Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by admin
In this article, we will provide advice, hacks and tips on the importance of introducing swimming lane safety and etiquette guidelines during training.
- The very nature of a competitive swimming club is that it’s competitive!
- Swimmers set swimming goals and wish to achieve them by training hard.
- With most swimming clubs facing constraints on their pool time, the size of the pool and the width of the lanes, this often results in swimmers training in congested conditions.
- Having a lane full of competitive swimmers, all wishing to train hard and be the lead swimmer in the lane, increases the possibility of an accident or an incident, if not managed correctly.
Contents
Swimming Lane Safety and Etiquette Guidelines
Introduce a set of swimming lane safety and etiquette guidelines for swimmers to adopt,
- This should ensure a safer and more harmonious training environment.
- Listed below are some lane safety and etiquette guideline suggestions, which can be used or adapted by both swimmers and coaches to meet their requirements.
Respect your squad members:
- To consistently perform well in training day after day can be difficult.
- Having a training partner to share the training workload with, can often make training sessions more enjoyable.
- Having someone training hard alongside them can help make both become better swimmers.
- While swimmers may have a keen rival while training and may even swim in the same events during competition, swimmers should remember it’s this kind of competition that drives both of them on to be the best they can be.
- Some of the biggest rivals in the pool are the best of friends out of it.
- Swimmers should make allowances for the varying abilities and experiences that can occur in their lane.
- Slower and less experienced swimmers have as much right to a rewarding training session as any other swimmer.
Related article on a swimming training partner
We have produced a related article on a swimming training partner. You can view it by clicking this link: a swimming training partner
Respect your coach:
- Swimmers should pay attention and listen to their coach.
- They should be courteous to the other swimmers and don’t chat while the coach is giving instructions.
- They should apologise to their coach if they turn up late to training.
- Swimmers should inform their coach if they are injured or ill.
- They should inform their coach if they have to leave the session early.
- All swimmers should thank their coach at the end of each training session.
Leading the lane
- The quickest swimmer for that particular stroke or drill should lead, with the other swimmers following in descending speed or technical order.
- This ensures that there are no hold-ups and that a safe distance is maintained between swimmers.
- A safe swimming distance is usually ensured by each swimmer in a lane beginning their set or rep, at least 5 to 10 seconds after the swimmer in front of them.
- This order may change when changing strokes or drills.
- Swimmers should ensure that they are swimming in the correct direction.
- We have our swimmers in odd lanes swimming anti-clockwise and those who are swimming in even lanes swim clockwise. (see diagram above)
- This avoids the risk of locking arms with a swimmer from an adjoining lane.
- Swimmers who are leading the lane have the responsibility to ensure that they understand the drill or set to be performed.
- They should also ensure that they are watching the pace clock and start the drill/set at the correct time and that they keep track of the number of sets and reps completed.
Awareness
- Swimmers should always be aware of where other swimmers in the lane are.
- This can be difficult when training hard and under pressure, but safety must always take top priority.
- They should ensure that they swim on their side of the lane and don’t drift out towards the lane’s black/blue centre line, as this can be dangerous.
- Swimmers should be aware of the hazards of swimming in an outside lane where there are protruding steps.
- They should also be aware of other swimmers when swimming butterfly.
- Especially during the recovery of the arms, which requires them to be extended, and could be dangerous in a narrow lane.
- Therefore, when passing another swimmer coming in the opposite direction, both swimmers should perform a single-arm butterfly until they safely pass one another.
- Also be aware of other swimmers when swimming breaststroke, especially when performing a leg kick, which requires the application of a certain amount of force and could cause injury to others.
Lane discipline
- Swimmers resting at the end of the pool should ensure they are placed on one side of the lane, allowing other swimmers enough room to continue swimming or finish safely.
- They also need to ensure that they are not encroaching on an adjoining lane.
- Do commence swimming immediately before another swimmer is starting their turn. Ensure you recommence training when it is appropriate and safe to do so.
- Swimmers should never stop in the middle of a length/lap or sit on or lie across a lane rope.
- Swimmers should only adjust their goggles and/or cap/hat at the end of the pool.
- All of the above actions make it difficult for other swimmers to be aware of where the offending swimmer is, and as a result, could result in injury.
- Ensure the swimmer leaves the correct gap/interval between themselves and the swimmer in front.
- Not only does this provide a safer swimming environment but, it allows enough space in the lane to enable a swimmer to perform their stroke or drill unhurried and to the best of their ability.
- When starting a new set or rep, watch the pace clock and ensure you leave the correct gap, most coaches usually request a 5 to 10-second gap/interval.
Overtaking
This is the cause of most disputes and disagreements whilst training.
- If a swimmer wishes to overtake, be patient. Don’t swim over the top of the swimmer in front, you could hurt or injure them and/or yourself.
- To overtake a swimmer, they should gently touch their feet, but please do not slap or pull the other swimmer’s feet.
- When a swimmer feels someone touching their feet, they should continue swimming to the end of the pool and wait in the corner of the lane until the swimmer behind has turned and begun swimming, leave a 5 to 10-second gap and recommence swimming.
- If there is more than one swimmer in a close compact swimming file, then the swimmer should wait for them all to pass.
- A swimmer should not swim right up on (close) another swimmer’s feet and not overtake.
- If they do not want to pass the swimmer in front, then it is their responsibility to slow down and hang back leaving the required gap/interval, as it is very annoying having someone swimming right on their feet.
- Swimming directly behind another swimmer is called drafting.
- Drafting behind another swimmer reduces the level of effort required to swim.
- So, swimmers should ensure that they can increase their pace if they wish to overtake the swimmer in front.
- Swimmers should not swim past another swimmer in mid-pool unless they are sure that it’s safe and they have the speed to do so.
- Swimmers should be aware of their swimming speed while performing a set.
- They can judge if you are holding up the lane by taking a quick look when turning.
- If someone has caught a swimmer up, then they should let them go in front.
- There is no shame in moving up and down the lane.
- Swimmers should be respectful and ensure that everyone has an enjoyable training session no matter what their ability.
- Swimmers and coaches should ensure that good lane safety and etiquette prevail at all times to allow a safe and enjoyable session for all.
Turning
- On approaching the wall, the swimmers should move from their side of the lane to the centre of the lane.
- Then execute their turn at the centre of the lane, then push off the wall to the other side of the lane.
- Swimmers should be aware of other swimmers when they kick off the wall out of their turn.
Finishing
- Swimmers should ensure that they complete their swim, all the way to the wall.
- They should not finish their swim short of the wall as incoming swimmers may well crash into them or will have to stop suddenly to avoid them.
- Once they have touched the wall, they should move out of the way to the other side of the lane so that others can complete their length in turn.
- Swimmers should not stand or float in the middle of the lane blocking the wall for other swimmers and ensure that they are not encroaching on an adjoining lane
Swimming lane safety and etiquette takeaways
The very nature of a competitive swimming club is that it’s competitive!
- Swimmers set swimming goals and wish to achieve them by training hard.
- With most swimming clubs facing constraints on their pool time, the size of the pool and the width of the lanes, this often results in swimmers training in congested conditions.
- Having a lane full of competitive swimmers, all wishing to train hard and be the lead swimmer in the lane, increases the possibility of an accident or an incident, if not managed correctly.
- Introducing a set of guidelines for swimmers to adopt, should ensure a safer and more harmonious training environment.
- Listed here are some lane safety and etiquette guideline suggestions, which swimmers and coaches can use or adapt to your requirements.
Swimming Publications
We produce a growing range of publications on a wide range of swimming subjects.
- These include competitive swimming drill publications for backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
- Which are now available in both Amazon Kindle and paperback formats.
- For information regarding our portfolio please follow our link: Swimming Publications.
Swimming Resource Library
We have produced a swimming resource library.
- This contains links to all of our blog posts.
- These are subdivided by swimming category.
These categories include: Swimmer Development | Swimmers Health | Swimming Coaching | Swimming Competition | Swimming Drills | Swimming Dryland/Land Training | Swimming Equipment | Swimming Psychology | Swimming Training.
- To access any article simply click on the attached page link: Swimming Resource Library.
The Competitive Swimming Exchange – Facebook Group
The Competitive Swimming Exchange is a Facebook group to help exchange ideas and information to collectively improve the sport we love.
- It’s an international group for all swimmers, coaches, teachers, masters, triathletes and swimming parents.
- It’s for all those who are interested in competitive swimming, either in the pool or in open water.
For more information about joining this group please use the following link: The Competitive Swimming Exchange