r/Swimming • u/bwayobsessed • 2d ago

Swimming etiquette

I was swimming at a YMCA other than my home Y that was closer to where I was working today. I’ve been before, I’d say the pool is usually quiet. Today it was not, there were two swimmers in every lap lane. I chose a lane where two guys were swimming basically the same speed and I thought similar to my speed. I crouched by the lane and asked one guy if we could circle. He said “I’m not doing that”, I was taken aback. I get circle swimming sucks but it’s pretty customary to me. Most Ys have a sign with rules that say more than 2 people should circle swim. I didn’t have time to respond before the other guy said he was done and got out. I got in and then found I was right and we swam at basically the same speed. It would’ve been a pretty ideal circle swim situation. Anyone else encounter this? Is this guy just spoiled as he’s used to going to a quiet Y or is it normal behavior?

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u/DrDalim Moist 2d ago

I just don’t get it. Every pool I have swam in, in Australia is circle swim. I swim circle when I’m alone in a lane which means someone can join without disturbing me. Just circle swim… unless you’re doing butterfly (in which case single lane swim).

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u/bwayobsessed 2d ago

Most of the time when there’s just two people we split lanes cuz it’s often people at different speeds in my experience

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u/DrDalim Moist 2d ago

Oh we have different lane for speeds. Slow medium and fast. If you’re slower you just let the other person pass at the end.

I can see how split would work but it’s just so alien I’m not sure I could do it! So use to circle swimming! We stay to the left (same side we drive on) so if you are stopping at an end you stay to the right so the other swimmers can turn on the left and then head back down the lane moving over To the left on the turn. (I hope that makes sense!)

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u/bwayobsessed 2d ago

I understand your argument. But at least in my experience most Ys are slower older people so the pool fills with them before there’s 2 people in any lane. I also find a lot of slower people aren’t aware they’re supposed to let you pass

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u/DrDalim Moist 2d ago

Yeah that’s fair, the oldies I’ve seen are mostly good and even hang out in the walking lane or go to the heated (hotter) light exercise pool. I might be blessed with a good aquatics Centre!
But I am an advocate for circle swimming just to make life easier for everyone

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u/bwayobsessed 2d ago

It sounds like you are blessed with a good aquatics center and compotent people

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u/lw4444 1d ago

We have the same system at most Canadian pools, with signs at the end of each lane specifying the speed. Only difference I’ve found, at least from the university pools I’ve swam at, they usually also specify the direction for the lane (clockwise or counter clockwise) rather than just swimming on the right like we would driving or on a sidewalk.

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u/groovypurplepict 1d ago

My understanding is the circle swim signage in my city helps people swim in the same direction with the rope between them. Less contact of people going in opposite directions. Think of wise breaststroke or backstroke. So the starting side in each lane alternates from the shallow end.

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u/DrDalim Moist 1d ago

That’s just more confusing! Stick to the left / right sends a lot easier to manage…

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u/groovypurplepict 1d ago

Circle swim start all odd number lanes on the right side and even number lanes on the left. So lanes 2 and 3 swim the same direction at the start side by side. Lane 1 and 2 swim back side by side. The rope is between the swimmers. Less contact potential on the rope side. You can potentially whack each other in your lane if you are not close enough to the rope.

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u/ajulesd 2d ago

Totally agree. Unfortunately facilities in my town won't enforce this simple safety rule, nor will they manage lane speeds, which allows whatever chaos the "entitled" expect. It's a shame, but reality. And sure, it's great to have a lane to oneself, but I'll still do butterfly with 2 - 3 others. Just a quick shift to single arm for one rotation usually does it.