Hello! I'm a newcomer to swimming laps, and I'd like everyone's input on a debate I'm having with a friend who also swims.
What is technically a lap?
I say it's based on distance. If you're in a 25m pool - then a lap is down and back. If you are in a 50m pool - then a lap is the length of the pool one way.
He says a lap is the length of a pool.
Can someone solve this battle for us?
Thanks!
This is swimming. Track doesn't matter in any way.
No, I think it does, because:
If you are asked to count laps for someone swimming the 500 or longer, what do you count? You count lengths. That's the number you put on the lap counter signs you show the swimmer underwater.
I think the lap counters are a carryover from track. In track you definitely are counting laps. They just retained the name for swimming even though they actually count lengths, not laps, in swimming.
This is swimming. Track doesn't matter in any way.
No, I think it does, because:
If you are asked to count laps for someone swimming the 500 or longer, what do you count? You count lengths. That's the number you put on the lap counter signs you show the swimmer underwater.
I think the lap counters are a carryover from track. In track you definitely are counting laps. They just retained the name for swimming even though they actually count lengths, not laps, in swimming.
