Tips for Lane Etiquette
Check out these tips for smoother lane swimming. If ever you have a question regarding lane etiquette, please ask one of the coaches.
Apparel
Swimmers should wear swim apparel that is appropriate for a Master's swim workout. All jewellery including watches and rings should be removed. If ever you have a question regarding this, please talk to one of the the coaches.
Please inform the coach, prior to the start of a swim workout, if you feel you need to make him/her aware of any circumstance that may effect your swimming ability.
Workouts
It is essential that, in order to achieve an efficient lane swim, all swimmers perform the workout as posted. It is detrimental to all to attempt to perform your own workout or modify the posted workout to your own purposes. The posted workout is part of an overall season plan and is based on your swim abilities and your lane pace.
Lane Leading
Who should lead the lane? Nothing makes a set run smoother than a great lane leader. The first swimmer in the lane must understand the set and all the intervals, be able to see and read the pace clock and have a good sense of pace. If you typically take it out fast and fade, you are better off swimming the set behind a teammate who will pace the set better. The Lane Leader should use common sense and realize that the way he/she swims the practice affects everyone in the lane. The other swimmers need to support their Lane Leader, politely correcting errors and electing new leaders if they are getting tired or if someone else is a stronger swimmer for a different type of set (i.e. sprint versus distance or freestyle versus backstroke).
Passing
With the number of swimmers in our lanes, the need to pass another swimmer in a long swim is almost inevitable, especially in distance sets. The key to keeping the lane running smoothly and help all the swimmers keep focus on the practice is to determine the passing strategy for the lane before the set begins. Communicate with your lane mates to determine what will work best for everybody in the lane! Passing in the center in a crowded lane is dangerous and not recommended. Instead, we recommend making the pass at the walls rather than in the middle of the laps. Here is how it works:
In general, when lane swimming in practice, swimmers should make their turns at the Left Corner of the lanes. As soon as the swimmer ahead of you finishes his/her turn and goes by, you should swim towards the center of the lane, make your turn to the left of the cross on the wall, and push off on what is now the right-hand side of the lane. If everyone does their turns this way, we will avoid crashing in to each other.
With regards to resting on the wall in the middle of swims, swimmers should hang on the wall in the Right Corner of the lane or ideally exit the pool if they are going to be resting for a significant period of time. This will allow the other swimmers to continue to make their turns in the Left Corner without interference.
Also, when finishing your swims, be sure to finish as far to the left as possible so that the swimmers behind you have some room to your right to finish as well.
Arriving Late and Leaving Early
With the hectic lives we are leading, it is almost unavoidable that all of us will arrive late to practice on occasion. When arriving late, you will want to consider that the practice has been designed from warm-up through cool-down, and when you hop into the action midway, you will not be getting the maximum benefit from the practice. Late arrivers can potentially disrupt the flow of a lane if they are not considerate of those busy in the main set.
Here are a few things that you can do to integrate into the practice more smoothly when arriving late:
Starts and Turns
Negotiating the walls properly leads to a smoother running lane. Imagine that it is Wednesday morning, you are feeling great, and you've found a great rhythm. The lane is crowded, but has run smoothly through the first half of the main set. Then it happens: a traffic jam at the wall. There are people all over the place and no place to turn. The swimmer in front of you just about clipped you coming out of his turn. You begin to think it is safer to be on Highway right now! You've lost your focus, your count, your rhythm, and your enthusiasm, and the rest of the practice is a waste.
How can this be avoided? Follow these guidelines for negotiating the walls in your lane and you will encounter less traffic hazards:
Last but not least
Please use common sense. We all have a limited amount of time to workout and we need to ensure that our swims are as enjoyable as possible for all those involved. Communicate with your fellow lane mates to ensure that each workout is a positive experience.