My Masters team was recently forced to relocate to a different pool. At the new pool, we cannot accommodate all team members in our two allotted lanes, so some swimmers have been organizing in a separate lap-swimming lane and working out independently of the "official" team. Now, the facility has told us that we are not allowed to engage in organized lap swimming other than in the coached lanes. Has anyone run into a similar obstacle? Any suggestions?
Parents
Former Member
Yes, during the School breaks - we don't officially have pool time (the number of pools/hours open is down to a minimum, number of guards down to minimum - but our student swimmers are gone too).
From my experience...
you have to have a dialog with the pool manager - person on deck.
two things were important to create a "mutual: understanding
1. We have a right to be in the water - since the pool is "open swim" - to all members/users.. (and we are members)
2. We want to help YOU (pool manger) be fair with ALL the other patrons (since that is who THEY are going to hear complaints from), - that have the same rights to the open "lap swim" pool as we do.
Here is what I negociate EVERY time we want to use some lanes
(and the prior communication has helped us keep the tension down - for the most part - there are some LAP swimmers who will complain at any perceived transgression)
1. We will not kick anyone out of a lane - we will simply join a lane (even though it might be to their advantage to move - we won't suggest it, but we will communicate our intent/sets with existing swimmers at all times)
2. Anyone can swim in our lane - at any time - we will even invite them - but we will tell them what we are doing (which should be discouraging)
3. All communcation will be within a lane ONLY - no cross lane communication (we will even vary the interval times to NOT appear as if we are coordinating). !!!!!
4. We will let the person(s) swimming in the lane know what we are doing and how we will be "passing" - we usually opt for passing in the middle or turning at the flags.
5. We usually can show more swimmers in our one lane than are in the other lanes - (lap swimmers seem to like having their own lane). In other words...we are helping you (the pool manager) by keeping the other lanes more open....
6. Lastly, I tell the pool manager to come to me if there is the slightest conflict - that gives them a point of contact.
IMHO it is the appearance that you have a BLOCK of lanes that bothers people - mitigate that ...and you have 5 or 6 people shaing a single lane - who have the same workout.
I simpathize with pool manager - they get it from all angles. IMHO if you can get them to state what they want to control (and admit what they can't control ...like who swims in what lane)...
you have won the battle.
This is for another thread...but I find a fly or backstroke set will "discourage" other swimmers from joining your lane or finding it in their best interest to move to a less 'wavy" lane. But we also represent "USMS" at all times, so I try not to give people a bad taste when 'dealing' with us - I always offer swimmers a chance to join our sets....have picked up one or two swimmers doing that.
jack
Yes, during the School breaks - we don't officially have pool time (the number of pools/hours open is down to a minimum, number of guards down to minimum - but our student swimmers are gone too).
From my experience...
you have to have a dialog with the pool manager - person on deck.
two things were important to create a "mutual: understanding
1. We have a right to be in the water - since the pool is "open swim" - to all members/users.. (and we are members)
2. We want to help YOU (pool manger) be fair with ALL the other patrons (since that is who THEY are going to hear complaints from), - that have the same rights to the open "lap swim" pool as we do.
Here is what I negociate EVERY time we want to use some lanes
(and the prior communication has helped us keep the tension down - for the most part - there are some LAP swimmers who will complain at any perceived transgression)
1. We will not kick anyone out of a lane - we will simply join a lane (even though it might be to their advantage to move - we won't suggest it, but we will communicate our intent/sets with existing swimmers at all times)
2. Anyone can swim in our lane - at any time - we will even invite them - but we will tell them what we are doing (which should be discouraging)
3. All communcation will be within a lane ONLY - no cross lane communication (we will even vary the interval times to NOT appear as if we are coordinating). !!!!!
4. We will let the person(s) swimming in the lane know what we are doing and how we will be "passing" - we usually opt for passing in the middle or turning at the flags.
5. We usually can show more swimmers in our one lane than are in the other lanes - (lap swimmers seem to like having their own lane). In other words...we are helping you (the pool manager) by keeping the other lanes more open....
6. Lastly, I tell the pool manager to come to me if there is the slightest conflict - that gives them a point of contact.
IMHO it is the appearance that you have a BLOCK of lanes that bothers people - mitigate that ...and you have 5 or 6 people shaing a single lane - who have the same workout.
I simpathize with pool manager - they get it from all angles. IMHO if you can get them to state what they want to control (and admit what they can't control ...like who swims in what lane)...
you have won the battle.
This is for another thread...but I find a fly or backstroke set will "discourage" other swimmers from joining your lane or finding it in their best interest to move to a less 'wavy" lane. But we also represent "USMS" at all times, so I try not to give people a bad taste when 'dealing' with us - I always offer swimmers a chance to join our sets....have picked up one or two swimmers doing that.
jack
