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.
Former Member
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.
Agreed. I've done the early turn many times to avoid disrupting the person in front of me, who is obviously an inexperienced swimmer since I am passing them.
This thread reminds me of the good old days when my Masters group had enough people to actually require passing. Ah, the days of swimming 3 or 4 to a lane, drafting, being drafted.. . Now I'm lucky if anyone shows up. Last week I was the only one there at 5:30 AM.
Ease up. If you are kicking people because the lane is too crowded then you need to stop. I doubt you disagree with me about that.I wouldn't disagree with this, but check the title- it's not about kicking people.
Ease up. If you are kicking people because the lane is too crowded then you need to stop. I doubt you disagree with me about that.
If I saw someone coming around me, I would do a fly kick or two while they pass, not stop doing breaststroke. Imagine telling a freestyler to change to another stroke? LOL. I can't remember ever kicking anyone (other than the laneline) in practice. I have hit some arms doing fly and free, though...
I personally think its inconsiderate for another swimmer to expect me not to train appropriately for my races just because it's "inconvenient" to pass me.
Ease up. If you are kicking people because the lane is too crowded then you need to stop. I doubt you disagree with me about that.
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!
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.
Our coach tells us that if a kid won't get out of the way "run over them". As the only adult in the practice, I have yet to do this. I'm too nice for that. I did have a kid try to pass me on the left while doing a flip turn. I didn't see him until I pushed off right in to him. I ended up with a nasty finger cut and I got him in the groin with my paddles. I don't think he'll ever pass anyone on the left during a flip turn again :)
If the lane is crowded STOP doing breaststroke; It is inconsiderate.
I personally think its inconsiderate for another swimmer to expect me not to train appropriately for my races just because it's "inconvenient" to pass me.
In a circle-swim practice, passing anywhere in the lane except at the wall creates a safety issue for the poor swimmers coming the opposite direction, who have no idea why you just crowded their side, and/or knocked the crap out of their arm/elbow/shoulder.
The touch (not significant tap) of the slower lead swimmers toe allows them to stop at the wall (off to the side) and allow as many swimmers to pass as need to. Adjustments to order are then confirmed at the end of the repeat/swim.
The touch (not significant tap)
Is this that easy to accomplish? It's my experience that just tapping a foot isn't always easy. People are kicking, there's bubbles, etc. Sometimes you miss the person's foot altogether, other times you clobber them more than you intended to.
