Etiquette

\r\n

\r\n

\r\n

\r\n

\r\nBasic Swim Etiquette

\r\n

• Introduce yourself to your lane mates.
\r\n• Agree on either circle swimming or swimming sides if there are only two of you in a lane. Don’t make assumptions or you might be in for a head-on collision.
\r\no Circle swimming is done in a counterclockwise fashion. I.e. swim down the lane on your right.
\r\n• If there are several swimmers in your lane the standard interval between swimmers are either 5 or 10 seconds. Don’t be that person that is riding up another person’s behind! If you are within 1 foot of the person in front of you feet, you are too close! Leave promptly on agreed upon interval.
\r\n• If you are catching the person in front of you, please tap gently on their feet to let them know that you would to pass.
\r\n• If someone taps your feet and wants to pass you have three options: slow down and go as close to the lane-line as you can to ease the transition, or, when you reach the wall to turn, move to the right and stop, letting the passer pass. The third option is to wait until you finish whatever distance you are swimming and offer the passing person to go ahead of you when you are resting at the wall.
\r\n• If you want to go in front of someone it is courteous to do so at the wall before a set instead of just running over people.
\r\n• If faster folks are behind you please offer to let them go in front. They might just be too shy to ask you themselves.
\r\n• Proper turn etiquette is for you to start preparing for the turn 5 yards in advance. When you come up to the flags start swimming diagonally towards the left side of the lane. This will allow the people behind you to turn without running into you.
\r\n• When finishing a set make sure you move away at the wall in a manner that will allow ALL lane mates to finish at the wall. Nobody likes a wall hog!

\r\n

 

\r\n

Group and set etiquette

\r\n

\r\n• If you are new to the swim group, ask a coach what the appropriate lane will be for you. It is never fun to be running over people left and right or being left in the dust.
\r\n• If you don’t understand (the set, the lingo, the intervals, etc.) – ASK!!! That is what the coach is for!
\r\n• Never assume that the first person in the lane knows what is going on. They may be having a bad day.
\r\n• Take responsibility for counting. You can do it—allow yourself to believe it!
\r\n• Communicate to your lane mates if you plan to do anything "different" in the set: this includes switching to another stroke than designated, putting on fins, kicking rather than swimming, warming down in the middle of the set, sitting out an interval, or even getting out of the pool.
\r\n• It’s fun and motivating to hear positive encouragement coming from fellow swimmers. A small "let’s go" can be just the positive boost your lane mates need in the middle of a long difficult set.
\r\n• Acknowledge each other. Is somebody in your lane having an exceptional day? Let them know!
\r\n