One 100 free to go in set. Two open lanes.(no lane lines in pool) Noodler comes over to stand in my lane to talk with friend. Pool is set at 85 degrees cause all the noodlers say it is to cold otherwise. I complain to guard, am told, "well there are a lot more of them then there are lap swimmers" Wont be if they keep this up. UGH! :frustrated:
I'm not in violent mode, so this might be better in "Swim rants" but it's my "grrrr" moment, swimming department.
About 5-10 minutes before lap swim ends, the lifeguards take down the lane ropes. I am more or less used to that. They say that it's so swim lessons can start on time. (I wish they were as concerned with lap swim starting on time, but I'll save that for another rant.)
No, the issue here is that last night, as soon as the lane ropes were removed--but with about five minutes left of lap swim--a man begins to swim width-wise. I explain to him that I'm still swimming laps and could he please not cross the pool in front of me.
"I can swim wherever I want when the lane ropes are off," he says.
"But lap swim isn't over yet," I say.
"Swim under me, then," he says, and keeps going.
After he passes, I start down the pool. We manage to stay out of each other's way, although I keep casting a wary glance when I pass him.
At the end of the lap swim period, as is the normal procedure, the lifeguard announces that it's time to get out.
The width swimming man repeats this to me, as if I haven't heard it and tells me I ought to get to the pool earlier if I want to swim more laps.
I explain to him that I am using the time that is allotted to lap swim.
"Well you should get here earlier."
I want to say "You should swim in the right direction," but I refrain.
To their credit, the lifeguards do promise that they'll remind people that even if the ropes are down, people are still swimming laps and to please respect that. We'll see, though.
I'd talk to the management about this time infringement problem. If it''s posted to be lap swim from 1 till 2 you should get lane lines till 2. The next activity section should start at 2:05 to allow for lane dismantling time.
I swim after teaching summer school at the local high school. I can get down there and in the water by 12:45 and the swim lasts till 2 p.m. I am always appreciative that the senior swim group and coach doesn't start dismantling the lanes till 2:01 or so. I always express my sentiments to the coach and share a chuckle or two with him before I leave. BTW, this team has 17 kids swimming in the Olympic trials and they still respect the fact that others use their pool. This is only one small reason that CSC is a Gold Level club. Go Greyhounds!!
I'm not in violent mode, so this might be better in "Swim rants" but it's my "grrrr" moment, swimming department.
About 5-10 minutes before lap swim ends, the lifeguards take down the lane ropes. I am more or less used to that. They say that it's so swim lessons can start on time. (I wish they were as concerned with lap swim starting on time, but I'll save that for another rant.)
No, the issue here is that last night, as soon as the lane ropes were removed--but with about five minutes left of lap swim--a man begins to swim width-wise. I explain to him that I'm still swimming laps and could he please not cross the pool in front of me.
"I can swim wherever I want when the lane ropes are off," he says.
"But lap swim isn't over yet," I say.
"Swim under me, then," he says, and keeps going.
After he passes, I start down the pool. We manage to stay out of each other's way, although I keep casting a wary glance when I pass him.
At the end of the lap swim period, as is the normal procedure, the lifeguard announces that it's time to get out.
The width swimming man repeats this to me, as if I haven't heard it and tells me I ought to get to the pool earlier if I want to swim more laps.
I explain to him that I am using the time that is allotted to lap swim.
"Well you should get here earlier."
I want to say "You should swim in the right direction," but I refrain.
To their credit, the lifeguards do promise that they'll remind people that even if the ropes are down, people are still swimming laps and to please respect that. We'll see, though.
I'd talk to the management about this time infringement problem. If it's posted to be lap swim from 1 till 2 you should get lane lines till 2. The next activity section should start at 2:05 to allow for lane dismantling time.
I swim after teaching summer school at the local high school. I can get down there and in the water by 12:45, the swim lasts till 2 p.m. I am always appreciative that the senior swim group and coach doesn't start dismantling the lanes till 2:01 or so. I always express my sentiments to the coach and share a chuckle or two with him before I leave. BTW, this team has 17 kids swimming in the Olympic trials and they still respect the fact that others use their pool. This is only one small reason that CSC is a Gold Level club. Go Greyhounds!!
I'm not in violent mode, so this might be better in "Swim rants" but it's my "grrrr" moment, swimming department.
About 5-10 minutes before lap swim ends, the lifeguards take down the lane ropes. I am more or less used to that. They say that it's so swim lessons can start on time. (I wish they were as concerned with lap swim starting on time, but I'll save that for another rant.)
No, the issue here is that last night, as soon as the lane ropes were removed--but with about five minutes left of lap swim--a man begins to swim width-wise. I explain to him that I'm still swimming laps and could he please not cross the pool in front of me.
"I can swim wherever I want when the lane ropes are off," he says.
"But lap swim isn't over yet," I say.
"Swim under me, then," he says, and keeps going.
After he passes, I start down the pool. We manage to stay out of each other's way, although I keep casting a wary glance when I pass him.
At the end of the lap swim period, as is the normal procedure, the lifeguard announces that it's time to get out.
The width swimming man repeats this to me, as if I haven't heard it and tells me I ought to get to the pool earlier if I want to swim more laps.
I explain to him that I am using the time that is allotted to lap swim.
"Well you should get here earlier."
I want to say "You should swim in the right direction," but I refrain.
To their credit, the lifeguards do promise that they'll remind people that even if the ropes are down, people are still swimming laps and to please respect that. We'll see, though.
I'd talk to the management about this time infringement problem. If it's posted to be lap swim from 1 till 2 you should get lane lines till 2. The next activity section should start at 2:05 to allow for lane dismantling time.
I swim after teaching summer school at the local high school. I can get down there and in the water by 12:45, the swim lasts till 2 p.m. I am always appreciative that the senior swim group and coach doesn't start dismantling the lanes till 2:01 or so. I always express my sentiments to the coach and share a chuckle or two with him before I leave. BTW, this team has 17 kids swimming in the Olympic trials and they still respect the fact that others use their pool. This is only one small reason that CSC is a Gold Level club. Go Greyhounds!!
I wish I could say the same for our management. Our aquatic director seems to put lap swimmers at the bottom rung of the ladder. One day, I arrived just as lap swim was to begin--and lo and behold, they told me they couldn't put up the lane ropes yet because it was still the open period. At one point they had an hour lap swim on Saturday at noon--I arrived about 12:20, and was told I couldn't get in because there was a lesson going on. Excuse me? Wasn't this a lap swim period? "No one was here at noon. You'll have to wait until 12:30." (This from the aquatic director who was giving the lesson.)
"If you're going to schedule lessons, why did you announce that lap swim was available from 12 to 1?"
"You should get here at 12 if you want to have the pool for lap swim."
Not long afterward: no more lap swim at noon.
I've gotten worn out trying to suggest anything that helps lap swimmers--and masters? If we're lucky, we'll get a Monday 9 p.m. session, and then because this isn't a good time slot for many of us, we'll be told there's not enough interest in masters' swimming to keep it going.
I'd vote with my feet but this place is my most convenient swimming venue, and I also use the workout room and sauna.
A lot of this comes down to pool management. The pool needs to set rigorous schedules and rules and ensure that patrons adhere to them.
My health club does a really good job with this. To begin with, management clearly posts times that specific lanes are going to be taken up by a given activity. This can be seen on multiple bulletin boards and is posted online. These time are stuck to rigorously, to the minute. People are polite about when it's time to change activities. There's never any question of who has the rights to a given lane.
Also, 5AM - 7AM is solely for lap swimming, noodling is usually after work, the two activites are kept well apart. Noodlers are asked specifically to be respectful of lap swimmers and vice versa.
There's a separate kid's pool that's kept warmer for therapy use. Kids generally stay in that pool as it also has a big slide and is shallower (also, no kids at 5AM). The lap pool is kept at 79, which is just about perfect if you ask me.
The lifeguards are active in monitoring the lap pool and keeping people from swimming in front of people swimming. I've had them stop kids from crossing my lane even though I'm at the other end of the pool.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it's neighborhood club. People are polite and generally don't cause problems because you see the same people every day. Maybe this is a midwestern thing :). Honestly I've never had a problem. My pool hosts a masters team, many triathletes and several large and successful and large age group teams, so they definitely have lap swimmer's needs in mind. I guess I never realized just how good I have it.
Freds is another term for them, in the cycling world.
On the other end of the spectrum but equally annoying are the faux racers (posers) who love passing too close without warning and going too fast for the venue. You usually see them on Multi-Use Trails on weekends, wearing spandex "kits" and riding very expensive bikes. :D
Its "kooks" if you surf. Since i just started cycling, ill stay away from spandex kits and warn the few people i get to pass. :D
In the cycle world they are known as "weavers."
Just a silly jargon note.
Freds is another term for them, in the cycling world.
On the other end of the spectrum but equally annoying are the faux racers (posers) who love passing too close without warning and going too fast for the venue. You usually see them on Multi-Use Trails on weekends, wearing spandex "kits" and riding very expensive bikes. :D
The HOA board finally made a permanent ruling on the water aerobics situation at our pool. After three years of constant policy changes that ranged from the noodlers getting exlusive use of the indoor pool for two hours each day, six days per week, to them not getting exclusive use at all, this is what was ruled:
"...The Board of Directors have established a HOA sponsored Water Aerobics class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 10:00am year round with no exception for when outdoor pool is closed, unless the class time changes to 10:00am to 11:00am. Class participants will have exclusive use of the indoor pool with no lap lanes open. Should this group decide to apply to become a Charter Club to increase the above class schedule, the following rules will still apply in order to have the charter approved by the Board of Directors:
1. One lap lane open if the number of class participants is 15 or less.
2. No lap lane open if the number of class participants is more over 15.
3. All other times, we will enforce the current rule of 2 lap lanes in place."
The HOA board finally made a permanent ruling on the water aerobics situation at our pool. After three years of constant policy changes that ranged from the noodlers getting exlusive use of the indoor pool for two hours each day, six days per week, to them not getting exclusive use at all, this is what was ruled:
"...The Board of Directors have established a HOA sponsored Water Aerobics class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 10:00am year round with no exception for when outdoor pool is closed, unless the class time changes to 10:00am to 11:00am. Class participants will have exclusive use of the indoor pool with no lap lanes open. Should this group decide to apply to become a Charter Club to increase the above class schedule, the following rules will still apply in order to have the charter approved by the Board of Directors:
1. One lap lane open if the number of class participants is 15 or less.
2. No lap lane open if the number of class participants is more over 15.
3. All other times, we will enforce the current rule of 2 lap lanes in place."
The ruling seems a bit oddly worded and contradictory to me, but I guess it's a compromise of sorts?
The ruling seems a bit oddly worded and contradictory to me, but I guess it's a compromise of sorts?
It seemed a bit confusing to me, as well. But, the water aerobics group tried forming a charter club solely for the purpose of having more influence to get exclusive use of the pool, 9-11am (for two classes), Monday-Friday.
So, the way I read this, they have two choices:
1. Remain a class (not a club) and have exclusive use of the pool for only one class, M-W-F.
2. Form a charter and get to have one class M-F, however, they would only get exclusive use on days their classes exceed 15 participants. Otherwise, they are stuck with me "splashing" them in the dedicated swim lane. :D
In other words, they got shut down on trying to form a charter club just to get me and other swimmers kicked out of the pool during their classes (even though class size averages 0-5 participants). (By the way, Charter clubs in our community have priority over interest groups and classes, when it comes to reserving facilities.)
I'm not happy with the decision to give them any exclusive use of a unique resource, such as our only indoor pool, when their class size is so ridiculously small, however, it could have been a lot worse. At one point, for months, swimmers were completely banned from the pool for two hours each day, six days per week! :bitching:
It warms my heart that the two :censor: instigators (the other noodlers are actually on my side) of this didn't get their way. :ohyeah:One hour M-W-F is failure in their eyes; they wanted the policy to revert back to two hours daily of exclusive use. And, they weren't willing to compromise at all. Sorry noodlers; you got out-noodled! :D
