The backstroke wedges have been malfunctioning.
I didn't want to hijack Allen's thread about the "FINA Worlds Controversy" but his comment about the backstroke starts is something I've thought about a lot.
The swim events that I participate in are pretty much non-meet type events. So, I don't really have much experience with the starts in pool events. Consequently, there will probably be some disagreement with my comment, or just plane refusal to consider it. But I've talked with numerous swimmers who've had issues with backstroke starting "wedges" and/or handles, and other backstroke start related equipment. And, I've seen lots of complaints about that same equipment here in the swim forums. But...why in the world won't FINA take steps to have backstroke start up on the blocks like the other strokes and eliminate all that backstroke start equipment as a problem? Make it so that backstrokers dive into the water just like all the other strokes, and have to surface by the 15m line and first stroke must be on their back. Wouldn't that make things so much easier?
Dan
Wedges on the blocks can malfunction, too. Maybe not in the same way, but they can not seat, not move, seat on one side, etc. So I don't think moving to the blocks is a good idea. If the retractable ones are a problem, there are some that don't retract, but are a fixed distance, and rely on the officials/timers to pull them up after the start. If anyone has been to the pools in Cary or Greensboro in North Carolina, that is how they are
I officiated at the TYR Pro meet in Bloomington in May where they used the same Omega wedges as at Worlds.
As officials we had to remember to pull them out of the water after the start. Occasionally someone would forget and another official would have to remind them. It was like developing a new habit and a bit of a distraction, taking your focus off the race.
The bigger problem was the design of the wedges themselves where the straps would get tangled, or the height adjustment would slip. There was an Omega tech sitting on the start end with one or two spare wedge assemblies that they would swap out if one caused a problem.
Again, like at Worlds, after struggling with the wedges during prelims, they limited the adjustment settings for finals, if for no other reason to make sure they didn't have problems during the televised finals.
I do think that the wedges serve a useful purpose to help prevent slipping, especially against the slippery surface of the touch pads. But the powers that be need to take another look at the overall situation based on the recent issues.
Wedges on the blocks can malfunction, too. Maybe not in the same way, but they can not seat, not move, seat on one side, etc. So I don't think moving to the blocks is a good idea. If the retractable ones are a problem, there are some that don't retract, but are a fixed distance, and rely on the officials/timers to pull them up after the start. If anyone has been to the pools in Cary or Greensboro in North Carolina, that is how they are
I officiated at the TYR Pro meet in Bloomington in May where they used the same Omega wedges as at Worlds.
As officials we had to remember to pull them out of the water after the start. Occasionally someone would forget and another official would have to remind them. It was like developing a new habit and a bit of a distraction, taking your focus off the race.
The bigger problem was the design of the wedges themselves where the straps would get tangled, or the height adjustment would slip. There was an Omega tech sitting on the start end with one or two spare wedge assemblies that they would swap out if one caused a problem.
Again, like at Worlds, after struggling with the wedges during prelims, they limited the adjustment settings for finals, if for no other reason to make sure they didn't have problems during the televised finals.
I do think that the wedges serve a useful purpose to help prevent slipping, especially against the slippery surface of the touch pads. But the powers that be need to take another look at the overall situation based on the recent issues.
