One of only Two 50 metre pools in Atlantic Canada

Lane Etiquette

Entering the Pool

  • Select a lane with a swimmer who is swimming at a similar speed/pace (or as close as possible) as you.
  • Dangle your feet first in the water before jumping in. This lets the swimmer know that you’re there and wish to join them in the lane.
  • Always enter the water feet first and clear of other swimmers already occupying the lane. If there is a swimmer approaching the wall as you are preparing to enter, wait until they have turned and started the next lap before entering so you do not interrupt their progress.

Preferred Method of Lane Swimming

  • Centennial Pool prefers you utilize circle swimming when in a lane with another person.

Passing

  • If you need to pass in your lane, move up to the swimmer and tap his/her foot. It is inappropriate to grab, pull or tickle the person. However, a tap is a clear indication of your presence and your intent to pass.
  • If your foot has been tapped there is no need to stop, as this could cause a collision. Once you are aware of another’s intent to pass, slow down just slightly and slide over as close to the lane line as possible.
  • If the indication to pass has occurred right before the wall, it is appropriate to pause at the wall in the right hand corner to allow the swimmer to advance through his/her turn.
  • If you are passing a swimmer, it is the custom to pass on the left after you have indicated your intent by tapping his/her foot. Even in well-matched lanes, passing or getting passed is often unavoidable while circle swimming.
  • A pass must be initiated in time to overtake the slower swimmer before the wall. Otherwise, there exists a strong potential for a collision as both swimmers attempt to turn at the same time. In the case of ambiguity approaching the turn, the swimmer whose head is closest to the wall has the right-of-way and the swimmer whose head is behind must yield the turn in the interest of safety.
  • A bulk pass can occur in the rare case that a faster swimmer comes upon a line of slower swimmers and there is no other lane of equal speed in which to move. To pass several swimmers in a line, the faster swimmer can move to the other side of the lane and change directions. This pass can be done only after being certain the space is clear and he or she is slightly ahead of the line once he or she has turned around.
  • Swimmers being tapped should acknowledge the communication of a desired pass and not try to speed up or try to tag back once passed.
  • Slower swimmers starting a set or swim should wait until faster swimmers have passed and push off close behind to extend the time it will take before they are passed again.
  • Faster swimmers should give slower swimmers as much space in front of them as possible before pushing off or start their set, or swim just before the slower swimmer reaches the wall to avoid passing them right away.

Circle Swimming

  • Enter on the right, staying to the right. This means swimming in a counter-clockwise circle in the lane.
  • Always swim complete laps of the pool. Avoid stopping in the middle of the pool for any reason, as this can interfere with others progress and cause collisions.
  • Stop only at the wall, and once stopped, stay in the corner of the lane, preferably the left hand corner (from the perspective of the approach to the wall). Other lap swimmers need space to turn. Always leave the middle third of the wall clear for turning purposes.
  • Be aware of your space in the lane and the orientation of others.