As swimmers move through the water during
their practices or their competitions, they always need to be aware of where
they are in the pool. A swimmer who doesn’t know his exact position could end
up with problems as he makes his way from one end of the pool to the other.
Without swim lane rope, for instance,
swimmers could end up colliding into each other or swimming in a different
direction without realizing it. Other problems swimmers can encounter include
running into the wall instead of turning around, costing him the race.
Lines
At the bottom of the pool, between the swim lane
ropes, you will find painted lines on the bottom of the pool. While the
swimmers aren’t always able to look at the bottom of the pool, they will catch
glimpses of these lines as they move through the water. These dark colored
lines are designed to help the swimmers stay on the proper path in a straight
line from one side of the pool to the other. The cross bars at the ends of
these lines also helps the swimmer identify when he is approaching the end of
the pool.
Swim
Lane Ropes
The swim lane ropes are another critical
aspect to help swimmers stay in their own lane while they are swimming. These
ropes are equipped with floating rings that come in a variety of colors. In
many pools, the colors of the floating rings will alternate in the middle of
the pool. As you approach the end of the pool, only one color is used, helping
the swimmers see when they are approaching the end of the pool so they can
complete their turns. For other pools, a different color-coded system may be
used to allow you to identify where you are in the pool.
Flag
Lines
While swim lane ropes are perfect for any
swimmer to get an idea of where he is in the pool, flag lines are another
essential marker when swimmers are completing the backstroke. This is because
backstroke swimmers don’t turn their heads to one side or the other as they
swim to see the swim lane ropes. They also can’t see the markings on the bottom
of the pool. Therefore, they need a clear way to tell when they are approaching
the end of the pool to avoid running into it instead of completing the turn or
touching the wall to finish the race.
Lighting
In addition to the colors of the swim lane
ropes, the lighting in the pool can also help the swimmer identify where he is
in the pool for the best results. Even though the lights themselves don’t
indicate a specific position in the pool, it is important to have the best lighting
possible to illuminate the other positioning indicators in the pool. For
instance, underwater lighting is essential to help the swimmer see the marking
at the bottom of the pool. Proper overhead lighting also helps the swimmer see
the swim lane ropes better.
Goggles
All swimmers need to wear goggles to
protect their eyes. However, these goggles provide more than just protection
for the eyes. The goggles also provide the swimmer with clearer vision so they
can more easily see the swim lane ropes as they move through the water or the
flags used when swimmers are completing the backstroke. The ability to see
where you are in the pool is essential to your success. Some goggles even come
in prescription lengths so people with less-than-perfect vision can still see
the identifying makers.
Being able to see where you are in the pool
at any given time is important to ensure you do well in your race.
Understanding all the tools installed at the pool to help you determine where
you are is critical to your success. Swim lane ropes, painted lines,
flag lines, lighting and the right goggles are all important tools for any pool
to offer, allowing swimmers to stay on the right course and identify where the
end of the pool is located.
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