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!
You are within your right to respectfully ask the official to site the reference.
Where would the official put it? Or is that part of the respectful suggestion? :bolt:
I asked about this with a meet official once last year. He said that normally it isn't allowed, but that I could make a case with him and if I could show that there existed a risk to safety due to slippery block surfaces that I would be permitted to use a towel.
As for the comment about towel thickness.. do you think those blocks are installed THAT uniform that they all line up to the wall perfectly square and of the same depth within a compressed towel thickness? Every meet I've ever been to there's at least one block thats not even squared up to the wall because its either bent from a fat guy like me, or that they squared up the block anchor and the block surface is not square to its own anchoring system. I'm not talking about a millimeter either. I've seen blocks that are an inch further towards the pool edge on one corner, and and inch back on the other.
I know. It's sort of funny when you think about all the effort that goes into certifying pool length and I've never ever seen anyone check that the blocks are actually mounted correctly.
We won't even go into the blocks that actually shift backward when you push off...
Out here in the wild west, I have never seen an official comment on a towel on the blocks. It also may have to do with the very real problem of heat in the summer months. Some blocks are faced with black anti skid material that can blister the bottoms of the feet. A towel is, at that time, a safety measure.
