University Recreation

Lifeguard Training and Water Safety Instructor classes offered through
UREC are not taken for credit.  Credited aquatics courses are available
through the College of Education.

Those that are not members of the SRC can sign up for Lifeguard
Training, Lifeguard Instructor Training and Water Safety Instructor
Training, as well as group and private swimming lessons.  Prices are
increased to reflect the general non-member admission fee per class.

The entrance to the natatorium is through the SRC men's and women's
locker rooms. Please shower prior to using the pools or spa, and proper
swimwear must be worn. If you would like to utilize the pools and/or spa
at the Student Recreation Center, but are not currently a member,
memberships are available for purchase.

Each pool on the WSU campus is 25 yards long.  Since a mile is 5280 feet, or 1760 yards, you will need to swim 70.4 lengths of the pool (35.2 laps) to complete a mile.  In competitive swimming, 1650 yards (66 lengths or 33 laps) is the longest pool distance, which is roughly the equivalent of the Olympic 1500 meter distance (1640.42 yards).  A traditional Ironman triathlon distance is 2.4 miles, or roughly 169 lengths (84.5 laps) of the pool. 

We are often looking for qualified instructors for UREC classes, including aquatics.  Please contact us for more information 509-335-8732.

You must posess a current lifeguarding certification to become a WSU Lifeguard.  Lifeguards must complete a skills screening for consideration.  Those that pass the skills screening will then be eligible for interview.  Hiring sessions are conducted each semester for the following semester, typically in March (for Summer/Fall) and October (for Spring).  We rarely hire out of cycle, but if you are interested in becoming a lifeguard, you may send an email to aquatics@wsu.edu with your contact information, and we will email you when hiring and information session dates are posted.

Typically, the busiest times for lap swimming at the SRC are from 6am-7am, 11:30am-12:30pm, and from 5pm-7pm. 

Basketball shorts and T-shirts will release fibers into the water which then creates maintenance issues for the filters.  Another issue is that a great many people will work out, get all sweaty, and then want to come and sit in their workout shorts in the hot tub.  For obvious hygiene reasons, we cannot allow this to happen, therefore we do not allow any non-swimming specific shorts into the pools.  Rash guards and some non-cotton shirts are allowed into the pool.  Please ask the lifeguards on duty if you have any questions about what is acceptable for the pools.

When you register, the email will let you know what specific pool locations each lesson will be offered.  Typically, Adult Swim Lessons and the Monday night Parent/Child and Preschool classes are conducted in Smith Pool.  Lessons on Sundays are always conducted at the Student Recreation Center.