- Try and learn the names of the swimmers on your team. There are a lot of us; so understandable you won’t remember them all. At the very least know the names of your lane mates.
- Swim circles in the lane. Up one side and down the other doing a U-turn at the wall. Lanes 1, 3, 5 and 7, swim counter clockwise. Lanes 2, 4, 6 and 8 swim clockwise. This way there is less chance of injury. All swimmers will move over one lane at the 1st of every month (starting Nov. 1) so no one has to swim the wall lane the entire year.
- Swimmers should always leave 5 sec. apart from each other. If there are less people you may be able to go 10 sec. apart.
- Are you in the correct lane? If the practice is too easy or too hard you should try to move up or down a lane. If everyone in your lane is having difficulty making the set pace times let the coach know that you need it changed. Depending on the set given, sprint, distance, freestyle, other stroke etc. you may have to move your order around in the lane or even among your surrounding lanes.
- Listen to your coach! Due to the changing dynamics over the group, you may be moved up or down a lane, pending on the type of practice and the swimmers that are in attendance.
- If you arrive late for practice don’t interrupt the flow and start doing your own thing. Check with the coach or the what’s written on the board. Find out where your lane mates are in the warm-up or set and start from there.
- Whenever you can, communicate with your lane mates if you’re doing anything different then what the coach has set. You may have to change the order of leaving the wall. It’s also nice for your lane mates to know ahead so they don’t think they misunderstood the set given.
- Passing may occur in your lane, especially when we get into the longer sets. Communicate with your lane mates on what the procedure will be. Be aware of swimmers ahead and behind you. Don’t stop in the middle of lane! If someone is on your heals let them pass at the wall. Pull over to the far side of the lane so they can still do a flip turn and continue on.
- If you have trouble seeing the pace clock there are options. Prescription goggles are available, wear contacts under your goggles, synchronize your watch to the pace clock or your lane mates leaving behind can help you out by telling you when to go.
- If you decide to compete in races, stay in the water until everyone in your heat has finished to the wall.
- Realize that your lane mates can have good and bad days. Someone who may normally lead may not be able to one night. Look out for each other and always encourage each other.
- Please don’t spit in the pool! It grosses out your lane mates. I would like to assure you that the pool chemical levels are such that the free chlorine should attack and neutralize any water borne disease before it poses any risk to patrons in the pool. The Operations Staff do Pool Tests on a regular basis, that are well above the standard. So chlorine and other levels are safely kept where they should be.
- Be at practice 15 -20 minutes early for stretching and hearing any important announcemounts as well, the explanation of the sets the coaches are giving.
- If you are late, it is up to you to figure out where your lane mates are in the set. You must join into the part of the set where they are at.
