The etiquette of swimming

Categories: uncategorized

Tags: exercise, swimming

Date: 10 May 2010 10:55:38

Well, some of you might be surprised to find out that there is an etiquette of swimming, but having had a frustrating swim this morning I am adamant that it exists. So, here are the rules!

1. If the swimming pool is laned off please do not sit at the end of the lane taking up all the wall space so that people who are actually swimming (the clue is in the fact that it is a SWIMMING POOL) can push off when they are swimming laps. This is particularly directed at old people who think it is their divine right to get in the way. If you want to chat there is a nice coffee shop in the leisure centre - go and use that.

2. If you swim slowly that is fine but please do not swim up the middle of the lane. Please be considerate and swim at the side so that people faster than you can overtake.

3. Please do not stop dead in the middle of the lane and stand up. I will swim into you if I am swimming behind you.

4. If there are lots of people in the lane please do not bring your small children who are wearing armbands into it. I understand this may be difficult if the main part of the pool is being used for swimming lessons. Might I suggest that you use the small pool?

5. Please do not glare and tut at me when I overtake you. I just want to have a good swim and increase my heart rate to a reasonable rate so that I feel like I am actually doing some exercise rather than lying in a cooling bath.

6. And this final one is a plea to the managers at the leisure centre. I understand that school swimming lessons are important, but if you say that the main pool is open but with restricted lanes then please make sure that there are at least two lanes open to the general public - one for fast swimmers and one for slow swimmers. if necessary why don't you lane off the pool width ways so that people swim short lengths but at least they get the chance to have a decent swim without running into each other.

End of rant.... can you tell I am pissed off?