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All About Lap Swimming

Venetian has a long tradition of promoting and enabling lap swimming. The dedicated lap lanes are there for all members to use and enjoy during the season. This page has information to help current and future lap swimmers maximize their lap swimming experience:

Health Benefits of Lap Swimming
Lap Lane Etiquette
Reserving Lap Lanes
The 40 Mile Challenge
Pool Season Swim Lessons
Off-Season Lap Swimming Locations
Swim Coaching and Stroke Clinics

Health Benefits of Lap Swimming

Lap swimming is one of the safest and most efficient methods of maintaining good physical and mental health throughout the year. It is easy on your joints, keeps your heart strong, strengthens your lungs, burns calories, builds muscle, keeps your mind sharp, supports healthy aging, improves sleep, and helps your mental health by calming the mind and reducing anxiety. See what health experts have to say on the subject:

Lap Lane Etiquette

It is important to observe lap lane etiquette. A swimmer in a lap lane may not notice a new person in the lane, and collisions can be dangerous!

Get into the lap lane at the end of the pool opposite to the diving board. Do NOT get in the lap lane from the side of the pool.
Do not cross the lap lanes.
Always let a swimmer in a lap lane know that you want to enter the lane by putting your hand or foot in the water at the end of the lane. Wait to get into the lane until the swimmer has acknowledged they have seen you. Enter on the same side of the lap lane where you are swimming.
With strokes that require more space, e.g. breast stroke or butterfly, time your strokes to avoid hitting the swimmer(s) sharing your lane.
For lane 1 during regular pool hours:
- If there are 2 people in the lane, split the lane with one person staying on one side and the other staying on the other. It is polite for the second person to ask the first person if they have a preference of sides.
- If there are more than 2 people in the lane, then all must circle swim in the lane. If the other swimmer/s are faster than you, do not push off in front of them. If you want to pass a swimmer, tap them on the foot.
For reserved lanes:
- If no one shows up to swim in a reserved lane or there is no reservation for the lane at that time, you may swim in that lane using the Lane 1 procedures above. However, if the swimmer with the reservation shows up late, you will need to leave the lane immediately.

Reserving Lap Lanes

Instructions and rules for reserving lap lanes are here. They can also be found under the Lap Swimming menu tab.

The 40 Mile Challenge

The 40 Mile Challenge was started in 2012 by Venetian member, Maya Hahn. It is available to all members throughout the pool season at no additional charge. To participate, sign up at the front desk. You will be given a personalized sheet in the 40 Mile Challenge notebook at the front desk. Note the distance of each lap swimming session on that sheet after you swim. Members swimming a total of 40 miles or more during the pool season receive a prize at the end of the season. In 2024, over 100 participants swam a total distance equal to that from Atlanta to Los Angeles and back!

Pool Season Swim Lessons

Swim lessons taught by Venetian Poolshark coaches are available for Venetian members (kids and adults) during the pool season. The list of coach contacts and availability is updated at the beginning of the season on the Venetian Poolsharks website here and in the lesson book in the front desk. If you have any questions about which coach would be a good fit for your specific lesson needs, please reach out to Head Coach Beth at bulldawgbeth@gmail.com.