Hi everyone...okay, for my first post I have an etiquette question...I just joined a Master's team a month ago, so I'm pretty new to all of this.
My question is about passing people during practice. I know that theoretically, the standard procedure is to tap the person's feet to let them know you want to pass, and then they're supposed to stop and "pull over" at the next wall to let you get ahead. But do any of you actually do this a lot during practice? Do the people you pass let you do so without a problem, or do they get mad?
Maybe this doesn't sound like a big deal at all and it seems silly that I'm concerned, but I haven't seen anyone even attempt to pass someone else during our practices, and so I'm afraid it would be rude. Plus, some people I swim with seem like they'd get offended, since they're pretty competitive. But last night, I was getting kind of frustrated because I was swimming behind someone who was slower than me, and I felt like I could go so much faster...is the appropriate thing to do to just suck it up and enjoy the "break", or attempt to pass?
If swimmers would just talk to each other and respect each other, passing shouldn't happen. If swimmer A catches B, A should ask B if she should go ahead. If B says no, then it is B's responsibility to go faster and stay out of the way. If B asks A if she wants to go ahead and A says no, even though she caught B, then A's obligation is to slow down and not catch B.
If you lead, you must go fast enough to stay ahead. If you do not want to lead and go second, you must set your pace correctly.
I have practiced with some younger swimmers who are faster than I am, but who have not been training. The smart ones will deliberately go behind me so they can set a pace to make the whole set. After a few weeks, they can lead or move up a lane. The not so smart ones insist on leading for 2-3 out of 10 and then die and mess up everyone's interval. The coach should advise the new swimmer, or the others in the lane should talk to the new swimmer.
If the swimmer still insists on leading, the "pull the ankle and swim over technique" might have merit.
If swimmers would just talk to each other and respect each other, passing shouldn't happen. If swimmer A catches B, A should ask B if she should go ahead. If B says no, then it is B's responsibility to go faster and stay out of the way. If B asks A if she wants to go ahead and A says no, even though she caught B, then A's obligation is to slow down and not catch B.
If you lead, you must go fast enough to stay ahead. If you do not want to lead and go second, you must set your pace correctly.
I have practiced with some younger swimmers who are faster than I am, but who have not been training. The smart ones will deliberately go behind me so they can set a pace to make the whole set. After a few weeks, they can lead or move up a lane. The not so smart ones insist on leading for 2-3 out of 10 and then die and mess up everyone's interval. The coach should advise the new swimmer, or the others in the lane should talk to the new swimmer.
If the swimmer still insists on leading, the "pull the ankle and swim over technique" might have merit.
