Rebecca Wetten

📜 Swimming Pool Etiquette

Your friendly guide to making every pool session smooth, fun & drama-free.

Progress

📍 Top Lidos in the UK - Bristol & Somerset

January 11, 2025

🚿 Pre-swim Prep

Shower before you dive in: A quick rinse helps keep the pool water cleaner for everyone.
Tie your hair back (or wear a swim cap): This keeps the pool less… Hairy.

Keep your gear neat: Place your water bottle, any training equipment & - if you’re a Catch Gold member - Session Slate & drill cards at the end of your lane.

Choose the right lane: Pick fast, medium or slow based on your pace & the type of session you’re doing. If you’re doing slower strokes like breaststroke or drills, consider moving down a lane. If you're swimming fast front crawl, you could move up.
Circle swimming: Most pools follow a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction in each lane. Check the signs or ask a lifeguard if you're unsure.
Be aware of your surroundings: Keep an eye out for other swimmers & adjust your pace or position if needed.

Tap feet once: If you’re behind someone & would like to pass, gently tap their foot once.
Pull over at the end: If someone taps your feet, stop at the wall & let them pass before continuing. Also, if you see a faster swimmer swimming up close behind you as you turn, pull over to let them go ahead.
Avoid overtaking mid-length: It’s safer to wait until the wall to pass.

Bunting flags: These are strung across the pool 5 metres from the end to help with backstroke or kicking on your back. Use them to judge your turn timing.
Coloured lane markings: Often, lane ropes have different colours at key points (e.g., 5m from the ends or halfway). These can help with pacing, drills or splitting up your lengths.

Be kind: A smile or quick ‘hello’ to your lane buddies at the start of a session can help to set a positive vibe.
Have a planned session in advance: This makes your swim more satisfying, fun & it’s more likely to improve your swimming.

🏊‍♂️ Lane Etiquette

Choose the right lane: Pick fast, medium or slow based on your pace & the type of session you’re doing. If you’re doing slower strokes like breaststroke or drills, consider moving down a lane. If you're swimming fast front crawl, you could move up.
Circle swimming: Most pools follow a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction in each lane. Check the signs or ask a lifeguard if you're unsure.
Be aware of your surroundings: Keep an eye out for other swimmers & adjust your pace or position if needed.

🔄 Overtaking & Letting Others Pass

Tap feet once: If you’re behind someone & would like to pass, gently tap their foot once.
Pull over at the end: If someone taps your feet, stop at the wall & let them pass before continuing. Also, if you see a faster swimmer swimming up close behind you as you turn, pull over to let them go ahead.
Avoid overtaking mid-length: It’s safer to wait until the wall to pass.

🚦 Lane Markings & Bunting Flags

Bunting flags: These are strung across the pool 5 metres from the end to help with backstroke or kicking on your back. Use them to judge your turn timing.
Coloured lane markings: Often, lane ropes have different colours at key points (e.g., 5m from the ends or halfway). These can help with pacing, drills or splitting up your lengths.