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.
... passing by turning around in the middle of the pool is CHEATING.
Oh, lighten up. If you want to turn in the middle of the pool, who really cares? There's nothing wrong with a mid pool turn at all. In fact, I'd opt for a mid pool turn over toe tapping the guy/gal in front of me. No one likes a toe tapper.
It's only cheating if you count that missed yardage in your Go The Distance total. :D
Actually I'm sort of obsessed about entering correct totals in GTD. It drives me nuts when I'm at a swim meet or do an open water swim and have to estimate how far I swam. What if I'm off by 100 yards or meters? Oh the humanity!
If someone taps too hard and pushes my foot out of its position it can severely hurt me. I'm not even allowed to jump in the pool now for what it does to my foot.
I agree. I severely sprained my ankle 2 years ago, and it is still extremely sensitive to anything unusual. And yes, even what some may consider a slight tap can inflame a sprained ankle.
I can't even remember the last time I had to deal with tapping, but some people will do an ankle touch to stop me (if warm-up is over, if I'm in a set and the coach wants me, etc)...and that is far worse.
As for passing, if you are circle swimming during workout, and you're not blind, I think most people have an idea how close they are to those in front and those behind. If the person behind me is too close, I'll pull into a corner at the next wall and let them pass. If I'm too close to the person in front, I'll either slow down, or at the next break ask if I can go ahead.
I agree. I severely sprained my ankle 2 years ago, and it is still extremely sensitive to anything unusual. And yes, even what some may consider a slight tap can inflame a sprained ankle.
I can't even remember the last time I had to deal with tapping, but some people will do an ankle touch to stop me (if warm-up is over, if I'm in a set and the coach wants me, etc)...and that is far worse.
I'm glad I'm not the only one with sensitive ankles. Right now with the high ankle sprain still swelling most days, any touching is rough on me.
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?
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.
This was actually encouraged when were age groupers (and by our coach no less).
We had an Olympic distance swimmer on the team who did 100's on the minute interval. And he'd sail into the wall at :54 pace or better. If the last guy in his lane wasn't out of his way after the initial tap...down they went.
Another item that I left out that I was reminded of this morning: passing by turning around in the middle of the pool is CHEATING. A former coach of mine looked dimly on this practice and solved it rapidly: the first time someone was caught turning in the middle, practice was stopped while everyone watched the offender swim a 200 fly. The second time it happened, the offender swam a 500 fly and the rest of the team swam 200 fly. There was never a third time.
Luckily, as masters swimmers, we don't have to put up with such bull:censor: now.
Ugg if someone tapped me on the foot it would really piss me off. I guess it would be a sign of the person being courteous, but still it would really annoy me.
It is all about awareness. If someone is probably going to pass you, let them do it. If the lane is crowded STOP doing breaststroke; It is inconsiderate. Don't push off in front of someone going much faster than you. If someone waits on the wall for you because they see you are going faster, continue going fast even if that disrupts your intended set (with in reason of course. I might suggest that if you are doing 25 sprints, you do 20 sprints and cruise in the last 5 yards so the people see that you are slowing down). If somoene is completely unaware, inconsiderate or whatever the case may be, pass them by cutting the lap. Finally, if somone is being inconsiderate, it doesn't hurt to tell them nicely. Typically they have no idea.
