I swim with a small club in a small HS pool. As a result of low attendance, we often get only one or two people per lane at practice. The typical response to an addition is, "let's split the lane!" which is universally accepted. I have never been a supporter of this style of training or lane sharing, because it automatically makes a third person wait for someone to accept his/her appearance at the end of the lane. This is only the first of a myriad of reasons not to split lanes.
The one and only time swimming straight away is correct is during competition.
If you want to enumerate the good things about splitting lanes, please precede the number with "x" so we can keep track of the different lists.
Circle swimming is immensely better and automatically adding people to the group is a no-brain activity.
I will enumerate some reasons why splitting lanes is just bad all around, please feel free to agree and add your own observations. If you disagree, use reason to make your argument. Simply saying that you like it is not acceptable. Recreation swimmers are fearsome champions of splitting lanes and not acknowledging people waiting to enter the pool. For that reason, they get:
#1 - You didn't pay for half of the lane, only the space in which you are swimming. Be observant and share.
2 - Circle swimming forces everyone to be not only on the same set, but almost the same interval.
3 - circling makes you aware of all of the other swimmers in your lane
4 - circling forces people to know how to pass or be passed with civility
5 - circling allows you to drag on the leader or be a tow truck, pulling everyone else in the lane.
6 - unless in a really crowded lane, circling keeps collisions to a minimum.
7 - circle swimming can be symbiotic, making everyone in the lane faster through teamwork.
And circle swimming makes you learn to come out of your turns on an angle which works against you when doing a meet.
Not a result of circle swimming, just a result of poor technique, or coach inattentiveness. The angle is going into the turn (if done properly) in circle swimming, not coming out.
Thanks to all who have responded, in either camp.
One more feature of my training pool is that the lanes are VERY narrow. Maybe 6 feet, perhaps less. Plus there are the lane lines. I usually have nothing bad to say about Kiefer products, but these lane lines have the horrible issue of puncturing or tearing up hands even if they do not have broken anti-wave fins.
And circle swimming makes you learn to come out of your turns on an angle which works against you when doing a meet.
Not a result of circle swimming, just a result of poor technique, or coach inattentiveness. The angle is going into the turn (if done properly) in circle swimming, not coming out.
Thanks to all who have responded, in either camp.
One more feature of my training pool is that the lanes are VERY narrow. Maybe 6 feet, perhaps less. Plus there are the lane lines. I usually have nothing bad to say about Kiefer products, but these lane lines have the horrible issue of puncturing or tearing up hands even if they do not have broken anti-wave fins.
