Swimming Etiquette

 

Swimming in lanes requires organization, discipline,  a high degree of awareness and common sense.  Please read the guidelines below and help keep our swimming environment safe, fair and fun.

1 The Start of the Practice:

When you arrive on deck and are ready to begin, the coach will usually have a specific warm up prepared.  Everyone should begin the warm up at the same time. However, we all have busy family and/or work lives so we may not all be on time and ready to go when others are ready to start. If you need to join a session that is already in progress, please join your lanemates at whatever set and repetition they are doing at the time. Please do not start the warmup or workout at the beginning unless you are on time and with the group at the start. Otherwise, we will have a mix of people at different points in the session and we will get in each other’s way.

2 Pace Times:

Learn to read the clock. Do the set as it is described and laid out by the coach.  The sets are designed to accomplish specific training goals.  On a "work" set, do not shorten the intervals, rather, work harder so you'll need the rest.  On a "drill" set, concentrate on the drill and technique and rest as indicated by the coach.  Please don't alter these unless there is unanimous agreement in your lane and an okay from the coach.

3 Find the Appropriate Lane for You:

If you constantly find yourself catching up to others in your lane, ask the coach about moving to a faster lane; if you notice that those around you are constantly catching up to you, consider moving to a slower lane. The goal is to have people of approximate equal speed in each lane. Please find the appropriate lane. You may need to move to the front of your group for one stroke but to the back for another depending on your speed for a specific stroke or set; consider the group and arrange yourselves accordingly.  If there is an ongoing issue please check with the coach; they may move you to keep the lanes swimming smoothly.
Also don't be "offended" if the coach moves you to a different lane.  He can see swim patterns more clearly from the deck than you can from the pool. (see "Balancing the Lanes" below)

4 Rules of the Road

At the start of a set,  wait a full 5 second interval before leaving the wall behind another swimmer.  If there are less than 3 people in the lane , make it a 10 second interval.

The quickest swimmer should lead, with the other swimmers following in descending speed order. This ensures that people are not held up and a safe distance is maintained between swimmers. If varying strokes, ensure that the quickest goes in front.

If you are leading then it is your responsibility to watch the clock and go at the correct time.

 If you cannot see the clock then either count or go when the swimmer in front has passed fully under the 5 metre flags (as this equates roughly to 5 seconds).

 

Do not push off immediately after another swimmer

 

Do not push off immediately before another swimmer coming in to turn.

 

Do not finish your swim 5 metres out. Swim all the way in to touch the wall.

 

Once you have touched, move out of the way to the other side so that others can complete their length in turn. Do not stand blocking the wall for other swimmers.

 

On approach to the wall, start moving from your side of the lane to the centre of the lane. Execute the turn at the centre of the lane pushing off to the other side of the lane.

 

Be aware of other swimmers when you kick off the wall out of a turn. Swimmers swimming in opposite directions very close to each other make this a likely time for collisions and where swimmers are kicking off hard, with head down, this can be potentially dangerous

 

If you wish to pass the swimmer ahead of you, touch their feet  and then wait to pass them at the next wall. If someone touches your feet in the middle of a length, continue swimming until you reach the wall then pull over to the right and stop. The "passer" will make a turn at the left corner of the lane and continue.

5 Balancing the Lanes

Please be receptive if the coach asks you to switch lanes or change the swim pattern in your lane either temporarily or permanently.  Old habits and comfort zones are hard to break out of!
The goal is for everyone to have the best possible swim experience while swimming within the group parameters (safety, sharing space, etc).   If you have questions about the lane assignments, please feel free to chat with the coach at the end of the practice.

6 Exiting the Pool

Please use caution and exit at the end of the pool or at the side of your own lane/section of the pool.  DO NOT cross lanes over the ropes nor under the water unless you are in the centre lane and need to access a ladder.  Be careful: swimmers are NOT expecting people to cross their path even if it is at the end of the practice.

7  Lifeguards

Our coach is not able to watch for all unsafe situations and coach us at the same time; it is the responsibility of the swimmers and the guards to ensure we swim together safely. Try to be mindful of where you are swimming in relation to others in your lane(s). We have asked the lifeguards on duty to be diligent about watching for imminent swimmer collisions, and to use their whistles freely to alert us!  Please be respectful of the guards if they blow the whistle at you (even if you feel that you are not in danger of a crash!); they have our safety in mind and need to do their job!