Why does it make a difference if the pool is foreign? Are they any harder to measure for some reason? Everything you say would be equally true of all the measurements done in USMS pools.
While it is true that measurements by surveyors are better than measurements by amateurs, the latter are probably better than no bulkhead measurements at all (which is the default mode for USA-S and FINA meets).
The difference is that those swimming jurisdictions do not have the same rules USMS has and as a general rule, a time swum and accepted in a foreign jurisdiction should be accepted everywhere. So, from that standpoint we should not have to measure the pool, since the time is presumptively valid having been swum under the rules applicable in the jurisdiction where it was swum. We can not require other countries to conform to our rules. Those jurisdictions have developed rules that work best for them. The second problem is that from a standpoint of etiquette it is something I would not want to do and would be careful even in inquiring about it. The third problem goes to all private measurements done by swimmers who benefit from a measurement that shows the pool is correct in length. They have an interest in presenting a measurement validating their time, regardless of the true measurement. A neutral person is always in the best position to be fair and to be credible.
I have a problems with criteria to insure accuracy. If swimmers measure the course how are we going to know if they did it correctly? How will we know if their measuring device was accurate. What do we do if we have 2 swimmers submitting pool measurements one claiming the pool was short and the other submitting a potential WR with a measurement claiming the pool was the right length?
A bad measurement is much worse than no measurement at all. A bad measurement could invalidate times that were swum on a proper course, or validate times on a short course. The discrepancy might not be discovered until after the reults were erroneously accepted or erroneously expunged.
FINA and USAS are not in the business of measuring pools and we should not be in that business either.
BTW, Carolina is up by 8 over Creighton at the half!
Why does it make a difference if the pool is foreign? Are they any harder to measure for some reason? Everything you say would be equally true of all the measurements done in USMS pools.
While it is true that measurements by surveyors are better than measurements by amateurs, the latter are probably better than no bulkhead measurements at all (which is the default mode for USA-S and FINA meets).
The difference is that those swimming jurisdictions do not have the same rules USMS has and as a general rule, a time swum and accepted in a foreign jurisdiction should be accepted everywhere. So, from that standpoint we should not have to measure the pool, since the time is presumptively valid having been swum under the rules applicable in the jurisdiction where it was swum. We can not require other countries to conform to our rules. Those jurisdictions have developed rules that work best for them. The second problem is that from a standpoint of etiquette it is something I would not want to do and would be careful even in inquiring about it. The third problem goes to all private measurements done by swimmers who benefit from a measurement that shows the pool is correct in length. They have an interest in presenting a measurement validating their time, regardless of the true measurement. A neutral person is always in the best position to be fair and to be credible.
I have a problems with criteria to insure accuracy. If swimmers measure the course how are we going to know if they did it correctly? How will we know if their measuring device was accurate. What do we do if we have 2 swimmers submitting pool measurements one claiming the pool was short and the other submitting a potential WR with a measurement claiming the pool was the right length?
A bad measurement is much worse than no measurement at all. A bad measurement could invalidate times that were swum on a proper course, or validate times on a short course. The discrepancy might not be discovered until after the reults were erroneously accepted or erroneously expunged.
FINA and USAS are not in the business of measuring pools and we should not be in that business either.
BTW, Carolina is up by 8 over Creighton at the half!
