The Ohio Northern University Sports Center

• Hours of Operation
• Sports Center Policies

GPS Address: 529 West Lincoln Ave., Ada, Ohio

The ONU Sports Center was opened for use at the beginning of the 1974-75 academic year and was expanded to its current size of 18,000-square feet in 1991. The main gymnasium is the official home of Ohio Northern’s volleyball, wrestling, and men’s and women’s basketball teams. During the summer it also hosts summer women’s and men’s basketball camps.

The main surface is a hardwood flex court with two main Daktronics score boards with video capability and two minor side score boards. In 2000 the facilities were improved with the addition of a new padded scorer’s table with rear lighted screens to make it one of the best locations to play in the OAC and the region.

The ONU Sports Center also houses an indoor track and field facility, a 25-yard, six-lane swimming pool, two weight rooms, an athletic training room, a dance and exercise room, a wrestling room, a gymnastics room, a 120-yard elevated running track, classrooms and faculty offices, and a VIP lounge with views of both the center gymnasium and pool.

The facility is also designed to accommodate the teaching and learning  programs of the human performance and sport sciences department as well as special events like concerts and commencement exercises.

During inclement weather in late fall, the Sports Center provides practice space so that all six of ONU’s fall sports and its seven winter sports teams can hold practices indoors at the same time.

Seventeen acres of land adjacent to the west of the Sports Center have been developed into recreation, practice, and playing fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football and track. The University has six outdoor tennis courts, a golf practice range, a rugby field, and an 18-station, three-mile fitness course.

ONU Sports Center Hours of Operation - 2026

(EXCEPTIONS: Vacation breaks, holidays, etc. Updated schedules will be posted prior to such occasions.)            

ONU Sports Center Hours of Operation - Summer 2026

ONU Sports Center Policies

PLEASE NOTE:

DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR, THE SPORTS CENTER HAS MAXIMUM STUDENT USAGE IN THE EVENINGS (MON. - FRI.).

STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF HAVE PRIORITY WHEN THE FACILITY BECOMES CROWDED AND OVER-EXTENDED. DURING THESE TIMES, YOU MAY BE ASKED TO WAIT UNTIL THE HEAVY USAGE SUBSIDES.

RESTRICTED AREAS

Restricted area is out of bounds to everyone and is defined as the following:

1. Office court area
2. Elevator
3. Wrestling/gymnastic room
4. Weight room (except when monitor is on duty)
5. Dance room
6. Lounge
7. Classrooms
8. Training room area
9. Intercollegiate locker rooms
10. Swimming pool (except when a lifeguard is on duty)

LOCKER ROOMS

Lockers not marked for Intercollegiate Athletics may be utilized as they are available only while you are in the building. Do not leave locks on any lockers in the Center (They will be cut off). The University cannot be responsible for personal property left in the Sports Center.

TRACK REGULATIONS

• Priority:
  1. Physical Education Classes
  2. Varsity Athletic Teams*
  3. Open time: students, faculty, staff and special pass holders

WEIGHT ROOM/FITNESS ROOM REGULATIONS

• NO ONE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE ALLOWED IN WEIGHT ROOM/FITNESS ROOM!!!
• Do not remove the equipment from the weight room for any reason. Please report any violations to the supervisor on duty.
• Report broken or damaged equipment to the Athletic Office.
• Please avoid dropping of weights. Break down weights and return them (and/or dumbbells) to racks.
• "Spotters" should be used when exercising with free weights. Lift at your own risk!! The University is not responsible for illness or injury.
• Priority:
  1. Physical Education Classes
  2. Varsity Athletic Teams*
  3. Open time: students, faculty, staff and special pass holders

* Athletic teams may reserve the weight room for fitness from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. If athletic teams are not using the equipment at this time, the room will be available for students/faculty/staff/special pass use.

NATATORIUM REGULATIONS

Please abide by all the pool rules to ensure the safety of all Patrons

• All patrons must sign in on the log form by printing your full name.
• Shower before entering the pool.
• No running on the pool deck.
• No foul language permitted.
• No diving in shallow water less than 7’ deep, use a feet first entry.
• No glass containers or food allowed on deck.
• No diving board use.
• No rough play, no chicken fighting.
• Ask permission to use equipment in the pool.
• Do not hang on the lane lines.
• No use of the starting blocks is permitted.
• No underwater hypoxic workout sets are permitted.
• Proper swimming attire must be worn.  No cut-offs, Boxers, spandex, or T-shirts are permitted.
• Lane lines will not be removed unless previously agreed upon and arrangements for extra lifeguard staff to do so by the Asst. Facility Mgr. at the time of the pool request.
• No exit will be permitted out the patio doors or out any other exit except through the locker rooms.
• Sport team staff will be required to be on deck during the scheduled pool request.  Staff must use the locker room as an entrance and exit.

To ensure the safety and well being of all patrons using the pool, rosters for sports teams in the pool may be required.  All patrons intending to use the pool may be asked to perform a swimming test to be permitted to use the deep end.  They must be able to complete a full 25yd length with their face in the water using rotary breathing.  If this is not completed to the guard’s satisfaction, the patron may be required to wear a float belt or remain in the shallow end.

Anyone refusing to abide by these policies will not be permitted to use the pool.