I swam at both the LC Nationals in Minneapolis and Worlds in Budapest this past summer and am wondering if others had the same reaction to the different backstroke start pads at the two meets.
At Nationals you had to hold a lever with one hand, pull the pad down with your other hand put one foot on the pad to hold it in place while you reached up to grab the block and put your second foot up. If your first foot slipped during the process after you let go of the lever the pad was likely to pop back up. The timers often helped with holding the lever but while watching many starts I noted many mishaps and much time taken for all swimmers to bet in place. It was also challenging to get the pad in the right location. All this happens in the rush of trying to get set for the start.
In Budapest it was much simpler. The pad hung from straps anchored to the starting block above. There was no need to position or adjust it. The pad was in the same location for everyone. The pad had a slight angle and was a bit wider in the in the vertical dimension. Once the swimmers started the timers pulled the pad out of the water. Swimmers just jumped in, grabbed the block and put their feet on the pad. Very simple. Less stress. Everyone has the same experience.
I vote in favor of the backstroke start pads from Worlds in Budapest. Abandon the ones from Nationals in Minneapolis.
no where in any rule book does it say that a backstroke ledge must be provided by the facility
no you cannot bring your own
106.12 Backstroke Ledge
The backstroke ledge shall conform to FINA specifications when used in competition
as follows:
1
2017 U.S. Masters Swimming Rule Book
Page 47
106.12.1 The ledge may be adjustable to 4 centimeters above or 4 centimeters below
the water level.
106.12.2 The ledge shall be a minimum of 65 centimeters in length.
106.12.3 The ledge must be 8 centimeters in height, 2 centimeters at the width with
10 degrees of slope.
106.12.4 The ledge shall not be used in water depth less than 4 feet (1.22 meters).
Are you talking about backstroke wedges?
I'm just curious, as my break between college swimming in '11 and starting up Masters this month included the introduction of the wedges, so I've never had a change to encounter them in any of their forms.
It is my understanding that backstroke wedges are stupid expensive and are owned by the facility or host team. It's not something that can be "decided" upon for a masters meet. In fact, they aren't even available everywhere. A lot of the delay in Minneapolis, was that was the first experience swimmers had with the device.
I used the "self pull down" wedges at S C nationals at san antonio but they were not available at nationals at riverside. I did not find them difficult to use. They were set up in the warm up pool to practice with. Yes, there are 2 brands the are purchased or rented?
I agree that one type should be settled upon. the cost is more for the self retracting ones but, if an official does not pull up the other type a dangling meet could occur at the start end for a turn.
Of course backstrokers will probably think this is a stupid idea, but a long time ago they should have dictated that backstroke races would start from standing on the blocks just like all other races do. That would negate the need for special backstroke start equipment, and the need for swimmers to learn an additional start technique. Starts could be regulated just like backstroke turns are...i.e. 15m underwater rule.
Dan
well dan a long time ago there was not a 15m rule...so that still would not have worked.
A long time ago we were allowed to curl our toes over the edge of the gutter so there was no need for the wedge-ledge, except on those hideous European/FINA walls. What's with those anyway? they make it harder to get out of the pool so they especially $uck for very young kids and very old people. For everyone, if you don't time your short-axis turns perfectly you are in deep $hit because you can't hook the gutter with your fingers to compensate for not having enough momentum to execute a touch-turn. They create a huge reflected wave, unless there is a wave-absorbing bulkhead. Basically they are a seriously bad idea. Instead of FINA making curling the toes over the gutter illegal, they should have made those awful walls illegal, but when does FINA ever get it right?...
they should have made those awful walls illegal, but when does FINA ever get it right?...
my guess, is that the awful walls go way back to when they built pools that way because they had no clue on a good gutter design for the turn ends. now, this has to predate the 70s for sure. and so to keep those pools relevant they introduced these rules to keep meets at those horrible wall pools. thusly allowing the tradition of really horrible turn walls forever in international meets.
as for when does fina get it right....it might be a while before i can answer that.
FINA/Omega walls are hideous ... i for one will not compete in Fly/IM with those walls, so frequently will not go to a meet that has those walls ... i go back to when you could stand on the gutter for backstroke ... i loved it ! ... i hate having to get wet prior to the start of a race ... sadly FINA and Omega have a deep financial connection ... no change there soon
