RECENT CALENDAR EVENTS
Sheerr Pool
Build in 1967, this facility has the capacity to be either 2 short-course pools (25 meters and 25 yards, 12 lanes) or 1 long course pool (50 meters, 6 lanes) and is home to a large recreational population as well as the University’s various club and varsity teams. The pool is equipped with a stair entrance at the shallow end, a handi-accessible chair, and an on-deck dry sauna and shower, both of which are located at the deep end.
Long Course Training
On the first Monday of each month the Sheerr Pool staff will lower the bulkhead that separates the 2 pools and convert the facility into a “long-course” set up. This means that there will only be 6 lanes (instead of 12) and that the length of each lap will be about double what it was before; going from 25 yards/meters to 50 meters. This set-up will be active barring any major holidays, emergency closures, or extensive travel by the Aquatics Coordinator.
Patrons are urged to swim with others who match their speed in the water, and aqua joggers must share the facility with the circle swimmers, as there will be less space due to the decreased number of lanes. As in a short-course set up, when more than 2 people are in a lane they must circle swim, even when the length of each lap is much greater.
The benefits of long course training are fairly straight-forward; with less turns to do the athlete must swim more, thus increasing your stamina, strength and focus as a swimmer. The walls provide excellent break points, so when you push off of them fewer times you get a better work out whether you are swimming, kicking, pulling or aqua-jogging.
Pool Rules, Policies & Procedures
The Sheerr Pool is open for recreational swim during posted hours. It is recommended to check the Department of Recreation website on a regular basis for updated information in regards to altered pool hours. The following guidelines apply while using the pool:
- Lifeguards have final authority on all matters in the pool area.
- Recreational swimmers should only enter the water feet first; no diving is permitted in any part of the pool. Make sure you are aware of the water depth and others swimming while entering or exiting the pool.
- Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied to the pool and be directly supervised by an adult parent/guardian at all times. If the child can swim, the adult parent/guardian must be at the pool side. If the child cannot swim, the adult parent/guardian must be in the water with his or her child.
- The use of the Sheerr Pool and on-deck sauna is prohibited unless supervised by a Department of Recreation lifeguard; no one under the age of 18 may use the sauna without a parent/guardian. Pouring water on the sauna rocks and tampering with the heat sensor is strictly prohibited.
- Patrons are required by Pennsylvania state law to shower before entering the pool. This also helps reduce the amount of chlorine our facility uses to clean the water.
- Children that are not potty-trained must wear waterproof diapers, such as Swimmers.
- All swimmers must wear appropriate bathing attire; no see through articles and women must have a top and a bottom.
- The pool temperature will be maintained between 79 – 82 ºF, depending on the facility, patron and program needs.
- Circle swimming is required when more than two swimmers are in lane. Circle swimming in a lap lane is similar to driving a car; you need to stay on the right side of the lanes at all times and swim in a counterclockwise direction.
- Lanes in Sheerr Pool are designated for slow (1 & 6), medium (2 & 5), and fast-paced swimmers (3 & 4). Know who you are and what you are capable of doing as a swimmer; please choose a lane where fellow swimmers are at a similar skill level as yours. If you are unsure of which lane to use, please feel free to ask the lifeguard.
- Please do not hang on the lane lines between sets or after workouts; if you need to change lanes please go under the lane lines and not over them.
- Individual and group lessons are offered in the pool at various times of the day and night; these lessons will be in the outside lanes (either lane 1 or 6) and it may be possible that patrons are asked by the lifeguard to clear those lanes to accommodate for the lessons.
- Teaching swimming lessons is prohibited except by Department of Recreation employees.
Aquatics List-Serve, Pool Calendar & Aquatics Programming
If you would like to be updated on the pool schedule, activities, or pool programming consider signing up to receive emails from our newly created aquatics list-serve.
To sign up email Dan Schupsky and in the subject line please put “aquatics list-serve”; in the body of the email please follow this example to be added: email address (full name).
An example of this would be dschup@upenn.edu (Dan Schupsky) and understand that from a data-entry perspective formats other than this cannot be processed.
For the most accurate calendar of pool hours please click here.
For a listing of the aquatics programs please click here.
Questions regarding any aspect of the pool operation, schedule or structure can be directed to the Aquatics Coordinator, Dan Schupsky.