Starter - Philosophy, Procedures & Protocols

Transcription

1 Philsphy Starter - Philsphy, Prcedures & Prtcls The primary respnsibility f the starter is t ensure that all swimmers receive a fair start The starter des nt cmmand the swimmers t start, rather the starter invites the swimmers t swim Always speak in a calm vice; never raise yur vice r yell D nt penalize the swimmers because yu gave them a bad start D nt wrry abut the timeline after yu have been given cntrl f the swimmers as rushing the start will ften lead t an unfair start Practice patience, patience, patience d nt rush the swimmers during the start Cmmunicatins Arrive early fr the start f each sessin and reprt t the Referee Strke & Turn briefings are generally held min prir t the start f the sessin; arriving befre this gives yu an pprtunity t meet with the Referee befre the briefing begins Cmmunicating early and ften allws the Referee and Starter t functin as a team What shuld be dne befre the sessin Finish setting up timing system Timing system test Timers briefing Other What shuld be dne (r nt) during the sessin Hw t handle missing swimmers Hw t handle false starts Special instructins Virginia Swimming, Inc. September 23, 2006 Timing System and Deck Check 1 Well befre the start f the sessin check the starting blcks fr stability and have facility management fix any that are lse Check all equipment fr prper cnnectins (including start cable plugged int the START psitin and nt the BACKUP START psitin Psitin starting system strbe s that it can be seen by the timers Speakers lcated such that the starting cmmands can clearly be heard by the swimmers In cnjunctin with the Timing Equipment Operatr, perfrm a cmplete electrnic timing system check and d s early enugh that prblems can be crrected while still starting the sessin n time The timing equipment check shuld include: Near and far-end (if any) pads Near and far-end (if any) buttns Near and far-end (if any) starting unit A test start shuld be perfrmed when switching cnnectins frm ne end f the pl t the ther t ensure that a starting signal is being received by the timing equipment Psitining The Starter shall stand within ten feet f the starting end f the pl Mst Referees will let the Starter have the first chice f where t stand, with the Referee then having secnd chice Paperwrk During the Sessin Keep track f the current heat/event n a heat sheet Mark any n-shws fr each heat Mark any ptential false starts (mre detail t fllw) Off Starter, when there is ne, shuld recrd rder f finish

2 Have DQ slips available fr writing false start vilatins Fcus Between Heats Maintain a relaxed cmpsure Especially if the Referee is distracted while handling DQs, watch the prgress f the heat and alert the Referee when it is almst time fr the whistle chirps (and keep an eye ut fr swimmers that are significantly behind the field s as t help prevent an early whistle) Starting n later than the 4-5 whistle chirps, scan behind the lanes fr prblems (missing swimmers, cnfusin, crwd blcking access t the blcks) and let the Referee knw if there is a prblem Knw which lanes shuld have swimmers and let the Referee knw which lane has a missing swimmer r which lane has a swimmer nt listed n the heat sheet and where there s a ptential prblem Many screbards will display a dt fllwing the lane number when the timing system has been reset fr the next race; cnsult with the referee fr wh will have respnsibility fr watching fr this signal Cnditins Behind and Between the Blcks This area smetimes becmes cngested Request Timers and Officials t step back when they blck yur view f the swimmers r therwise distract yu Swimmers nt n the blcks shuld remain behind the chairs After the heat ges ff, the next heat f swimmers can cme frward Marshal shuld help enfrce Whistle Start Prtcl What D the Whistles Mean? 4-5 shrt whistle chirps by the Referee signals upcming heat f swimmers that their start is cming up 1 lng whistle blast by the Referee signals the swimmers t step n the blcks r int the water (as apprpriate) Fr backstrke starts, an additinal whistle blast signals the swimmers t return t the wall withut undue delay 2 The timing f the whistles is by judgment f the Referee, and is determined by the level f swimmers, the time line, and whether r nt dive-ver starts are being used Pacing the Meet It is the Referee s respnsibility t ensure that the meet is being paced crrectly Pacing can be managed t sme extent by the Referee blwing the whistle earlier r later t annunce the next heat r t step the swimmers up (beynd that pacing is largely dependent upn hw fast the swimmers are swimming The Starter shuld nt hurry the start t make up time r slw the start t slw things dwn, but rather shuld cncentrate n giving each heat a fair start Annuncing Events At meets with a separate Annuncer, the Annuncer will annunce the events fllwing the whistle chirps; if a separate Annuncer is nt available the events are annunced by the Starter Referee: 4-5 whistle chips Annuncer (Starter): Event 1, Wmen s Yard Freestyle, Heat 1 Referee: 1 lng whistle blast Swimmers step-up Starter: Take yur mark Starter: Starting signal Swimmers swim Referee: 4-5 whistle chirps Annuncer (Starter): Heat 2 Cntinue as abve Annuncing Guidelines State cmplete event, nt abbreviatin Butterfly, nt fly Backstrke, nt back Breaststrke, nt breast Freestyle, nt free Individual Medley, nt IM Singular, nt plural

3 100 Yard, nt 100 Yards r Meter, nt 100 Meters r 100 Unless directed t by the Referee, d nt ask: The swimmers t step-up If there is a swimmer fr lane X If Jhn Smith is present D nt use cmmands such as: Strke(s) t be used and/r the rder f swimming them Number f lengths Any ther language unless specifically requested t d s by the Referee Optinal cmmand that is used in VSI Advise the heat when a swimmer will be attempting t achieve a time at an initial distance (ex. Ging fr a 50 Y time in a 200 Y event) Annunce after the swimmers are n the blcks Dealing with a nisy venue D s Wait fr the nise level t drp, the crwd will generally becme quiet if yu wait If n Annuncer is available, annunce Quiet fr the start, please If an Annuncer is available, have a general annuncement made requesting quiet fr the start, please Step the swimmers ff the blcks if necessary Dealing with a nisy venue Dn ts D nt attempt t talk ver the nise D nt raise yur vice r yell, it is generally ineffective and nly makes yu lk bad D nt prceed with take yur mark, hping that the swimmers will hear yu Frward Start 4-5 shrt whistle chirps will signal the next heat f swimmers t be prepared t step up 1 lng whistle blast signals the swimmers t step nt the blcks Swimmers stepping up befre the lng whistle need nt be stepped dwn, 3 particularly if they will have t immediately step back up If the swimmer steps up way early yu might indicate t the swimmer hw early they are Different Referees have different preferences fr handling this situatin d as requested When the swimmers and fficials are ready, the Referee will signal with an utstretched arm that the swimmers are in the Starter s cntrl D nt ask swimmers t step up, r call fr missing swimmers unless directed t d s by the Referee Act as a secnd set f eyes fr the Referee; if there are prblems behind the blcks, let the Referee knw Knw which lanes shuld be empty/full When yu judge that the swimmers are ready fr the start, say Take yur mark Take yur mark shuld be said in a cnversatinal tne, as in clse the dr r shut the dr Prir t the take yur mark cmmand, the swimmer s feet may be placed anywhere n the starting platfrm After the take yur mark cmmand, the swimmer shall immediately assume their starting psitin and have at least ne ft at the frnt f the starting platfrm r deck In respnding t the take yur mark cmmand it is imprtant t remember that the swimmer may mve a little r a lt, and there is n requirement t assume a cruching r tucked psitin, r t even mve if they already have at least ne ft at the frnt f the starting platfrm Sme swimmers may be in clse t their final start psitin prir t the take yur mark cmmand and may nly mve an inch r tw Other swimmers may be standing upright and have t mve a large distance t achieve their starting psitin Still ther swimmers may be standing upright and stay clse t upright

4 The rule states that the swimmer must immediately assume their starting psitin ; the rule des nt state that the swimmers must cme dwn tgether The variety f starting psitins can challenge the Starter and nly experience will help yu get it right mst f the time When all f the swimmers are statinary, the Starter gives the starting signal Statinary is nt the same as mtinless Mtinless means the swimmer can't be mving, while statinary means that they are staying in the same place Just because smene has sme mtin des nt necessarily mean that they are nt remaining statinary (a flag flapping in the breeze is nt mtinless and yet it is statinary) Making sure that a swimmer is statinary can be difficult as sme swimmers cntinue t change psitin after a pint at which yu might have thught they wuld have stpped (experience will help here) Want t learn t see the whle field simultaneusly, withut fcusing unduly n individual swimmers Statinary is a relative term when used with yung swimmers; smetimes it is as gd as its ging t get When a swimmer des nt prmptly respnd t the cmmand take yur mark 1st instance - Release the swimmers with the cmmand stand up r stand which allws the swimmers t stand up r step ff the blcks (the latter almst never happens but is allwed under the rules) Stand shuld be said sftly and slwly (sssstand) and nt ludly and abruptly (STAND); the frmer tends t keep the swimmers n the blcks while the latter tends t scare them ff 2nd instance - stand the heat and issue generic warning such as please respnd prmptly t my cmmand 3rd instance - stand the heat, step it dwn, and issue specific warning t the prblem lane such as lane 3, please respnd prmptly t my cmmand 4th instance - recmmend t the Referee a DQ fr delay f meet (extrardinarily rare) The abve prcedures may vary depending upn the level f the meet and the preference f the Referee Determining hw lng is t lng when deciding when t stand a heat is a judgment call that is nly learned thrugh experience As a general rule, if the swimmers are nt lsing their fcus yu can avid saying stand; if they start lking at yu and are readjusting their psitin it is prbably time t stand the heat Smetimes a swimmer will assume a starting psitin very slwly hping t be the last ne dwn and thus cntrlling the start If the ther swimmers are getting edgy, stand the heat If the ther swimmers remain ready t g, hld the heat a little lnger and then start If the swimmer is unduly delaying the start then warn as indicated earlier D nt fall int a fixed timing pattern fr yur starting rutine Cntinue watching the swimmers fr yards t make sure that there are n prblems After starting the race, slwly lwer the micrphne while remaining ready fr a recall if necessary Alert the timing equipment peratr f any empty lanes Backstrke Start 4-5 shrt whistle chirps will signal the next heat f swimmers t be prepared t step up 1 lng whistle blast signals the swimmers t step int the pl A secnd lng whistle blast nce all the swimmers have surfaced signals the swimmers t return t the wall withut delay The ptinal cmmand place yur feet is nt rdinarily used in VSI sanctined meets The swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with bth hands placed n the gutter r n the starting grips 4

5 Standing in r n the gutter r curling the tes ver the lip f the gutter is prhibited bth befre and after the start Prper ft psitin is the respnsibility f the Starter prir t the start f the race and the respnsibility f the Turn Judge after the start If the race is started with the ft/feet already in an illegal psitin, it is a missed call by the Starter If the ft/feet assume an illegal psitin after the start the call is made by the Turn Judge and nt the Starter A warning shuld be issued t a swimmer with feet in an illegal psitin (Lane 4, please remve yur tes frm the gutter) Multiple warnings may warrant a recmmendatin t the Referee fr a delay f meet, but mre ften than nt it is a cnfused yung swimmer that just needs additinal prmpting Swimmers may be released frm the starting psitin with the cmmands f relax, stand, r stand up All ther aspects f the start are the same as the frward start What is a False Start? A false start ccurs when a swimmer starts befre the starting signal is given The key then t determining when a swimmer has cmmitted a false start is in determining that the swimmer has actually started prir t the starting signal In many cases a false start is clear t everyne the swimmer has becme statinary in respnse t the take yur mark cmmand and then simply expldes ff the blcks prir t the starting signal; this is especially clear if everyne else remains n the blcks Less clear examples f a false start ccur when the starting actin is nt easily bserved by everyne n deck, examples f which include: The frward flinch f an elbw The driving back f the leg 5 The swimmer rcking back (nte that ging frward is nt necessarily the first thing a swimmer will d when starting) All the abve are quite pssibly illegal if part f the starting mtin When in dubt, the swimmer gets the benefit f the dubt A muscle twitch/ripple if nt part f the starting mtin is nt be a false start One way t visualize a false start is t imagine the swimmer enclsed in a glass bx fllwing their becming statinary - Incidental mvement that keeps them in the bx are nt likely t be examples f a false start Mvement that results in all r part f them leaving the bx are likely t be examples f a false start Cnsider a swimmer wh lses their balance when stepping n the starting blck and falls int the pl, r the swimmer wh while assuming a starting psitin desn t quite find it and keeps mving int the pl Ask yurself whether r nt the swimmer actually started If they slipped, if they fell, it isn t a false start This must be distinguished frm a deliberate delay f meet in which the swimmer is playing arund and winds up in the pl Again, the swimmer gets the benefit f the dubt A swimmer fllws anther swimmer int the pl prir t the starting signal being given (they react t the mtin f the first swimmer) Each swimmer is respnsible fr his/her wn start If they immediately react t the first swimmer s mtin and start themselves, then it is a false start If there is a substantial delay between the starts f the tw swimmers r if the stand cmmand has been given and the secnd swimmer dives in when they culd have clearly std up (they weren t scared in by the cmmand, they simply elected t dive in), then it may be mre apprpriate

6 t disqualify them fr deliberate delay r miscnduct (see belw) False Starts Under the N Recall Start Prcedure Any swimmer starting befre the starting signal is given shall be disqualified if the Referee independently bserves and cnfirms the Starter s bservatin that a vilatin ccurred Swimmers remaining n the starting blcks shall be relieved frm their starting psitins with the stand up cmmand and may step ff the blcks The Starter shall restart the race upn signal by the Referee If the starting signal has been given befre the disqualificatin is declared, the race shall cntinue withut recall (n recall start prcedure) If the Referee independently bserves and cnfirms the Starter s bservatin that a vilatin ccurred, the swimmer that false started shall be ntified f the DQ upn cmpletin f the race If the recall signal is activated inadvertently, n swimmer shall be charged with a false start and the Starter shall restart the race upn signal by the Referee The stand cmmand can smetimes be used t save a swimmer frm a false start: If the Starter sees smene starting, says stand, and the swimmer can hld themselves up n the blcks, then n false start If the stand cmmand is given and the swimmer already starting cntinues int the water, n matter hw valiant the attempt f the swimmer t d therwise, it is still a false start Cnversely, a swimmer entering the water in reactin t a stand cmmand can be relieved f a false start The stand cmmand des nt give the swimmers a free pass t dive int the water A swimmer entering the water in reactin t anther swimmer false starting shuld nt be relieved f a false start Dual Cnfirmatin f a False Start Upn bserving a false start, bth the Starter and Referee shuld independently recrd the bservatin n their heat sheet (ex. Circle the lane number f the ffending swimmer) The Starter shuld then initiate cntact with the Referee and reprt I have a ptential false start and shw the Referee his/her heat sheet With cnfirmatin by the Referee, the swimmer is charged with a false start There shuld never be a discussin between the Starter and the Referee as t whether r nt a false start ccurred; this is n different than bserving a relay take-ff and shuld be a black/white call Recalling a Heat A bad start is nt the same as a false start We d nt recall fr a false start; we can recall fr a bad start Either the Starter r the Referee may initiate the recall f a heat The Referee will initiate a recall by blwing the whistle; in the event that this ccurs the Starter shuld immediately activate the recall signal n the starting unit The Starter will initiate a recall by activating the recall signal and the Referee shuld reinfrce this signal with the whistle Bad start examples Nt all the swimmers were allwed t becme statinary prir t the starting signal A flash went ff n a camera right befre the start A lud nise ccurred right befre the start Recalled heats shuld be relatively infrequent ccurrences Frequent recalls may be a sign that the Starter is rushing the start and nt allwing sufficient time fr the swimmers t becme statinary Deliberate Delay r Miscnduct When a swimmer delays the start by entering the water r by willfully r deliberately disbeying a cmmand t step n the blcks 6

7 r t take a starting psitin, r fr any ther miscnduct taking place at the start, may be disqualified frm the event by the Starter with the cncurrence f the Referee The rule says may which is permissive but nt an abslute requirement Frm a previus example, a swimmer slipping and falling int the pl at the start shuld nt be disqualified under this rule, while a swimmer gfing arund and deliberately entering the pl may be disqualified The Referee shall disqualify a swimmer wh fails t appear at the starting platfrm ready t swim in time fr the initial start f his/her heat This can ccur when the swimmer steps up after the Referee has clsed the heat by extending his/her arm Prir t the advent f the declared false start rule, a swimmer culd refuse the blcks which wuld result in a deliberate delay disqualificatin (this was dne t maintain eligibility t cmpete when missing a race meant being barred frm additinal cmpetitin) Declared False Start Swimmers reprting t the Referee prir t the start f their race and declaring their intent nt t cmpete will be disqualified (except in finals when Champinship scratch rules are in effect) Warning Signal In individual events 500 yards r lnger, a signal shall be sunded (mst ften a bell) ver the water at the finish end f the lane f the leading swimmer when that swimmer has tw lengths plus five yards/meters t swim Ring the bell frm the time the swimmer swims under the flags until the swimmer returns t the flags If events have been cmbined (age, sex) int a single heat, the bell shuld be rung fr the lead swimmer f each event in the cmbined heat The Starter shuld keep track f laps swum in all events in which a warning signal is required Starting Swimmers n the Deck r in the Pl Starts frm the deck r in the water are allwed fr frward start events If starting frm the deck, the swimmer must have at least ne ft at the frnt edge f the deck fllwing take yur mark and then remain statinary until the start If starting in the water, the swimmer must have at least ne hand in cntact with the wall fllwing take yur mark and then remain statinary until the start Starting Disabled Swimmers The athlete r the athlete s cach shuld ntify the Referee f any special needs Specific guidelines are set-ut in the rule bk with which the Starter shuld be familiar Deaf athletes are mst ften encuntered Strbe needs t be psitined such that it can be seen by the swimmer at the start Hand signals are given in the rule bk, but it is advisable t speak with the cach abut the athlete s particular needs Other Duties as Assigned Brief Timers prir t start f sessin Strke & Turn Judge fr lanes adjacent t the starting unit (we prefer this nt t happen) Relay Take-Off Judge Order f finish (ff Starter) Trainer fr Apprentices Miscellaneus New Starters ften feel they can d a sessin with n help r breaks Seasned Starters welcme breaks as a means f remaining fcused The starting unit shuld be switched ff and cnnected t the charger between sessins 7