A DOZEN RULES FOR LAP SWIMMERS

You are in a group of swimmers well accustomed to each other's quirks. Suddenly a 
newcomer plunges into the wrong side of the lane and sprints for a couple of lengths 
before coming to rest in the dead centre of the shallow end turning area. Does this 
sound familiar?

You visit a strange pool and are confronted by a lane swimming session inhabited by 
beings from another planet where there are no straight lines, where swimming and 
walking are equally valued, and where swimmers are forbidden to swim more than one 
length at a time. Does this sound familiar too?

It's an odd thing, but if put into a lane prima donna speed swimmers will instinctively 
form themselves into a chain, and will push the faster swimmers to the front. They will 
then proceed to swim in an organised group with hardly a cross word. Try that with some 
other swimmers and they will equally instinctively argue about which way to go round 
before they can even start!

When you are swimming in a group, with people coming and going, or even if you are in 
an organised squad, there are some basic rules that need to be observed. Some are 
obvious, but others are tips you may find helpful.

1. Use the lane which is best suited to your speed. Don't be afraid to change lanes 
if you are changing to a slower stroke, or changing to kicking.

Try to join a lane that is swimming at your speed. Don't expect the swimmers in the 
pool before you to slow down / speed up just on your account.

2. Never dive into shallow water, however well you can dive. It is probably against 
the rules of the pool to dive into water less than 1.5 metres deep, and however well 
you can dive other people may not be so proficient. Even in deep water, get into the 
pool without making a disturbance and annoying swimmers already there.

It is literally incredible how many adult swimmers will stand by a "no diving" notice 
and proceed to plunge into the water, thereby endangering themselves and other swimmers 
who can't read but who follow their example. Perhaps the example of the Gadarene swine 
has proved too much for them.

3. Follow the circulation in your lane. If the pool is laned off there will be a 
circulation pattern - clockwise or anticlockwise. Be sure to conform to this, and 
keep well to the side of the lane. This will avoid collisions and endear you to the 
other swimmers.

This may seem too common-sensible to be true, but you will be amazed how many swimmers 
will wait until the lane is stationary and then proceed to swim in the opposite direction. 
Not included in this stricture are those congenitally incapable of following simple 
instructions at any time.

4. If other swimmers are following a set schedule, try to join in. Don't set up a 
group in competition.

It can be very upsetting to have a sprint session in mind only to find your colleagues 
or worse still a group of strangers at a pool you don't often visit have other ideas. 
But possession is the rule in lap swimming: the people in the lane already determine 
what goes on.

5. Turning is a problem: about 5 metres from the wall, make for the centre of the lane, 
turn at the central point and push off well on the other side of the lane. This will 
avoid high speed contact.

Turning spells trouble in even the best regulated lanes. Proceed, as the French say, 
"au sens", and keep to the correct side of the lane until the last moment. Turn in the 
centre of the lane and push off with the flow.

6. While resting, keep to the corners of the lane or get onto the side. Keep an eye 
on other swimmers' movements.

This should now be self-evident. If the middle of the lane is for turning, the central 
spot on the wall must be for turning. Keep it that way.

7. Be considerate when you push off. Wait for a clear space. Never push off as another 
swimmer is turning, and don't push off immediately behind someone who has just left 
the wall.

It is amazing how swimmers will push off while another swimmer is turning. Genuine 
mistakes apaart, this is not good manners. Nor is drafting on another swimmer's feet. 
There are no hard and fast rules, but it seems sensible to leave the traditional five 
seconds between swimmers.

8. Think before you overtake.

If you are drafting off another swimmer you may well find it very easy, but once you 
overtake you may well find that you will not be able to stay ahead, while the swimmer 
you have overtaken will find swimming behind you very easy. So beware before overtaking. 
If you do need to overtake, do so at the turns: touch the swimmer ahead on the foot or 
ankle to signal your wish to overtake, and he or she should pull up at the turn to let 
you through.

...MAKE THE LAST PART OF YOUR SWIM SOMETHING SPECIAL...

Don't try to overtake with only a couple of lengths to go: take a 10 second break and 
make the last part of your swim something special. See no. 9 below.

9. Be considerate when being overtaken.

If you are caught up and the chasing swimmer indicates by touching your foot that he 
wishes to overtake, make room at the turn. Don't try to swim away. If you sense an 
overtaker coming at you, it would be mannerly to step aside without being asked, but 
it's not compulsory. See no. 8 above.

10. Use hand paddles carefully.

If you want to use hand paddles, do so only if the pool is very sparsely occupied. They 
can be very dangerous on the wrong hands.

11. Finish on the wall.

Don't come to a languid halt a few metres out from the wall where you can successfully 
obstruct swimmers going in both directions.

12. Don't take offence.

If another swimmer offends you, do nothing. Do not react verbally or otherwise. We are 
all swimmers, and we can all make mistakes. W

[Copyright (c) 2000 Watermarks]