Swimming Laps-Pool Etiquette
 

I'm interested in adding swimming to my efforts to improve my fitness. What is the proper etiquette for joining the group that is already in the water?

Are there "fast" lanes for the more accomplished swimmers, and "slow" lanes for the beginners?
What do you do if you are slower than the swimmer behind you? What do you do if you are faster than the swimmer in front of you and you see yourself gaining on that swimmer?

If there are any swimmers out there, please share any advice you have for a newbie.

Usually, the lanes are for individual swimmers. You will see two people in one lane sometimes if the two swimmers are friends and know they swim at the same pace. There is a lot of waiting for a lane that happens at our sports pools.

What I do, when waiting for a lane, is walk in the walking section and keep an eye out for when a swim lane opens up. If I see anyone come and sit on the bench to wait for a swim lane, I let that person know I am also waiting for a swim lane and I am before them.

Once a lane opens up, I head over there while still in the pool. I do keep my swim goggles and cap with me while walking and waiting for a swim lane to open up.

When I lap swim if I notice someone waiting I'll ask if they would like to share the lane, one person on each side of the lane. If the lanes are full I look for a good swimmer and ask if they would mind sharing a lane, sometimes they do sometimes they don't.

I'm glad you asked this. I would have no idea of "the rules" if I too began lap swimming.

If I understand you correctly, if one person is in a lane, unless you know them and have agreed to share, you shouldn't enter the lane they are swimming in.

Correct. Unless you know the person and/or have agreed to share with a stranger, most people remain in the lanes by themselves. I have agreed to share when it is really busy but I much prefer to have a swim lane to myself. I like to alternate swimming freestyle and backstroke. My backstroke is all over the lane as I swim from one side to the other so I cannot share a lane and swim backstroke.

In most universities and public pools, if someone wants into a lane, they ask the person swimming in the lane if it is alright to split the lane. That request is generally always acknowledged and accepted. In the Villages, there seems to be a proprietary claim to the lane by the swimmer in the lane who often is offended to be asked to share. In university gyms where I have swum, it is not uncommon for three and four swimmers to share a lane with the swim going in a clockwise fashion within the lane. Afterall, you only meet another swimmer once or twice in a lap. It is easy to avoid any collision. But, I have not seen such cooperation within the sports pools in the Villages. It is sad! The pools are for all of us!

Problem is many, can’t swim with another person in their lane. Stroke, and ability to stay in a straight line is the bigger problem. At our gym up north we may have 3-4 people share a lane with no issues. Mainly because we are all at the same competitive level. I would rather wait for a lane, than try to navigate with someone who needs the lane from rope to rope.

We are older here in The Villages and most of us don't swim very fast. I would never want to be in a lane with three other swimmers. That just wouldn't work for me. Let's not forget, we are not youngsters any more like those on college and high school swim teams. Sharing a lane with one other person is doable because you don't have to "follow" or "lead" in the lane. We just split the lane in half and stay on our half. When I share a lane, I can not swim backstroke but will swim freestyle with no problem at my pace.

I never read before that you are a competitive swimmer. Do you swim on your college team? What were your best times?

Not exactly. I’m a former member of the villages aquatic swim team and there is a certain etiquette to sharing lanes. It could be really dangerous to just jump in a lane if the other person doesn’t know you are going to be getting in so you always wanted to ask if you could share the lane. Also, it is good etiquette if you have a lane by yourself and you see someone is waiting, that you ask them to join. I’ve noticed some people in the villages don’t seem to realize this is proper swimming etiquette and they think they can have their own personal lane. But it is considered very selfish to do so. When sharing with someone, it would be easiest to swim side-by-side that way each person has the lane lines on the side to guide them and they won’t get in the other person’s space. The exception would be if you were strictly doing backstroke and you have trouble staying in your lane.

I'm a beginner at lap swimming. I have no idea how fast I'll swim, but I'm pretty darn sure it will be slower than anyone who has been doing this for a while will want to swim.
My concern is about getting in someone's way as they need to pass me in the same direction, or oncoming.
Is this not a big deal?

I find it much easier to lap swim at the regular adult pool during off-peak time, than even attempt to find a time and lane at any sports pool. I've also had no trouble swimming laps at busier times of day, because most folks stay in place and it's pretty easy to just swim around them if they move to the side.

Just turning 17 living with my parents in the heart of TV for the next 6 months nursing a freshly fractured humerus head.

So your thoughts are unless you are college age no longer competitive? How sad, I thought there were many in TV in their 60s and up who run, play ball, tennis, pickle ball, and swim competitively. So sad one gives up later in life. But thanks for the heads up, life ends after college

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