Over my lifetime as an athlete and a coach, I’m sure I’ve spent cumulative years of my life on a pool deck and in the pool.  I’ve observed that most everyone knows the basics of circle swimming, but there are additional nuances to group workout etiquette.  When I coach or swim in a group, I want everyone to be able to hit the goals of the workout.  At the risk of sounding like an old man shouting at clouds, here are my top five gripes about group workout lack-of-etiquitte, and how to be a better group swimmer.

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1. Seed yourself correctly!  This goes for the lane you choose to swim in as well as your position within the lane.  Tap into your humility and self-awareness before you get in the water.
   
   • If you are challenging yourself by pushing up to a faster lane that might be a stretch, that’s super cool!  Start as the last swimmer and see how the lane flows before moving yourself up in the order.
     
     • If you regularly need to put on fins or paddles (or both…) to make the interval, you’re in the wrong lane.
   • If you are taking an easy day or coming back from injury or otherwise needing to drop a lane, you might need to lead.
   • Be honest about your ability and adjust accordingly.  Just because you are the lane leader on longer freestyle sets does not mean you’re always the lane leader.  Another lanemate may sprint faster than you.  So you can lead the sets of 300s and they can lead the fast 50s.  Some swimmers are fast kickers and slow pullers.  There’s no shame in dropping back in the order (and it’s no victory to move up)--no one cares who “wins the workout”, just get yourself in the right spot.  We’re all here for the best workout we can get.  Jumping up in your lane only to hold up everyone behind you stinks for all!
2. Pace for the goals of the workout.  Just because you can make the interval doesn’t mean you’re swimming the set correctly.  Sometimes coaches want you to go fast and give a longer interval or want you to cruise and give you a tight interval.  Pay attention to the instruction about intensity (pace)--not just the interval.  If you’re swimming one speed throughout the set, you’re probably doing it wrong!
   
   • Drill sets are not races!  (This one makes me the most crazy!)  SLOW DOWN, focus on getting your form right.  If swimming fast were simply about enthusiasm and effort, a lot of people would be faster swimmers.  Take your time on the drills–perfect them–don’t worry about the clock.
3. Leave at 5 second gaps.  Regardless of what kind of interval your lane is working on, it’s standard for each swimmer to leave the wall 5 seconds after the swimmer before.  When the second and third swimmers each leave 3 seconds after the first, the next swimmer is waiting 9 seconds for their interval.  When everyone leaves on time, everyone gets the intended rest and no one ends up bunched up or gapped.  If your lane is properly seeded and everyone is swimming at the correct pace for the set, there will always be a gap (of about 5 seconds) between swimmers.  
4. Pass at the walls–even in long course pools.  If you need to pull off during a set, do it at the wall by stopping on the far right side of the lane.  If you want to let the swimmer in front of you that they are holding you up during a set, tap their toes once or twice (not all the way down the lane) as you are approaching the wall.  If you’re getting passed, swim per the instructed intensity of the set–don’t cruise just because you’re stopping–the swimmers behind you still want to get their workout in!
5. Communicate within your lane!  You don’t have to be the lane leader to pass down the set.  And sometimes leaders need a little help managing the clock or counting reps.  You’re working as a team when you join a group workout–everyone needs to get what they came for!

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