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Learn the names of your lanemates. You are about to spend one hour or more with these people with heart rates elevated and with close to no clothes on. Aren't you curious what their names are?

Do you all understand the cruise interval for the lane? Does everyone agree? Are you in the right lane? Never begin any set until everybody in the lane understands it (particularly drill sets). The extra amount of time spent to communicate the set and interval pace to the entire lane is a good investment of your time.

Whenever possible, communicate to your lane if you plan to do anything "different" in the set. This includes switching to another stroke than the set designates, putting on fins, switching to kicking only, warming down in the middle of the set, sitting out an interval, or even getting out of the pool. On long swims where lapping is likely to occur, communicate with each other what the passing procedure will be.

Never assume that the first person in the lane knows what is going on. They may be having a bad day. Take responsibility for counting; you can do it!

Watch the pace clock and stay in your send-off spot throughout the set.

Be aware of what is happening in the lane. Where are the other swimmers? Am I holding people up? Am I running people over? Is there somebody right behind me as I am coming off the wall?

If you have trouble seeing the clock, figure out how to see it, prescription goggles, contacts under your goggles, small pace clocks next to your lane, synchronizing your wrist watch, there are lots of options.

If you arrive late to the workout, take responsibility for learning what is going on. Do not interrupt the swimmers in the middle of their warm-up by starting your own version of warm-up . Ask the coach, find a written workout, learn what's going on before you get into the water.

Its fun and motivating to hear positive encouragement coming from fellow swimmers. A small "lets go" can be just the positive boost your lane mates need in the middle of a long difficult set.

Acknowledge each other. Is somebody in your lane having an exceptional day? Let them know! Acknowledge your teamwork.

The traffic pattern is quite simple when only two people are swimming in a lane. One person swims on the left side of the lane, the other swims on the right side. When swimming in a lane with more than two people, a different organization is required. The most common pattern is to swim single file in a counterclockwise circle, the "Circle Pattern.". This pattern is similar to our normal driving pattern, making a u-turn at each wall.

Swimmers should start their repeats at least 5 seconds apart, with the fastest swimmer in the lane going first, the second fastest going second and so forth. Do not crowd the swimmer in front of you! Keep your eyes open, and stay on your side of the lane to avoid collisions. When you wish to pass someone, tap him or her on the foot and wait until he or she reaches the wall before you attempt to pass. The swimmer who is being passed should stop at the wall and allow you to pass.

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