So i was at a swim meet this weekend and a guy was using a towel on the starting blocks because there was zero traction on the tops. The offical came over right before the heat started and told the guy he couldnt use the towel because it was an artifical surface and it gave him an unfair advantage (i was in the lane next to him and i overheard the conversation). I was bored between events and looked at the rules and didnt see anything about this. Was the official right? If not, im bringing a towel next time too!
There does not seem to be a consensus on this among officials. I have been to meets where a towel was allowed and ones (more often) where they were not allowed. To be really technical, in my opinion, it gives you an advantage because it shortens the pool length by whatever the thickness of the towel is. Times are disallowed if the pool length is off at all, so should a towel be allowed?
There does not seem to be a consensus on this among officials. I have been to meets where a towel was allowed and ones (more often) where they were not allowed. To be really technical, in my opinion, it gives you an advantage because it shortens the pool length by whatever the thickness of the towel is. Times are disallowed if the pool length is off at all, so should a towel be allowed?
