Posts: 4,981
5/9/07 6:12 P

Kathy, thanks for starting this tread. I too experience the same as #2 with newbies but I suppose not saying anything is the way to go, I'd feel bad if someone told me something like that when I was starting.

Aldana

current weight: 184.0

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Posts: 94
5/5/07 5:10 A

hi, thanks for your response : ) i had come to the same conclusion for my first question after experiencing the tap a few more times. as for the guy, you're right. i don't think i would ever say anything anyway because i'm not like that, but i was curious if anyone had any suggestions.

Posts: 18
5/4/07 4:56 P

Hi Lottalove.

The answer to your first question is yes it is the polite thing to do when you are passing someone. When someone does that you just keep swimming. Move a little closer to the lane rope to allow them more room and maybe slow down a little. This way neither of you are actually having to stop swimming. I swam USS and in college and this was the "universal sign of passing." I now coach and teach it to my swimmers.

The answer to your 2nd question is I really don't know. This person probably feels that he is swimming laps and not playing around. If he is standing in the middle of the wall maybe ask him politely to stand to the right of the lane so others could keep going. As far as swimming. Just be polite tap his foot to let him know that you are passing and keep going. Chances are that he doesn't realize that he is holding others up. If his foot is tapped enough he might move to another area. If he questions just tell him you were trying to be polite and let him know that you were passing him. Hope this helps.

Posts: 94
5/1/07 8:56 A

i wanted to ask about two things, and also start a thread where everyone could share politeness tips for swimming. i feel as though i'm good about this but i'm also probably ignorant, and it never hurts to ask for input.

so, #1: in the pool this morning i was swimming laps when i felt a tap on my foot. pretty soon afterward another girl passed me. is a tap on the foot the universal sign for "watch out on your left"? should i have moved out of the way, or is it up to her to just go around me?

#2: i was wondering if there's some sort of way to go about intervening when someone is being intrusive? there was a man in the same lane as me who was doggie paddling extremely slowly. he'd do one length and then stop and just stand there at the end of the lane before going back. everyone else was doing laps, and it was a bit annoying having to pass him so much. i completely relate to not being able to swim very far when you're first starting out. that's not my thing here -- it's that he was doing this in a lane that is for swimming laps when there's a whole open area of the pool where people jog and do paddle, etc.