Types of Sports Pools

Sports pools are large water containers that you can typically stand in with the water waist deep. Relaxing in a sports pool on a hot day can be calming and refreshing, but sports pools aren't just for cooling down. You can use sports pools for many other activities, including swimming, exercise and fitness training, and playing water games, such as water polo, pool volleyball or pool basketball. You can differentiate types of sports pools by the different materials used to build them.

  1. Fiberglass Pools

    • Fiberglass sports pools usually have a basin made of plastic reinforced with fiberglass. They are hard-wearing and resistant to cracks or rips. Fiberglass sports pools, however, don't typically go deeper than eight feet and 16 feet wide. Professional pool constructors can get you a durable pool that has the least swimming pool maintenance and repair work relative to other types of pools.

    Vinyl-Lined Pools

    • Vinyl-lined pools are structurally similar to fiberglass pools, but with a vinyl liner as the interior finish. The design can be in any shape, unlike fiberglass pools that have limitations on pool shape and depth. Professional pool constructors size the pool, construct the pool frame and secure the vinyl lining to achieve a sanitized vinyl-lined finish that resists growth of bacteria, algae and fungus. Vinyl-lined pools also have special UV filters that resist fading and harmful sun damage.

    Gunite Pools

    • The design of gunite pools can also be in any desired shape. Professional pool constructors build them by digging the area for the pool and constructing a pool framework grid with steel reinforcing rods. They apply a mixture of cement and sand, and spray a heavy coating of gunite around the structure and allow it to dry for a week. They complete the finish of the gunite pool with an application of cement and sand plaster, concrete, stone, tile or glass fibers. Gunite pools can be deeper than eight feet and allow for the installation of pool accessories, such as a springy diving board.

    Concrete Pools

    • Concrete pools are similar to gunite pools with the significant difference being the construction method. Professional pool constructors pour concrete into conventional wooden forms on the pool framework instead of spraying gunite around the structure when building concrete pools. Concrete pools allow customization of pool shape and size, such as an "L" shaped pool that is wider than 16 feet.