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.
What is this nonsense Michael? Tapping feet and courteous passing behavior? That is not how it is done.
If someone made the mistake of swimming slow in your lane, you, without any kind of warning, grab their ankle and zing them right back into the swimmer behind you. Simple, effective and everyone is happy.
Is this what they mean by The Rite of Passage?
I LOVE this!! I have a friend in my masters group (that I rarely get to swim with any more) that we do this to each other - and it started out on a kick set, so you could see the mischievous grin on our faces! Now that I swim with the kids - sometimes I would LOVE to do that - but I'm afraid I'll lose my mojo & then not be able to keep up the pace on the next set!! The USA-S coach spent a good 10 minutes the other morning yelling at the teenagers about this very thing - his point - in a 50m pool, the lanes are generally wide enough for three people abreast for short distances - and sometimes four. Speeding up when someone is going around you is considered bad form, and resting on the wall for everyone to swim past you is too! I make it a point to always apologize to the kids & tell the coach it was my fault, because I didn't realize I was faster than so & so - that makes that particular kid swim even faster!
What is this nonsense Michael? Tapping feet and courteous passing behavior? That is not how it is done.
If someone made the mistake of swimming slow in your lane, you, without any kind of warning, grab their ankle and zing them right back into the swimmer behind you. Simple, effective and everyone is happy.
Is this what they mean by The Rite of Passage?
I LOVE this!! I have a friend in my masters group (that I rarely get to swim with any more) that we do this to each other - and it started out on a kick set, so you could see the mischievous grin on our faces! Now that I swim with the kids - sometimes I would LOVE to do that - but I'm afraid I'll lose my mojo & then not be able to keep up the pace on the next set!! The USA-S coach spent a good 10 minutes the other morning yelling at the teenagers about this very thing - his point - in a 50m pool, the lanes are generally wide enough for three people abreast for short distances - and sometimes four. Speeding up when someone is going around you is considered bad form, and resting on the wall for everyone to swim past you is too! I make it a point to always apologize to the kids & tell the coach it was my fault, because I didn't realize I was faster than so & so - that makes that particular kid swim even faster!
