texas swimming center

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I access and use the TSC?
If you are a visitor to The University of Texas campus, you may sign in at the front desk and view the facility from the upper level grandstands.
In order to participate in a training session, you must be a member of a university program. Individual programs have their own standards for participation, but all participants must be at least eight years of age and comfortable in deep water. Currently, there are approximately twenty different independent training groups. (See About the TSC for more information on the groups.) If you are unsure about which program you might be interested in, please call 471-7771.
What hours are available for students, faculty and staff should they want to come swim?
The Recreational Sports Division conducts an Open Lap Swimming program for students, faculty, staff and a limited number of Austin community members. The standard hours during the long semester are from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm and also from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on weekdays, unless there is a special event scheduled. For specific days and hours that Rec Sports will conduct their program, please call 471-3116.
What is the official name of the swim center?
Although sometimes called, The Swim Center, Texas Swimming Center, TSC and Jamail Swim Center, this facility was officially rededicated as "Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center." See our About the Texas Swimming Center page for a photo.
Is the TSC an Athletics Department facility?
No, The facility is operated under Employee and Campus Services and Vice President Pat Clubb.
How many gallons of water are in the TSC?
Approximately 1.5 million gallons of water circulate twenty four hours per day. The 9' deep racing pool holds 880,000 gallons and the 18' deep diving well holds 660,000.
What is Longhorn Aquatics?
Longhorn Aquatics (TXLA) is an auxiliary enterprise department operating under the Office Of Employee and Campus Services. Longhorn Aquatics is a competitive oriented membership program for swimmers and divers ages eight and up. Approximately 400 participants train regularly on their path to competitive goals including U. S. Swimming and Diving Nationals, U.S. Masters Nationals, Age Group Nationals, Texas Age Group Swimming Championships TAGS, Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. For More information about Longhorn Aquatic Teams, please call 471-7433.
How high is the tallest diving tower?
The 10 meter tower (10 meters high) is the standard platform for Olympic competition. Platform competition was only recently added to NCAA competition.
Why do people say the TSC is a fast pool?
It is true that the TSC’s pool is faster than other pools. This means that the same swimmer will generally swim faster in this pool than another even if the race length is the same. The answer to this puzzling question is built into the very foundation of the facility itself.
First, the racing pool is deep. At a minimum, the pool is nine feet deep and slopes gradually to eleven feet deep at the two drains. When a swimmer travels down the pool, a wake is created; the wake rebounds from the bottom of the pool and reduces a swimmer’s speed (the bow wake generated by a swimmer grows higher sooner in a pool that is under nine feet deep).
The second reason that the TSC pool is fast is that wave dissipation is decreased by overflow gutters, an unnaturally high filtration rate, and oversize lane lines. The overflow profile of the gutter system eliminates rebounding waves from the pool; they just fall over the edge into the five foot deep trench. This eliminates much of the turbulence swimmers experience on the second or later legs of a race.