Do you offer unsolicited advice to other swimmers at the pool? Fix their form? Give workout suggestions? Etc.
Or do you keep your mouth shut?
Former Member
I usually ask if they are open to suggestions. I've never had anyone react anyway but thankful for the advice. I never ask anyone that looks casual or recreational just paddling around the pool. I only ask people that look like they are trying to swim well but have a stroke flaw of whatever kind that is holding them back.
...and then you direct them to the "Swimming Faster Faster" thread, right? :)
Sometimes
Swim Faster Faster Index: Updated Oct 17th, 2012
SFF Index PART 2
but it is long and many swimmers, especially beginners, might not know which items to address when. So I usually do a one on one Swim Faster Faster Session.
Where I:
1) time them for a 25 or 50 AFAP, with no instruction other than
GO as fast as you can
when they do it, I time them and watch them, looking for a few things to correct
2) have them rest a few minutes & do some easy 25's where they attempt the corrections, I give them feedback and suggestions after each 25
3) then they rest another minute or 2 I have them do another AFAP timed swim, with a few short instructions/corrections.
Plus I sometimes help swimmers design season training plans tailored to the things that will help them improve the most. Some improvements can be instant while others take time.
It can be tough seeing others struggle in the water, but I usually only offer advice if someone asks. The other day, two lap swimmers wanted help with flip turns, so we worked on the basics. I was able to offer some easy stroke fixes during that time. I try to be approachable so if someone has a question they usually ask.
Former Member
I coached for years and taught swim classes for the PE dept at a University and I have absolutely no desire to offer advice to anyone I see when I go to swim. I actually don't even pay attention to other people who are swimming. I am wondering why it would even occur to someone to offer a stranger advice. Is it to be helpful or for your own ego? No judgment, just wondering.
But I got to thinking about it afterwards...safety or not, there is a boundary that should be observed. I wouldn't tell a retail store employee how to wrangle shopping carts in the parking lot, and I wouldn't tell a waitress how to carry hot plates of food around a restaurant.
That's true.
But there is also a difference between telling a professional how to do their job ("the running back should run faster!" :blah: ), and pointing out something to a rec athlete (that is kicking their backside).
Former Member
I am inclined to think most people are self-aware and want to do their own thing, but the other day I saw something and finally had to open my big mouth.
A guy had been working on backstroke for like 30 minutes -- not just swimming a few lengths of the pool here or there -- he had easily gone 500+ yards.
He was doing two things that can cause shoulder problems so I pointed them out. I emphasized my point was only to prevent injuries. Obviously the guy wasn't training in a competitive sense, but I didn't want to be a part of letting someone hurt themselves.
But I got to thinking about it afterwards...safety or not, there is a boundary that should be observed. I wouldn't tell a retail store employee how to wrangle shopping carts in the parking lot, and I wouldn't tell a waitress how to carry hot plates of food around a restaurant.
Last fri. I had a lady mumbling to herself , so I took off my earbuds to see if I could help. She was confused as to where"her abominator machine" had gone to ??? I asked what she wanted to do & found her the quad. extension machine & set it up for her.:D
Do you offer unsolicited advice to other swimmers at the pool? Fix their form? Give workout suggestions? Etc.
Or do you keep your mouth shut?
I have learned to keep my mouth shut. If asked then I offer to help only after my workout is over. Otherwise it upsets my workouts. I only get 2 a week as it is. If they are interested they know me at the HC I swim at. I am usually the only one swimming. Most others are in their walking lanes.
Unsolicited advice? Nope. Never.
Sometimes you can engage someone in swimming conversation by asking them if they swam for a team somewhere in their past. I will do this if I am sharing a lane and we both end up on the end somewhere waiting on an interval (or to catch our breath!).
