I don't wear a cap and have never really been told that this was part of the pool code. The ONLY thing I can imagine would be for hair? Lots of people I swim with, not that we would know, don't wear a cap...only the girls really and they have a different motivation, i.e. keeping their hair out of their face and creating less drag. Other than those two things, I can't really think of another reason why unless my hair is falling out all over the place. SO, I would say, especially if you don't have much hair, no need for a cap!

i wear a cap to keep my scalp protected from the sun but i don't know of any pools that require or recommend you wear one. and since i have to race with one, why not get used to wearing it (and i am)?

I have longish hair and wear one because I once heard the pool filter part but mainly because it keeps my hair out of my face and less tangled. I've found it also helps my hair from getting too dried out if I get it wet in plain water and then put it in the cap. With short hair I've never seen them worn regularly. Sometimes would probably be good to be used to the feeling for a race though.

Wearing a cap isn't a pool rule at any pool I've swum or worked at. However, if you have even medium-length hair or longer, it's recommended because it keeps hair out of face and also out of the pool filtration system.

Some of the guys I swim with wear a cap, mostly if they have hair that's longer than just bristles. It does help cut down on drag, and if you're going to be wearing one in races (they're required in triathlon) then you can get used to it by wearing one in the pool.

The college pool here in town requires a cap for people with hair down to their shoulders. Otherwise I have never heard of caps being required. that is a filter issue with this particular pool. I personally have long hair and therefore always wear a cap. None of the guys in my masters swim group wear one.

Actually, at the local YMCA where I swim (and possibly where Carlo from the opening post swims) requires swim caps according to the sign on their wall. However, I generally do not wear a cap because a) I have relatuvely short hair and b) nobody else seems to be wearing them, either (certainly not the million kids swimming in the pool).

Interestingly enough, at the neighboring town's Y, which one location of a four city Y program, they also require caps and actually asked my daughter to wear one. She has Afro-American hair, however (I don't) and I think there may be some assumptions about the products people with that kind of hair may have used that day.

well a cap isnt necessary unless u have long hair. if your a male then u dont need one unless ur hair is a little long. females should wear a cap. it helps keep hair out of ur face and faster swimming. it wont keep ur hair dry tho. its weird i never knew u HAD 2 wear a cap. what if it fell off?