Season is nearly over for me and so it's time to start planning next season.
One of my goals is to improve my dives and my starts in general.
I've been doing some reading about this lately, but I would still appreciate tips and explanation on how to dive.
Moreover, I read Wayne's article on Grab start Vs. Track Start (with ref. to the PowerStart website) . I noticed that swimmers still use the track start and experimented with both styles. I found out I enter the water smoother when I track start but I travel longer when I do the Grab Start.
Next week I'll be working with a coach on this but I'd like to learn more before I do, so I can understand the technique better before I meet the coach and focus on the fine points with him, instead of wasting my time on basics.
Here's a link to Wayne's article:
breaststroke.info/IstheGrabStartDeadrev2.htm
Here's another YouTube link I found:
‪The Finer Points of a Good Swimming Start‬ - YouTube
PowerStart website:
http://www.quickgetaway.com/
So Russel Mark is claiming one should KEEP LOW whereas Wayne and that PowerStart website would like to see swimmers jump UP.
Physicswise, the best way to jump high and far would be to leave the blocks at a 45 degree angle - which is why I tend to adopt the second approach I mentioned.
Here's what I'm talking about:
‪Freestyle Start‬ - YouTube
(watch the second swimmer)
And this is Joe Jackson talking about her dives:
‪Gatorade Swimming Masterclass: Dive Starts with Joanne Jackson World Record Swimmer‬ - YouTube
Notice that unlike what R.Mark said, she isn't pulling the blocks with her hands. Her hands leave the blocks as her legs start to move.
To cut a long story short, my questions are (what is nowadays considered better and why?):
Hand - grabbing or just touching the blocks?
Do they stay behind the CM or are they being thrown forward?
(behind= ‪Phelps-track-start-arms-late‬ - YouTube
(Thrown forward= ‪Freestyle Start‬ - YouTube)
Head - looking DOWN or AT THE FLAGS?
Legs - I tend to enter the water straight but then my legs sort of fold and slow me down. Like the third swimmer in this clip:
‪Freestyle Start‬ - YouTube
Any tips as for how to correct this?
And last but not least, where else can I find information on dives? (couldn't find anything in the forum surprisingly)
Natalie Coughlin was DQed after winning the 100 last month at Santa Clara meet because she twitched on the block. They didn't have the swimmers stand up. So you can be DQed for movement on the block.
Natalie Coughlin was DQed after winning the 100 last month at Santa Clara meet because she twitched on the block. They didn't have the swimmers stand up. So you can be DQed for movement on the block.If I recall, she was DQed because she surfaced after the 15m mark.
Regarding galmag's folding legs syndrome, I had this and it's pretty easy to fix. You just stiffen up before you hit the water- the whole body must be rigid, not just your legs. Optimally, you will pass through a very small circle, but it's OK if it's a bit larger due to to the decrease in flex. Practicing this would help, but you should get it relatively quickly after a few tries. Good luck.
Are you saying that you can be DQ'ed on the start without even having entered the water?
When I was a starter, if there was movement after I gave the command "Take your Mark", I would stand the field and do it again, so generally you would not be dq'd. If I had already committed to start the field and then there was movement, it was a false start and therefore a dq. If you lose your balance and fall into the water BEFORE the starter tells the field to "stand up" it is a false start. If the he says "stand up" and then you lose your balance and fall in, you may or may not be dq'd. This is a judgement call by the referee.
You can definitely be DQ'd for movement on the block. In a recent meet, after "take your mark" I twitched, then moved myself back way further than I was initially and was the last one to leave the blocks. I was DQ'ed for movement. You have to remain still until the gun goes off.
As a starter I would sometimes not rule it a false start if a swimmer had some movement while in the set position, but only if, in my opinion, they were not making a "starting" movement. Again it was a judgement call.
Also, a false start requires a double confirmation. Both the Starter and Referee have to see it and rule it a false start for it to be a dq.
When I was a starter, if there was movement after I gave the command "Take your Mark", I would stand the field and do it again, so generally you would not be dq'd. If I had already committed to start the field and then there was movement, it was a false start and therefore a dq. If you lose your balance and fall into the water BEFORE the starter tells the field to "stand up" it is a false start. If the he says "stand up" and then you lose your balance and fall in, you may or may not be dq'd. This is a judgement call by the referee.
Thanks -- this discussion has been very eye-opening for me. That last case you mention was one that I was particularly curious about. Recently I was at a meet when they asked us to stand up. I don't think I was moving, and I could have stayed in that position for quite a long time. But standing up from the angled blocks was a bit of a challenge for me. :cane: Let's just say there was a bit of gymnastics involved on my part. Sounds like they could have DQ'ed me if they had chosen to.
Re officiating the Start....the false start
Stationary, NOT necesssarily motionless before the beep
a False Start is 'starting before the start signal (i.e. beep)'
mere twitching is not a start; twitching seen as a starting motion however could be called a false start DQ
A false start must be observed by both the Starter and Deck Referee, i.e. dual confirmation
Any recall after the race begins would essentially remove any false start determination
At least one foot must be at front of blocks; acceptable for both feet to be there
Falling into the water before the beep is not a false start; starting before the beep is a false start
You can definitely be DQ'd for movement on the block. In a recent meet, after "take your mark" I twitched, then moved myself back way further than I was initially and was the last one to leave the blocks. I was DQ'ed for movement. You have to remain still until the gun goes off.
