Two instructions that sound similar
Swim sets often tell you either how long to rest or when to leave the wall again. These are not the same instruction. If the board says rest 20 seconds, that rest begins when you finish the repeat. A send-off describes the full window for the swim and the rest together. Ask the coach which one the set uses.
Walk through one example
Suppose a coached set has a two-minute send-off. You finish the repeat in one minute and 35 seconds. That leaves 25 seconds before the next departure. On another repeat, a finish of one minute and 45 seconds leaves 15 seconds. The example explains the clock; it is not a recommended interval for every swimmer.
Agree before pushing off
Ask where to start on the clock, which stroke and distance to use, and what to do if you cannot hold the assigned send-off. Do not skip rest or rush a turn to hide confusion. In a shared lane, follow the pool's passing rules and the coach's spacing instructions.
Write the full set down
A useful note includes the distance, number of repeats, and whether the timing meant rest or send-off. Ten short swims with rest after each are a different assignment from ten swims on a fixed departure schedule. Those few words make next week's comparison much clearer.
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