I recently posted a question about racing and received a lot of great answers so here is another question. I am about to participate in my first race (in a pool) and I am worried about being disqualified now. What are some of the common mistakes I need to be aware of? Turns maybe?
From my experiences, which are a bit limited, I've found that the meet refs don't really pay much attention to the slower heats of most events.
2 years ago, I dove in for a 50 LCM ***, somehow thought it was a 50 free and did a ton of dolphin kicks. I realized what I had done, surfaced, and just swam the rest of the length easy *** expecting a DQ, which never came. I'm sure there's some things I've done incorrectly every time I've swum at a meet (a back to *** turn in an IM, some *** turns, etc) and I've never ever received a DQ.
I'd just go to the meet, do your best, and have fun. Yes, do what you think you're supposed to, but don't sweat it if you screw up.
At some time or other - we all have had a brain fart & been DQ'ed for something. We also have had great races that live on more spoken:blah::chug: that the dq's !!
I got DQ'd on the first Masters event I ever swam. It was for a 100 Backstroke. I was so new to swimming, I took an extra half pull before the turn. It was the best thing to ever happen to my backstroke. I have drilled those turns, so it will never happen again!
I got DQ'd on the first Masters event I ever swam. It was for a 100 Backstroke. I was so new to swimming, I took an extra half pull before the turn. It was the best thing to ever happen to my backstroke. I have drilled those turns, so it will never happen again!
Me too! I got DQd in Omaha at the Summer Nationals. It was my very first meet ever and I entered 50 free, 50 br, and 100 br. I got DQd on both of my breaststroke races. I was especially bummed about the 50br because I would have had a medal for that one! But the judges said my 'right foot was not turned out enough during the swim'. I think the worst part was being told to stand at the end of the pool and wait through the following heat to hear whether or not they decided to DQ me.
I went to a meet the following weekend locally and swam the same three events plus 50 fly and a few relays. I did not DQ on any of them. This local meet was much more laid back and a LOT more fun. I did work a lot on my breaststroke kick during the week between the events, but I really don't think I was able to change it much. Sometimes, your chances of getting DQd have more to do with the meet than with your swimming, I think.
I think the worst part was being told to stand at the end of the pool and wait through the following heat to hear whether or not they decided to DQ me.
I don't think they were "deciding whether or not to to DQ you." They wanted to explain to you what you were DQed for and in rapid-fire events like a 50 sometimes they can't do so immediately.
From my experiences, which are a bit limited, I've found that the meet refs don't really pay much attention to the slower heats of most events.
Not sure that is true. I got DQ'd in the first/slowest heat of a 400 IM. Decided to kick in to the wall on the first 25 of the fly and was further away than I though. Hands came apart and I got called for underwater recovery. It was a good call. Should have take another stroke. I wondered if it was enough for a DQ when I did it. Glad I didn't find out until after the swim!
I don't think they were "deciding whether or not to to DQ you." They wanted to explain to you what you were DQed for and in rapid-fire events like a 50 sometimes they can't do so immediately.
Yeah, I assumed that. Until the judge I was standing with said, "Just waiting to see if it's a DQ or not."
Not sure that is true. I got DQ'd in the first/slowest heat of a 400 IM. Decided to kick in to the wall on the first 25 of the fly and was further away than I though. Hands came apart and I got called for underwater recovery. It was a good call. Should have take another stroke. I wondered if it was enough for a DQ when I did it. Glad I didn't find out until after the swim!
Agreed. I was (literally) the slowest swimmer in all my events - and got DQd from two out of three.
I'd just go to the meet, do your best, and have fun. Yes, do what you think you're supposed to, but don't sweat it if you screw up.
I agree with this 110%. Of course, getting DQ'd is not a lot of fun, so of course, you want to do your homework. Once you've done it, though, you're done. Now it's time to have fun!
Many of us have stories about getting deeked for something, including some Masters World Record holders on this very forum. It's the price we sometimes pay for keeping the sport fair and honest, and hooray for that.
So if you do get DQ'd, it's not the end of the world. Learn from it, try not to repeat it, and consider it your contribution to the betterment of our sport.
I'm not an official, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think the process is for the stroke judge to raise their hand to signal the DQ. The meet referee will then record the heat, lane and reason for the DQ after talking to the judge who signaled the DQ. My guess is it was the meet referee who asked you to wait and then got the confirmation from the judge who saw your illegal kick.
That makes sense! Thanks for the explanation. :D
