Many of the characters wear bathing suits suited to swimming competitions, including teenage boys and men wearing small trunks and no top, and teenage girls wearing one piece suits.

There are a number of sexual references throughout the movie. Most of them are brief and indirect, but the word "sex" is used occasionally. Example: a comment about a character being a mistake because his "dad's condom broke."

The janitor of the rec center says that "where I come from, we swim naked- and I don't want to embarass anyone" (though no nudity occurs).

There is an opening scene altercation between a black swimmer and white police officer.

A black swimmer becomes angry when he perceives an injustice occured during a meet.

After urinating in the rec center pool, the local drug dealer is beat up and nearly drowned in the pool by the swim team coach.

There are several racial confrontations that turn physical.

Several instances of: S*it, d*mn, SOB, and ni**er.

In the opening scene at the pool, a racial argument between a black swimmer and white policeman prevoke the terms, "white ass" and "black ass"

A drug dealer says, "sh*t".

A drug dealer is a constant antagonist in the movie, trying to recruit the youth of the community. Several situations imply that the kids must work off their debt to him by either selling or delivering drugs.

The racial topics addressed and the racial violence are intense and can be frightening.