As we are getting back in the pool, I want to remind everyone of the lap swim etiquette present at the Swim Center, and provide some additional guidelines for our club regarding Covid. It works well when we all follow the same etiquette.
First off, we have to follow the Bozeman Swim Center’s lap etiquette:
- Enter the water feet first into the shallow end of the lane
- Lap swimming with Bozeman Masters: Always have the lane divider on your right side, and your left side towards the center of the lane
- Lap swimming not with Bozeman Masters: Follow the arrows at the bottom of the pool at each end of the lane
- To pass someone, tap the feet of the person in front of you, swim behind them until you get to the wall where they should stop on the right side to let you by
- To be passed, when you feel someone tap your feet, keep swimming to the end of the lane, stay to right side at the wall to let them go by
- Stopping/resting can be done at either end of the lane, stay to the right side to allow others to pass
See here for more detailed information from the City of Bozeman.
Additional guidelines for Master’s practices to run smoothly:
- If there are only two people in the lane, consider splitting the lane instead of lap swimming. If you are splitting the lane, keep an eye out for people coming late, you might have to switch back to lap swimming at any time
- When you have read the next bit of the workout, step away from the wall to allow your lane mates to read the workout while maintaining six foot distance
- If you need a bigger rest than the workout suggests, consider taking it at the deep end
- When lap swimming, don’t be shy about suggesting going in front or after someone to make the lane work smoother, and remember that who goes first for one stroke may be someone who should go last in another stroke.
- When finishing at the wall after a hard set, try to not breath on your lanemates, even if you are six feet apart
- Keep in mind you might be contagious (with Covid, a cold, the flu, etc) while not knowing, so be respectful of your club mates as nobody wants to get sick if it can be avoided
- The coach on deck can see better how a lane works, and may suggest moving you to another lane, either to split a lane and eliminate lap swimming, or to give you a better match for lap swimming
