Aquatics at Scripps

Always available for recreation and lap swimming during posted hours.

General Guidelines

No one may enter the pool without a Tiernan Field House lifeguard certified employee present.
Patrons must be prepared to present a proper identification at the entrance to the Tiernan Field House.
Guests must be a daily pass holder or a member of a rental group with scheduled pool time.
Each activity must have a responsible supervisor present and available on deck.
Lap swimmers may be required to circle swim when lane use exceeds two patrons. Please see Lap Swimming Etiquette policy in the pool area.
The use of radios, tape or CD players is restricted to private listening (headphones).
The use of floatation devices, except lap swim equipment, is prohibited.
Food, beverages, gum or tobacco products are prohibited.
The pool area may be closed or have restricted use due to competitive events, special events or rentals.
Personal items are to be stored safely in the locker room. Do not place personal items/bags on the pool deck.
Lifeguards have the responsibility to enforce regulations and have the authority to remove anyone for unsafe or inappropriate behavior.
Children are not permitted to use the pool. (18 and below) Note: The TFH Planning Committee will be reviewing children and family swim programs for future guests.

Summer Aquatic – Children policies and age limits

Children/Dependents must 6 months or older for pool and must be accompanied by parent during the visit.
Children age 5 or under must have a parent or guardian (at least 18 years of age) with them in the water at all times.
Lifeguards have the authority to require a parent or guardian to be in the water with a child over 5 years old who they may judge to be a weak swimmer.
The ratio of children in the pool to a parent/guardian is 3/1.
If one or more children are non-swimmers, the child-to-parent/guardian ratio is 2/1 and children must be directly supervised by parents and within arm’s reach.
All life jackets must be US Coast Guard approved. Inflatable toys and swim aids, such as water wings, swim rings, and floatation devices, are not designed to be used as substitutes to life jackets or adult supervision.

Summer swim policies for infant and children

CDC and California State Health Code Requirements:

All infant/toddlers/children who are not toilet trained are required to wear swim diapers or plastic pants with elastic around the waist and each leg when using the pool.
Patrons must bring their own swim diapers.
Diaper changing is not permitted on deck & only allowed in dressing room area.
Diapers (cloth and disposable) are prohibited in the pool.
When a fecal accident occurs, we are required to close the pool a minimum of twenty-four (24) hour.

Health Rules

Admission to the pool will be refused to anyone appearing to have a contagious or infectious condition, such as a cold, athlete’s foot, ring worm, boils and other skin infections.
No band-aids or casts may be worn into the pool.
Street shoes are restricted from the pool deck areas.
Spitting, blowing the nose or urinating in the pools is forbidden.
Only clean appropriate attire designed for swimming is permitted. For females, appropriate swimwear is that which covers breasts, buttocks, genitals and the pubic region. For males, appropriate swimwear is that which covers the buttocks, genitals and the pubic region. Specifically, street clothes, thongs and see-through swimwear are prohibited.
A clean white t-shirt and/or clean aqua socks may be worn into the pool.
Do not swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
Do not swallow pool water. In fact, avoid getting water in your mouth.
Practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet.

Safety Rules

A long whistle blast may signal an emergency. Exit the pool immediately and look to the lifeguard for further instruction.
Do not converse with or distract the lifeguards while they are actively engaged in their duties.
Patrons under the influence of alcohol or other drugs that alter awareness are restricted from the pool.
Use of the starting platforms is restricted to competent divers in the supervision of certified competitive diving coaches.
You may be asked by a lifeguard to show an ability to swim before using a pool or pool equipment, if two or more guards are present.
Glass is prohibited in the pool. Eyeglasses worn into the water should be worn with a safety strap.
Headfirst entries are restricted to areas with a minimum water depth of 7 feet.
Do not hang on the life or lane lines.
Diving or jumping deemed unsafe, in the judgment of the lifeguard, will be prohibited.
Horseplay is not tolerated. Running, pushing, dunking, water fighting, chicken fights, etc. are dangerous and are prohibited.
Hyperventilation or the holding of one’s breath underwater for an extended period of time can be extremely dangerous and therefore is prohibited.
Use of water toys is restricted to those furnished by Scripps College.
Use of mask, snorkel and fins is restricted to commercial quality equipment. The mask must be well fitted and have tempered safety glass.
All training and fitness equipment is to be used in the manner for which it was designed.

Lap Swim Etiquette

Our goal is to enhancing the aquatic experience of all patrons. Many patrons can enjoy lap swimming at a time (as many as 5/lane in 25 meters) if all participants observe etiquette. We encourage you to adhere to a primary goal; do not inhibit the progress of others sharing the same lane as you.

Entering the pool

Make note of lanes oriented to “fast, “medium,” and “slow.” Traditionally, to the swimmer facing down the pool from the shallow end, the lanes to the right are slowest and the lanes to the left are the fastest.
Select a lane most congruent to your preferred swimming speed.
Always enter the water feet first and clear of other swimmers already occupying the lane. If there is a swimmer approaching the wall as you are preparing to enter wait until they have turned and started the next lap before entering so as not to interrupt their progress.

Circle Swimming

Unless the lane has only two people in it that would rather split the lane, we circle swim.
The customary traffic pattern in the United States is congruous to our driving pattern of staying to the right. This would be swimming in a counter-clockwise circle in the lane.
It is the responsibility of the swimmer entering the lane to be sure all other swimmers in that lane are aware of his/her presence and the desired or necessary traffic pattern before any swimming is started by that patron. This may take a few minutes so be patient.
Always swim complete laps of the pool. Avoid stopping in the middle of the pool for any reason, this can interfere with others progress and cause collisions.
Stop only at the wall and once stopped stay in the corner of the lane, preferably the left hand corner (from the perspective of the approach to the wall). Other lap swimmers need space to turn, always leave the middle 1/3 of the wall clear for turning purposes.
Be aware of your space in the lane and the orientation of others.
If you are approaching the wall and another lap swimmer is gaining on you, swimming at a faster rate then you are, pause at the wall to allow the faster swimmer to go by.
If more than one swimmer is getting congested behind a slower swimmer the lead should stop at the wall and let all the others advance before pushing off the wall to continue his/her swim.

Passing

If you need to pass in your lane move up to the swimmer and tap his/her foot. It is inappropriate to grab, pull, or tickle the person but a tap is a clear indication of your presence and your intent to pass.
If your foot has been tapped there is no need to stop, as this could cause a collision. Once you are aware of another’s intent to pass, slow down just slightly and slide over as close to the lane rope as possible to pass on the left.
If the indication to pass has occurred right before the wall it is appropriate to pause at the wall in the right hand corner to allow the swimmer to advance through his/her turn.
Faster swimmers should give slower swimmers as much space in front of them as possible before pushing off; or start their set or swim just before the slower swimmer reaches the wall to avoid having to pass them right away.

Common courtesies

If the pool is busy those swimming in lanes by themselves or with one other person may want to stay circle swimming due to the likely hood of being joined by a third very shortly and then being forced to change pattern yet again.
Be courteous of drafting. Just as in cycling it is possible to create a drafting situation when circle swimming close behind another. Be sure the lead swimmer is comfortable with this as it is an increased workload to carry the lead when others are drafting.
Always start, turn and finish at the wall. This will enhance your fitness and keep clear communication within the lane.