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
Yeah, that's part of the problem for me, and I assume for lots of swimmers out there--if you can only use backstroke wedges at major meets, it can be a large adjustment.
I've never used them, and that has been a concern watching my kids' team. You know some age group boys are going to do what they want, even if the coach says don't. At any rate, I suggested to one of my girls (14 y/o twins) who has had a hard time getting up over the water on the starts to talk to the coach about them, and see if she could try to learn to use them in warm ups. No problem at all. But again, as I'd mentioned earlier, these were the simple "drop in" fixed position ones, not the auto retract, position setting ones. Made a HUGE difference for her. Her twin learned quickly, too, but her starts are generally pretty good and they weren't that beneficial (actually, they help a LOT in that she doesn't slip on them, but occasionally does without them). But, she does prefer them, now.
Yeah, that's part of the problem for me, and I assume for lots of swimmers out there--if you can only use backstroke wedges at major meets, it can be a large adjustment.
I've never used them, and that has been a concern watching my kids' team. You know some age group boys are going to do what they want, even if the coach says don't. At any rate, I suggested to one of my girls (14 y/o twins) who has had a hard time getting up over the water on the starts to talk to the coach about them, and see if she could try to learn to use them in warm ups. No problem at all. But again, as I'd mentioned earlier, these were the simple "drop in" fixed position ones, not the auto retract, position setting ones. Made a HUGE difference for her. Her twin learned quickly, too, but her starts are generally pretty good and they weren't that beneficial (actually, they help a LOT in that she doesn't slip on them, but occasionally does without them). But, she does prefer them, now.
