Last year at about this time, I had a forum entry about USMS not accepting the times because of a supposed clerical error in the pool certification application. It was pointed out to me that it was a pool measurement error and not a clerical error that caused this. It frustrated me because I had swum 5 LMSC freestyle records and 6 top ten Zone records. I had done this under duress as I had a stent placed in a blocked artery not long after the meet.
Well, since that time, I have swum in two competitions, SCY and LCM. On both of these meets, I asked the individuals if the pool measurement were certified. The SCY was in a stationary bulkhead pool that received certification before the meet and the LCM in a movable bulkhead pool.
Everything went ok in the SCY but when I looked up my times in the Zone and USMS sites, they did not appear. Just this week, I found out it was another pool measurement issue and my, once again LMSC records and top tens have been wiped out.
I know the reasoning behind the exclusion of the times but +/- 1cm would not make a difference in where I or anybody in the meet would finally appear in any top 10 or record.
This is a stiff penalty to pay for people to pay for driving good distances to swim in meets, pay good money and spend all day Saturday and Sunday for what comes to be a glorified practice. If USMS is going to be draconian with its rules, they should, in this day of instant messaging, have a set up whereby the pool measurements could be verified and certified on the morning of the meet if it is being held in a movable bulkhead pool.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Bob Sigerson
Paul, I want to apologize for my touchpad interpretation. After rereading it, I realize they meant that it says that the touchpads do not negate the need for the pool to be 50 meters(164'1/2") in length. I am sorry for my interpretation.
BTW, I want you to know that after being burned last year I asked for certification of the scy pool before entering and asked the persons involved with the LCM meet if they had measured and certified the meet prior to swimming in it. What more can a participant do if they are not privy to see the certifications forms which are sent in post meet?
Another btw, LSU Natatorium uses the thin Daktronics touchpads which USA Swimming says are 5mm (3/16) thick.
I will continue this discussion after the holidays, in the meantime, have a MERRY, MERRY Christmas.
Bob Sigerson
Paul, I want to apologize for my touchpad interpretation. After rereading it, I realize they meant that it says that the touchpads do not negate the need for the pool to be 50 meters(164'1/2") in length. I am sorry for my interpretation.
BTW, I want you to know that after being burned last year I asked for certification of the scy pool before entering and asked the persons involved with the LCM meet if they had measured and certified the meet prior to swimming in it. What more can a participant do if they are not privy to see the certifications forms which are sent in post meet?
Another btw, LSU Natatorium uses the thin Daktronics touchpads which USA Swimming says are 5mm (3/16) thick.
I will continue this discussion after the holidays, in the meantime, have a MERRY, MERRY Christmas.
Bob Sigerson
