is a 25-yard long pool, allowing for both short course yards and long course meters competitions. It features eight lanes, each equipped with anti-turbulent lane lines, keeping the water as still as possible for swimmers. It also comes equipped with diving boards for competitive and training use.
Beyond just athletics, the pool is also used for various physical education classes that form part of cadet training, including water survival and lifeguard certification.
As for recreational swimming, while the primary focus of the Roland Pool is athletic and military training, there indeed are times set aside for recreational swimming. These usually happen outside of practice, training, and competition schedules, and are often in the early morning or evening hours. However, it's important to note that the specific hours could vary, so it's a good idea to check the official schedule, should you end up joining the academy.
It's quite a resourceful facility, not just for competitive swimmers but for all cadets, contributing to the holistic development that the academy emphasizes.
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