Practice lane etiquette
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
Haha, my kids call meet warm ups prison rules and equate it to being out in the wild jungle. There is NEVER enough lane space for warm ups. It is 20 million kids literally swimming over top of one another. And I have seen it. |
Anonymous
|
Honestly some people never learn lane etiquette and it’s intentional. Way back when I was swimming, there were the jerkface kids who would never, ever lead a set even if they were faster. It was a combination of not wanting to expend the energy to set the pace and count in the set and wanting to look better than they were.
So instead of leaving 5 seconds or a flag’s worth of space before the next swimmer, they would leave right on the heels of the next swimmer to get on extra few seconds’ time to make every interval. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you’re doing 10 x 100s or 8 x 200s or something 2-3 seconds per 100 really adds up to a ton more rest and room to slow down. These are the same people that start slapping the other person’s feet as soon as a coach glances over. But they never actually use the energy to pass…just enough energy to get to make themselves look fast. |
Anonymous
|
For a 10 and under I think this is up to the coach. The kids don't quite understand yet. Sometimes the lane order needs to be changed multiple times during practice because different kids are good at different things. If two kids are very close to each other in speed, the ideal is to put then in two different lanes next to each other so they can push each other. This stuff tends to get better as kids get older and more well rounded, and more mature.
I will say no one is worse at lane etiquette than adult Masters swimmers who didn't grow up swimming. For example people who came to swimming later in life and swim Masters to train for triathlons. They treat pool swimming like open water and will just go 2 seconds after you and swim right on top of you unless you're very forceful about the 5 second rule. They also don't circle swim properly and will hit your hand/arm with theirs as you swim by in the other direction, which hurts!! |
Anonymous
Yeah, I didn't grow up swimming on a team and am terrible at swimming straight, swimming in circles, etc. Whenever anyone asks if they can share my lane I say, of course but just beware tho I try, I am terrible at swimming straight. I am not sure how to get better at this. I try to swim at times when the pool is less likely to be busy so I can have my own lane. It's best for the good swimmer to share lanes with each other. |
Anonymous
Cost and convenience with other activities and they were moving up eventually. The new coaches were worth putting up with it as they are fantastic. The sad part is that coach occasionally coaches the older kids but the coach has been ok lately. |
Anonymous
We done club for ten years, plus summer swim and swim camps. It’s never been a thing or ok at any of them. Don’t touch my kid. |
Anonymous
whaaaa????? foot tapping is normal. grabbing no, but a tap, yes. |
Anonymous
You are insane. It is not a thing for summer swim, unless you have a lot of club kids. But it is a club swim thing. Hell, there was an article posted on it being a cardinal rule of lane etiquette. You have some serious issues. |
Anonymous
Okay let's point out that you either are brand new to swim, or crazy. A quick search of lane etiquette/rules shows EVERY SINGLE ONE talking about the foot/heel tap to pass. It is a thing, OP. If your kid is not adhering to the rules, they are the one at fault. https://www.formswim.com/blogs/all/lap-swim-etiquette-everything-you-need-to-know#:~:text=If%20your%20fellow%20swimmer%20gives,clockwise)%20and%20let%20them%20pass. Key statement: 9. Tap to pass If you need to pass the swimmer in front of you, tap them on the foot to let them know. It’s proper pool etiquette for lap swimmers to pass on the inside of the swim lane. If you feel someone tap on your foot, don’t stop swimming. Simply slow your stride and move closer to the outside of the lane (as much as possible). If your fellow swimmer gives you a tap just before the turn, yield to them at the wall. Move to the far side of the lane line (right side if you’re swimming counterclockwise and left side if you are going clockwise) and let them pass. https://loneswimmer.com/2011/02/15/lane-swimming-etiquette/ Key statement: Rule 7: Tap feet to pass. The person whose feet are being tapped moves out of the way to the corner at the lane end. Do NOT speed up if you are being passed. https://www.indyaquaticmasters.com/c/6E62A99/file/2024%20IAM%20pool%20etiquette%20.pdf Key statement: Passing - To pass a slower swimmer, it is universally accepted to tap the foot once gently. If safe, the faster swimmer can move to the left side of the slower swimmer to pass. However, if the lane is crowded, allow the passing to occur at the next wall to reduce the risk of head collisions and arm battery. http://www.excelswimming.com/Resources/Articles/LaneEtiquette.pdf Key statement: Get Out of My Way! Common problems when passing is that the faster swimmer does not necessarily warn the slower swimmer in front that he/she is there. If you would like to pass the person ahead of you, lightly tap their feet once or twice so that this person knows you are there and want to pass. The second common problem when passing is that the swimmer in front/being passed attempts to temporarily speed up leaving the faster swimmer in the middle of the lane facing oncoming traffic. If you feel a tap on your feet, move as far right up against the lane line as possible, slightly slow your speed and allow the person behind you to pass on your left. Passing can be a very dangerous thing; the passing swimmer must swim in the middle of the lane possibly dodging oncoming swimmers from the other direction. Passing should be done as quickly as possible. Another passing option, especially if you are close to the wall, is to simply stop in the corner and let the passing swimmer turn past you. Then, get in behind the swimmer who went by. Be observant and aware of the other swimmers in your lane. If you know passing is inevitable, time your turn so the faster swimmer can pass at the wall. |
Anonymous
Bullshit. |
Anonymous
This. Tapping the kid ahead’s feet has been a thing since I swam 40 years ago. |
Anonymous
I think you might need to reconsider swim as a sport for your kid if they cannot handle a heel tap. |
Anonymous
+1 If kids are messing around (and I did this plenty of times), we'd grab the ankle and pull the swimmer to the side of us. But beware on breast stroke, because some swimmers would get revenge and give you a charlie horse when they kick. Good times. good times. |
Anonymous
Agree! This is what they do at my kids club - a very large one. |
Anonymous
Agree. Every club I know has swimmers do this. |