Sounds simple, right? It is, if everyone cooperates.
When overtaking someone in your lane (presuming freestyle is being swum), tap their foot on one stroke so they will not be surprised to see you so close behind. Wait for a couple of strokes to find out what they intend to do and pass accordingly.
Tap the foot. That is the signal that you want to pass. Surprise is unwelcome in most practice lanes.
When swimming in a lane with others and someone taps your foot, that means they want to pass. It doesn't mean they want to race. It doesn't mean they want to talk or fight. They are overtaking you in a swim and want to continue their pace with the least amount of consternation on anyone's part. If your foot gets tapped, there are exactly two appropriate ways to respond. #1- if you are swimming long course and have been tapped in the middle of the pool, slow down a little and move to the right, hugging the lane line. The passing party will be by in a moment and you will be able to continue apace, both satisfied that no meaningful time was lost in the exchange. #2 - if you are in short course lanes, swim to the end of the lane as far right as possible, grabbing the wall for an open turn. This will give the overtaking swimmer plenty of room to pass on the left and you will be able to draft off of him for a little while.
When your foot is tapped, it is not a signal to speed up. There are no swimmers alive that have never been passed in workout. I occasionally will be passed and do the passing in the same workout. It is not a point of honor, it is workout. It is not a signal to stop. All that accomplishes is to mess up both swimmers' workouts and clog up a lane for other swimmers.
You are not alone in the lane, don't act like you are. If your lane mates all want you to go first, don't waste time being demure, even if you know they are faster. Just go and make them pass you a few times and the lane order will even out. Talk to one another (only when the coach is not talking) to decide how passing will be done and everyone is happy.
Sounds simple, right? It is, if everyone cooperates.
When overtaking someone in your lane (presuming freestyle is being swum), tap their foot on one stroke so they will not be surprised to see you so close behind. Wait for a couple of strokes to find out what they intend to do and pass accordingly.
Tap the foot. That is the signal that you want to pass. Surprise is unwelcome in most practice lanes.
When swimming in a lane with others and someone taps your foot, that means they want to pass. It doesn't mean they want to race. It doesn't mean they want to talk or fight.
When your foot is tapped, it is not a signal to speed up. There are no swimmers alive that have never been passed in workout...
You are not alone in the lane, don't act like you are...
Some people severely lack an understanding of passing etiquette, so I'm happy to see this thread. It's definitely been over 5 years since I flipped out on someone at a pool for repeated offenses of common sense. In my advanced age, I decided it's better if the age groupers don't think I'm crazy for how serious I take this sport. So I don't get noticeably angry any more, but I will politely teach kids my version of proper passing etiquette. I will note differences between lapping passing and non-lapping passing etiquette.
Lapping passing:
I strongly disagree with you on the toe touching. If you have to touch someone's toes, you've already had to decrease your pace. It's going to take time for the slower person to adjust and if they're close to a wall, they have to make a split second decision. On top of that, it's terribly annoying to have your feet touched and as rykno pointed out, that can be accidental.
My take: Swimmers should be aware of their surroundings at all times. If you're training regularly with the same group, you should be well aware of how fast everyone is and the likelihood that you will get passed. If the set is comprised of 200's+, it's common sense that the leader might be coming up on you. Unless you're blind or doing all backstroke, you can see people progressively getting closer, regardless of whether or not you know the person. Slower swimmers need to be prepared to make an adjustment far before you get on their feet: moving as far right as possible. The absolute worst thing they can do is turn right in front of you in the middle of the lane if you don't pass in time. In a perfect situation: the lane is not crowded and the person getting passed can actually move into the far left of the lane instead of the far right. This allows them to continue at full speed through the turn and gives the passer more time to complete the pass without slowing down either. In crowded situations, I hope the slower swimmer will stop at the wall, but I understand if they want to continue. They must accept any contact that will happen at that point though.
Non-lapping passing:
Still disagree with the toe touching. If you wanted to lead the lane that badly, you should have led from the start of the set. Either wait until you reach the wall at the completion of the distance to request moving up in the lane, or pass the swimmer while causing as little contact as possible. Do not cut off the lane leader any at point. Respect that they've been giving you a draft and give some extra leeway as a result.
Passing when swimming non-free gets pretty complicated. Everyone has to accept there's a greater chance for contact in those situations. If I'm getting passed, I keep doing my stroke, but try to hug the lane-line best I can. If I am doing the passing, I might switch to free to try and get the pass done quicker.
Sounds simple, right? It is, if everyone cooperates.
When overtaking someone in your lane (presuming freestyle is being swum), tap their foot on one stroke so they will not be surprised to see you so close behind. Wait for a couple of strokes to find out what they intend to do and pass accordingly.
Tap the foot. That is the signal that you want to pass. Surprise is unwelcome in most practice lanes.
When swimming in a lane with others and someone taps your foot, that means they want to pass. It doesn't mean they want to race. It doesn't mean they want to talk or fight.
When your foot is tapped, it is not a signal to speed up. There are no swimmers alive that have never been passed in workout...
You are not alone in the lane, don't act like you are...
Some people severely lack an understanding of passing etiquette, so I'm happy to see this thread. It's definitely been over 5 years since I flipped out on someone at a pool for repeated offenses of common sense. In my advanced age, I decided it's better if the age groupers don't think I'm crazy for how serious I take this sport. So I don't get noticeably angry any more, but I will politely teach kids my version of proper passing etiquette. I will note differences between lapping passing and non-lapping passing etiquette.
Lapping passing:
I strongly disagree with you on the toe touching. If you have to touch someone's toes, you've already had to decrease your pace. It's going to take time for the slower person to adjust and if they're close to a wall, they have to make a split second decision. On top of that, it's terribly annoying to have your feet touched and as rykno pointed out, that can be accidental.
My take: Swimmers should be aware of their surroundings at all times. If you're training regularly with the same group, you should be well aware of how fast everyone is and the likelihood that you will get passed. If the set is comprised of 200's+, it's common sense that the leader might be coming up on you. Unless you're blind or doing all backstroke, you can see people progressively getting closer, regardless of whether or not you know the person. Slower swimmers need to be prepared to make an adjustment far before you get on their feet: moving as far right as possible. The absolute worst thing they can do is turn right in front of you in the middle of the lane if you don't pass in time. In a perfect situation: the lane is not crowded and the person getting passed can actually move into the far left of the lane instead of the far right. This allows them to continue at full speed through the turn and gives the passer more time to complete the pass without slowing down either. In crowded situations, I hope the slower swimmer will stop at the wall, but I understand if they want to continue. They must accept any contact that will happen at that point though.
Non-lapping passing:
Still disagree with the toe touching. If you wanted to lead the lane that badly, you should have led from the start of the set. Either wait until you reach the wall at the completion of the distance to request moving up in the lane, or pass the swimmer while causing as little contact as possible. Do not cut off the lane leader any at point. Respect that they've been giving you a draft and give some extra leeway as a result.
Passing when swimming non-free gets pretty complicated. Everyone has to accept there's a greater chance for contact in those situations. If I'm getting passed, I keep doing my stroke, but try to hug the lane-line best I can. If I am doing the passing, I might switch to free to try and get the pass done quicker.
