r/Swimming • u/aknomnoms Moist • Jul 21 '26

Beginner question: pool etiquette?

I’m taking a beginner swim class and have gone to the pool at my gym to practice on my own. It’s only 3 lanes, and the first 2 times I went there was either no one or only 1-2 other people.

But all 3 lanes were full today and I got kind of “told off” for accidentally cutting in line to be next for a lane, and when I apologized and asked what the system was they didn’t give me an answer except “wait your turn”, and then I spent 40 minutes waiting but no one got out.

So, in general, what is pool etiquette when you show up and all the lanes are full?

  1. If all the lanes are busy, how do you let others know you’re waiting? And do you stake claim on one lane, or just take the next available?

  2. What’s a commonly accepted amount of time to continue using the lane, if you’re not sharing, when you know someone is waiting?

  3. In a gym setting, does it matter which lane I get in if lane sharing doesn’t seem to be a thing?

I appreciate any insight. Thanks!

Mods - this was edited to be broader in scope because you removed my earlier post saying it was too specific to my gym. Thanks.

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u/know-your-onions Splashing around Jul 21 '26

What does it mean for a Kane to be full?

Maybe it’s a tiny pool or something, but was there some e sort of special event happening for it to go from 1-2 people to full?

But if there’s some rule about that there then we can’t tell you what it is.

I don’t think I’ve ever swam at a pool that would sell an entry if it’s already full. I get that gym pools are different because you have a membership and don’t enter just to use the pool, but whatever the rule is you’ll have to ask at the desk there (but if it’s not posted poolside then you may well have just met some asshole with their own made up rule).

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u/aknomnoms Moist Jul 21 '26

Sorry, I was thinking 1 person in a lane = lane “full” or “in use”. The pool has 3 lanes and there was 1 person in each lane. I don’t know how wide they are, but there are black tiles on the bottom which divide all the lanes in 2, so I presume they each can handle two directions of swim traffic.

And the more I read through responses, the more I think you’re right. That guy was just a jerk. And I just need to step up and not be so worried about interrupting someone’s workout to ask them if I can share the lane. Thanks!

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u/know-your-onions Splashing around Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

I’m looking at a pool right now. 23m, 7 people in a lane all swimming about the same speed, and it’s not full.

Also I’ve never asked to share a lane and nobody’s ever asked me either. Just join the lane that most closely matches your speed, and swim (unless you’re in the US, in which case good luck to you).

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u/aknomnoms Moist Jul 21 '26

lol I’m in the US and at a gym pool, so entitlement levels may be different. 7 people in a lane sounds impressive! Thanks for the advice!