Getting someone's attention to share

I know there is an assumption from some long time swimmers that EVERYONE knows that there are two ways to share a lane (circle and split), but many swimmers have not been doing this as long as others. The commonly most commonly taught method for sharing a lane is circling. Everyone has to start somewhere and while some people are only able to do a few laps as compared to continuous long yardage, they have a right to use the lane as well. It has to be very intimidating and non-motivating to have someone be overtly rude about it. Now...if the new swimmer is just being plain rude, all bets are off. Respect goes both ways.

swim across lanes to get to the ladder or switch lanes. I have absolutely nailed some people doing this when I was doing underwater work. And I have no interest in getting injured by them. I like to do that one my own too. I've slammed into people before that were cutting across my lane - and they look at me like it's my fault! Yes, I'm swimming backstroke - and I cannot see you... my bad.

I've slammed into people before that were cutting across my lane - and they look at me like it's my fault! Yes, I'm swimming backstroke - and I cannot see you... my bad. This happens from time to time, I get the same look, once I actually stop. If they swim across the lane, I usually don't slow down for them.

If there is anything I really HATE, its circling clockwise! For whatever reason my old club coach would mess with us and make us do that sometimes. I pretty much can't! :drown: But don't forget that, in sanctioned meets, warm up lanes are alternating clockwise and anti-clockwise. (At least, in Canada, they are and if memory serves, these are FINA rules.)

wow, just about brought a tear to my....nope...couldn't they have circle-noodled:bliss: I had the best experience with noodlers while working out yesterday! We have a group of seniors that refuse to use the open swim area and prefer to do their walking, floating, keep the hairdo dry swimming and blind paddling down the lane with us "serious" lap swimmers. So yesterday I'm swimming by myself, it's just me and the life guard in the pool area, and here come the seniors... One by one they pick the other lanes and then proceed to share! I was floored! These guys are usually all over the pool with no regard to what the other swimmer in the lane is doing. By the time I was done every other lane had at least 2 noodlers and I still had my lane to myself. I fear the next time I'm swimming they'll all gang up on me!:outtahere:

The other day I had a slow swimmer noodler type ask me if I would vacate my lane to swim with another lap swimmer so she could float about unhindered. You can only imagine my reaction ... Then, another day recently, a "swimmer" ask me to vacate the lane I had just hopped into and to swim in the adjacent lane with another apparently slow lap swimmer so he could have my lane to himself to swim fast. You can only imagine my reaction ... Was the guy who asked you a really good looking and in his early 30's because it may have been me. I am all for matching lanes. I'll move when it makes sense, and hope others will too. When you are at a movie theater and there is an empty seat to your left and right I will ask you to move over so I can sit with my wife. I have dones this three times. One person said no. I passed my popcorn to and from my wife until the guy and his date got the message.

wow, just about brought a tear to my....nope...couldn't they have circle-noodled:bliss: I swear these people have a hard enough time splitting let alone circling, though at the speed they were going they could have all used one lane together.

I had the best experience with noodlers while working out yesterday! We have a group of seniors that refuse to use the open swim area and prefer to do their walking, floating, keep the hairdo dry swimming and blind paddling down the lane with us "serious" lap swimmers. So yesterday I'm swimming by myself, it's just me and the life guard in the pool area, and here come the seniors... One by one they pick the other lanes and then proceed to share! I was floored! These guys are usually all over the pool with no regard to what the other swimmer in the lane is doing. By the time I was done every other lane had at least 2 noodlers and I still had my lane to myself. I fear the next time I'm swimming they'll all gang up on me!:outtahere:

Whats the ettiquete (sp?) if you are just doing some drills on technique in a lane. The drills are rather slow moving, so circling seems like it could lead to some traffic problems. I want to get my drills down, but I also don`t want to be a distraction if someone else needs to share the lane.

I don't think I'm capable of splitting, been circling for too long. I have an Australian swim buddy and he still has occasional memory lapses with our circling direction, it's funny. So since Australia is in the southern hemisphere and the toilets flush backwards, does that mean they circle swim backwards too? :P I've been both predator and prey to the lane sharing debate. I don't mind sharing a lane if someone is courteous about it, but on the other hand, there's the debate about what exactly courteous entails. To me, I'll go to the pool, watch the swimmers and see who's just paddling and who's practicing. Pick a likely lane to split based on speed and sets. Set my gear down at the lane and stand near it, stretching a bit. Usually people stop out of courtesy, but sometimes you get the people who have fins on and are just trying to grunt out a 500yd swim to avoid talking to you after they see you there. If they ignore me at the end I'm at, I wait till they turn (if they do a non-flip turn) and wave. If they ignore me at my end again, wave or not, I'll wait till they head my way again and start making a little ruckus in the water. Dip my feet in, swish my goggles around, dip the kickboard in, etc... If they STILL ignore me, and there's nowhere else to go, then I jump in and stand in the corner until they stop. That usually gets their attention. If there's another comparable lane, I'll go swim in it. I mean lets face it, nobody wants to swim with a surly, selfish, lane-hog. Though I promise you if I move to another lane because of it, I'll remember and next time you show up, I will ignore you and swim down the middle of the lane regardless of how you're trying to swim or not. If you respond in kind, I will get on your butt and toe-tap you until you stop every time I lap you. I'll be as polite as possible about it, but I'll make it clear you're not welcome in the lane. Of course the next swimmer who walks in and is polite, I'll welcome them into the lane happily. :) I figure one type of bad attitude requires another. I'm not a mean person, but eye-for-an-eye is fair game if you ask me.