North Texas Masters Lane Etiquette

(50 meter – LONG COURSE version)

First, the COACH will assign you which lane to swim in when you arrive in the morning. We will start from the shallow end of the pool. Rarely will you have a lane to yourself.  The lanes are wide and long and there is plenty of water to navigate in without getting in anyone’s way.  For North Texas Masters we will place the fastest swimmers in Lanes 4 and 5, the next fastest in 3 and 6, the third level in 2 and 7 and our developing swimmers in lanes 1 and 8 (see APPROXIAMTE time parameters below).  Developing swimmers are placed in lanes 1 and 8 to facilitate the coach’s observation of the swimmer from the side and to allow more effective immediate critique and correction. Each lane is capable of holding more than 10 swimmers. We will usually have anywhere from 2 to at most 5 in a lane.  Since lane assignment is not an exact science be prepared to be moved (change lanes) as people arrive and the situation changes.

You can help the lane assignment process by following these general time guidelines (based on avg. time for 100 yards freestyle) – SEMPER GUMBY – “always flexible” with these times:

Lane 4 – less than 1:15

Lane 5 – 1:15 – 1:25

Lane 3 – 1:25 - 1:35

Lane 6 – 1:35 - 1:45

Lane 2 – 1:45 – 2:00

Lane 7 – 2:00 – 2:15

Lane 1 – 2:15 – 2:30

Lane 8 – greater than 2:30

Second, when you join a lane already containing one other person who is lap swimming, make sure you do not jump in as they are coming into the wall – wait until they have pushed off and then fall in behind them as you warm up.  If it ends up that there will only be two people in your lane then wait for the earliest opportunity to speak with the other swimmer and negotiate splitting the lane. Let that person choose which side they prefer, and make every effort to stay on your side.  In the event that a third person joins your lane, the two in the water should begin circle swimming counter-clockwise immediately.

Second rule (Part B), “lane etiquette” rules require that if you join another swimmer already well along in the workout then you must JOIN them at the point in the workout where they currently are.  If the other swimmer does not care then they have the right to grant you the privilege of starting the workout from the beginning.  Communication is essential – most of this can be worked out with just a little bit of talking.

Third, (and this is applicable to many advanced swimmers) if you are circle swimming with other people in your lane pay attention to where you push off the wall when you flip-turn.  Envision yourself swimming down the right side of the lane, with another swimmer five seconds in front of you.  If that person swims straight into the wall and flips such that her feet push off the right side of that big black cross, she will have to cut a very sharp angle to gracefully end up on the other side of the lane.  She will narrowly miss crashing into you with each turn.  If, conversely, she angles left into the wall, and pushes off to the left of the black cross, she can then streamline straight off the wall and is automatically on the correct side for the return lap.  No near crashes.  No need for you to give her ten seconds of lead time.

Fourth, if you are slower than anyone else in your lane, you must always yield to them.  Never ever begin your lap as they are approaching your wall for a flip turn.  Let them go first.  As you wait for them to make their turn you must stay to the far right side (as you are facing the wall) of the lane.  If you notice that they are normally doing freestyle but end up stuck behind you and start doing breaststroke to slow down, you need to let them pass at the next turn.  Consider a move to a lane containing people your own speed.  Remember that for many people this is their gym and you’ve just turned their stair-master down from a level 12 to a level 3.

Fifth, when you need a rest break, do not stand/stop at the end of the pool in the middle of the lane.  Other swimmers need to use the wall for flip turns.  To take a break, swim into the wall on the right side, and stay as close to the lane line as possible.

Sixth, if you are doing a set with a group of more than three people, pay attention to the person behind you.  With three people, each person can touch the wall at the end of the set and look up to see his or her time.  With four people, the third swimmer needs to move away from the wall so that the fourth person can touch the wall at the end.  Usually the way this works is at the end of a set the first person touches in on the far left side of the lane.  The second person touches in the center, and remains there.  The third person touches to the far right, and then immediately moves to the center of the lane treading water immediately behind the second swimmer.  Now the fourth person can touch in on the far right.  This seems complicated, but I’ve swum with upwards of 10 people in a lane, and it works if everyone plays along.  With more than four swimmers, each additional person needs to move to the center of the lane after they touch in on the right.

Seventh, if you are going to use your MASTERS PEROGATIVE and change the coach’s workout (number of intervals, interval times, distances, strokes, whatever) then you need to negotiate agreement with all other members of your lane to make that change.

Eighth, by all means don’t “borrow” your lane mate’s fins/kickboard/pull buoy without asking.