How to deal with pool bullies?

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:51:33 GMT

You could take a lot of this advice and you could very quickly become the pool Bullie....

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:38:16 GMT

If you were in the pool first, before she arrived, then just beat her to the pool again. If she says something just say "I'm about half way thru my workout I'll be done in "X" mins. push off and keep swimming. If she asks you again just tell her again how long you will be, push off and swim. This way you make your point, she'll get the message, and you'll get to swim. If she grips at you out when you're done, just tell her politely, I was just using "swimmers ediquite." This pool is kinda small to circle swim, so I figured if I should to give other swimmers a timeline of when I would be finished so at least they would know, and not be standing around waiting. Not unless you want to try to circle swim? I don't have a problems with that. We may have to watch out when we do backstroke. Oh, I gotta go see you tomorrow. Be polite, and leave it in her court. Good Luck,

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:26:49 GMT

Renie, I have a couple of thoughts about this situation.... First do you pay for the pool in your community fees and/or do you pay a fee to get in? If you do either way, you have every right to share a lane with this person, unless this person has paid extra to reserve the lane for themselves. If this fails, I would then mention to her how you and your doctor have been working really hard at finding the best way to control your bladder problem. Then make sure you push off before her!!:rofl: hi, Dennis, this is a community where we all pay the same association fee monthly. There are no rights to the lane, just the usual courtesy, although there is a "rule" that you can't use the lane for more than 1/2 hour! This rude pool hog swims at least an hour, but my usual workout is 1.5 hours. So we will have to alternate - my suggestion would be to alternate weeks since she obviously cannot share. If that isn't acceptable to her, then I will implement the suggestions given to me in this awesome thread!:bouncing:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:24:03 GMT

I like the direct approach best. Simply tell her to screw off if she makes an issue of you using "her" lane. I like your suggestion :D

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:42:49 GMT

I like the direct approach best. Simply tell her to screw off if she makes an issue of you using "her" lane.

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:56:40 GMT

May be the obsructions - ladder could be removed and placed to the other side of the pool, cost is minimal. Have the lane rope moved to make the lane large enough for circuit swimming, also minimal cost. Good idea, will do that! :banana:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:52:53 GMT

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:51:16 GMT

Well, I for one hate swimming in the lane with a ladder protruding. I envitably hit it with my arm if I am sharing the lane with someone. And butterfly is out of the question on such lane. I firmly believe in first-come, first-serve unless there is a "sign-up" sheet for the pool lane(s), which I doubt. I seriously doubt that lane has her "name" on it; she just wants it and tries to command it. If I'm there first, I take the lane. If someone wants to try to share, I'll try to also. But if it is a narrow lane and many lap pools are, I'd tell her to come back in an hour and that I'd be happy to get out at that time. And remind her that life is full of sharing and compromises and YOU are making yours by only staying for one hour. Donna Donna, see my explanation to Rob - I agree about the lane w/ladders, but am used to that in outdoor pools. I don't really believe in first come for a few reasons--I swim for at least 1:20 and don't want to be a lane hog. I welcome anyone who wants to share - if they don't want to share, then too bad, wait your turn. Another reason, is that it creates situations like this one: I used to deal with a very obnoxious woman who would stand at the pool gate 10 mins prior to opening, goggles in hand, cap on, (No matter how hot it was!) thinking, since she was there first, she owned the lane. She swam right down the middle of the lane as aggressively as possible. Well, after a few days of that, I just got right in the lane with her and told her we were circling. She kicked up the water and swam as obnoxiously as she could -- but oh well. She was not well liked --someone told me she had recently moved out of our development, thus she wasn't even supposed to be using our pool. We got her kicked out since she was no longer a member. :lolup:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:43:25 GMT

Can you explain again why “it wasn't very pleasant” to swim on the other side of the lane rope? This coveted narrow lane with ladders along the wall, doesn’t sound like such a great deal to me. Personally I’d rather NOT be swimming in a wall lane. But back to the question at hand, if you really want the wall lane and you get in it before this little old lady, if she starts to bully you, then respectfully reminder her that you were there first and she can either wait until you are done or choose another lane. If she has a problem with this, then suggest she get the pool manager (not a life guard) and the 3 of you can have a nice friendly chat. There is no need to be abusive to abusive people and there is no reason that you should be expected to buckle to bullying tactics. Ok, well, I didn't want to go into detail, but there was an ancient man swimming horizontally across the pool (and thus, me), another man swimming alongside me, and yet another older man swimming head on into me. :doh:Need I say more? It was very stressful. I could care less what side I'm on, but for these very reasons. She's not a "little old lady," she's in her sixties with attitude pasted all over her. She actually is in good shape and looks darn good - if I were an older gentlemen---I'd be attracted to her until she opened her mouth. I was very accomodating to her, and she was the one who said she wasn't swimming long (and stayed for over an hour), and kept grilling me as to when I moved in, where did I live, where did I swim all summer, this is my lane, people here respect that, etc.--typical behavior of a lane hog. And she doesn't work, but she's gotta be there the second the pool opens. I mean, I understand that it's great to start off the day with your workout, but if it means so much to her, she has the whole dang day!:shakeshead:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:32:43 GMT

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:37:00 GMT

You could take a lot of this advice and you could very quickly become the pool Bullie.... George is right, of course. The number of swimmers with attitude around here persuaded me to join a club so they'd be forced to share a lane with me.

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:06:15 GMT

If it's a smallish pool, I've found that pulling breaststroke can set up some good waves. No kick, use a bouy, paddles help - nice, rhythymic slow strokes and you can find the ideal oscillation point for your particular water volume. DV

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:06:27 GMT

Cannonballs in front of her would work pretty effectively too!!!!:lmao::lmao:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:31:55 GMT

hi, Dennis, this is a community where we all pay the same association fee monthly. There are no rights to the lane, just the usual courtesy, although there is a "rule" that you can't use the lane for more than 1/2 hour! If there is a rule that says it's 1/2 hour per swimmer for the lane, this means that someone in management (who instituted that rule) knows (a vague) something about swimming. Talk to him/her/them and show them the US USMS Masters or whatever posts contain Lane Etiquette rules. Quite apart from the fact that that "lady" is breaking that 1/2 hour rule, show them the wisdom of having "swimmers" share lanes (even if only the one) responsibly. They can, if they wish, limit the number of "swimmers" who share the lane (depending on the dimensions of the lane) and would, thus, not even need the 1/2 hour rule. And have them POST whatever decision is agreed upon. Good Luck..... N.B. If it were me, I'd jump (or dive in) after telling her that I don't see any sign that lanes are "personal" or "reserved" or "one lane per person" and that since she IS OBVIOUSLY a swimmer (she appreciates lane swimming) she obviously knows how to circle-swim as per FINA. (Don't smile too widely if she asks you, "And who is this Josefina?")

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Rob Copeland — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:05:33 GMT

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:59:59 GMT

The lane is narrow with ladders along the wall. She does this poor rendition of backstroke - you know the type - all over the lane. Shoot invite me down. NJ is only a short drive. I'll show her the meaning of wayward backstroke, then spashy fly timed to coordinate with my arriving 1 seconds behind her at the wall. Stand your ground; don't be rude, just be fair. Acknowledge it's a tight lane but circling with caution around the turns will work. Just wait a full length between swimmers. Or ask the manager to widen the lane a bit more (then you can invite Geek up).

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:53:52 GMT

Make sure you do the majority of your workout Butterfly (Very splashy Butterfly) while you're swimming with her....she'll get the idea real quick:bolt:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:49:18 GMT

Can you have guests? Invite your masters team over.

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:44:58 GMT

SO Sorry you had to deal with that. Bully back. Smile and dive right in. That's what I'd have done.

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:30:17 GMT

Here's how I would have handled it. "I live here and have as much business in this pool as you do. Too bad if you have a problem." Yup, that's how I will deal with this one next year. :duel:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:29:24 GMT

Oh, an apartment noodler, the most insidious of all the noodler classes, too cheap to join a gym and possessive of her lane. Alternatively, when she shows up again tell her you really terribly have to pee and won't be but a few more minutes, and then stay an hour. She'll be thinking about that the whole time. haha, you guys are funny - it's not an apartment complex - it's actually a high end adult community. You want to get away from screaming kids jumping on your head while you're doing laps and end up with the pool queen to deal with everyday.:shakeshead:

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:27:20 GMT

Two people should be able to share a lane with ease. If that does not work and you want some ideas for revenge...let me know. :D The lane is narrow with ladders along the wall. She does this poor rendition of backstroke - you know the type - all over the lane.

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:26:03 GMT

Here's how I would have handled it. "I live here and have as much business in this pool as you do. Too bad if you have a problem."

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:12:25 GMT

Fix her put a box of detergent in the pool and put a froth on the pool for her arrival. A couple of cups of powdered milk also deters people like her from swimming.

RE: How to deal with pool bullies?

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:48:37 GMT

Two people should be able to share a lane with ease. If that does not work and you want some ideas for revenge...let me know. :D