Swim cap

Swimmer with swimming cap

A swimming cap (also bathing cap , swimming cap , swimming cap and swimming cap is called), a headgear which is worn while swimming.

Swimming caps are made of textiles (e.g. Lycra or polyester ), silicone , latex or rubber and are available in different shapes (e.g. long hair cap), material thicknesses, colors and patterns, with or without decoration . In professional swimming, bathing caps fulfill another function: the smooth, wrinkle-free surface improves gliding in the water. Competition hoods are usually made of thicker material and sit very tight. Softer swimming caps made of silicone are recommended for training.

Until the end of the 1980s it was compulsory in many public bathing establishments to wear a bathing cap, as the hair that fell out when swimming could easily lead to blockages in the technical installations of the swimming pools. Today, improved filter technology is widely used for pool water treatment , so that it is rarely an obligation to wear a bathing cap when swimming.

Swimming caps for team sports

Water polo cap with the number 32

In water polo , underwater hockey and underwater rugby , special swimming caps are used to protect and identify the players.

They have a hard plastic shell for each ear to protect the ears . The caps are fastened under the chin with two straps that look very much like laces . The rest is fabric that extends from the hairline above the forehead almost to the hairline above the neck and from the left lower jaw over the head to the right lower jaw.

The 10 cm number of the player is printed or sewn onto the fabric two or three times. In international competitions, the player's country code must be written on the forehead in 3 cm letters .