Please tell me that this kind of thing doesn't happen in the States!
This morning, before coming into work, I trained at the local pool in Kenilworth, England, - 25 metres, four lanes. Not brilliant facilities, but acceptable.
At the end of each lane there is a sign: lane 1- slow, lane 2 - slow, lane 3 -medium, lane 4 - fast. Why do some swimmers, who clearly have difficulty in keeping up, always want to swim in the fast lane? This morning one elderly man, joined the fast lane. He swam breaststroke (I think it was!) with his face out of the water, which was a feat in itself because he was swimming so slowly. There were six of us in the lane and three left the pool (myself included).
When on the deck I decided to time him. He was consistent. Every length of the 25m pool was swum in 2 mins 15 seconds!
Please tell me this kind of 'swimming etiquette' wouldn't be seen in your pool.
So that I can continue with my swimming I need to be reassured that this was a one-off. I'm still in shock.
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Rowdy
One of the lifeguards at the Y I periodically swim at stops me in the middle of the set so that he can tell me some one is joining my lane (so annoying!). The person is never very fast and should be in a different lane. Like the one right next to the one I'm in that only has one floater in it.
Is this just to tell you that someone else will be splitting the lane with you? Or to tell you that you will now be circling...
When I am the only person in a lane, I do not swim in the middle. Based on various factors, if I had to split the lane then one side would be my preference over another, so I just start out on that side and stay there. If someone wants to share my lane, it should be clear which side will be theirs, and I don't expect to be stopped just so that other person can tell me. (Sometimes politeness extended to me is annoying, regardless of intent.)
Most times at my pool all the swimmers know the routine. You don't have to stop the other swimmer. Just get in the other side of the lane and once the swimmer who was already in the lane has done one turn at your end, you can assume s/he knows you're there and off you go!
When one swimmer is in the lane, and if he is swimming in the center, and if I am going to share that lane, I get in the water and stand to the side. Almost always he will turn in the center of the lane, but move over to the other side. And if he prefers the side I chose, he'll stop and ask me to switch, and I gladly do so.
No need to stop the other guy.
But if the new swimmer is the THIRD to enter the lane (causing the need for circling) then the protocol has to be different. I think each existing swimmer needs a personal contact to make sure everyone knows they'll be circling. There can't be guesswork. Everyone needs to know if the circle will be clockwise or counterclockwise. Maybe assess individual capabilities to determine order. Make it clear that if someone touches your toes, let the other guy pass. Stuff like that.
Once circle is established in a lane, new swimmers should be able to hop in without stopping any of the existing swimmers.
Just the way I see it anyway.
Originally posted by Rowdy
One of the lifeguards at the Y I periodically swim at stops me in the middle of the set so that he can tell me some one is joining my lane (so annoying!). The person is never very fast and should be in a different lane. Like the one right next to the one I'm in that only has one floater in it.
Is this just to tell you that someone else will be splitting the lane with you? Or to tell you that you will now be circling...
When I am the only person in a lane, I do not swim in the middle. Based on various factors, if I had to split the lane then one side would be my preference over another, so I just start out on that side and stay there. If someone wants to share my lane, it should be clear which side will be theirs, and I don't expect to be stopped just so that other person can tell me. (Sometimes politeness extended to me is annoying, regardless of intent.)
Most times at my pool all the swimmers know the routine. You don't have to stop the other swimmer. Just get in the other side of the lane and once the swimmer who was already in the lane has done one turn at your end, you can assume s/he knows you're there and off you go!
When one swimmer is in the lane, and if he is swimming in the center, and if I am going to share that lane, I get in the water and stand to the side. Almost always he will turn in the center of the lane, but move over to the other side. And if he prefers the side I chose, he'll stop and ask me to switch, and I gladly do so.
No need to stop the other guy.
But if the new swimmer is the THIRD to enter the lane (causing the need for circling) then the protocol has to be different. I think each existing swimmer needs a personal contact to make sure everyone knows they'll be circling. There can't be guesswork. Everyone needs to know if the circle will be clockwise or counterclockwise. Maybe assess individual capabilities to determine order. Make it clear that if someone touches your toes, let the other guy pass. Stuff like that.
Once circle is established in a lane, new swimmers should be able to hop in without stopping any of the existing swimmers.
Just the way I see it anyway.
