As you know, USMS passed a rule that will require us to measure any pool in which we hold a meet, IF we want the times from that meet to count for USMS Top Ten. I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this - what sort of tape to buy, the best method to use, etc. (Can you tell that I'm an engineer?)
I'd like to hear from those of you who have measured pools. What brand of tape do you recommend? What length? (60 meters?) Any idea where I can buy such a tape? Any suggestions for how to get a good (accurate) measurement, especially over a 50 meter course?
FYI, below are the instructions on how to perform pool measurements, taken from the USMS Pool Length Certification Form.
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"A completed form must be on file or submitted with an application for sanction or recognition to your LMSC Sanctions Chairman. For pools utilizing bulkheads, completed forms from each session must be included with results sent to the Top Ten Chairman if the results are to be included in Top Ten submissions.
Measurement procedures:
--Measurements must be conducted using a measuring device with the minimum measuring quality of at least ± 0.005 m (±.0.20 inches or 0.016 feet) over the nominal distance. A laser based measuring device may be used but it must be as accurate as required for steel tapes. Tapes may not be combined to perform the measurements.
--Measurements may be reported in either the English system (feet/inches) or the metric system (meters/centimeters).
Instructions for pool length measurements:
--Measurements must be conducted for each lane. Inspect each end of the pool to insure that it is vertical. If there are any protrusions from the wall into the pool between 0.8 meters (2.5 feet) below the surface to the top of the touch pad or wall or up to 0.3 meters above the surface whichever is higher, you must use the protrusion as your measurement point. Otherwise, measurements must be taken in the center of each lane at water level.
--The measuring device shall be moved up/down and left/right at least 12 inches (unless you are on a protrusion) during each measurement and the minimum distance for each measurement recorded.
--Measurements may be conducted with or without touchpads in place. However, if touchpads are used the pool must still meet the length requirements with them in place.
--Permanent courses need only be measured once unless structural changes have occurred since original measurement.
--For pools with a moveable bulkhead, after each session a course measurement must be confirmed by a responsible person. Only the outside lanes and a single center lane need to be measured to confirm the integrity of the bulkhead and its placement."
Hi, Anna Lea,
We are so fortunate to have a School of Engineering at Southern Illinois University. I consulted with the professor who teaches surveying. He and his students will be measuring our 50 meter X 25 yard pool next month. I also asked his advice concerning measurement using a tape for those who were not so fortunate as to have free surveyors. I shared this information with Pieter Cath and these guidelines will be included in the LMSC handbook. Also, the directions on the final revision of the Pool Certification form are a bit simpler than those you listed in your message.
GUIDELINES FOR POOL MEASUREMENT
The 2003 USMS Rules provide that results from events conducted in pools that do not meet the minimum pool length requirement (minus 0.00M) shall not be acceptable for Record Applications or Top Ten submissions. All competition pools shall be measured in each lane. In measuring your pool, the goal is to meet the minimum length requirement. Your pool should not be shorter than 50.00 meters (164 ft, 1/2 inch) for long course; 25.00 meters (82 feet, 1/4 inch) for short course meters; and 25.00 yards (75 feet) for short course yards. Pool certification shall be reported on the USMS pool certification form. Certification data need only be filed once unless structural changes have occurred since original certification. If your pool has a moveable bulkhead, you must have an initial pool certification on file for each lane. In addition, for pools with moveable bulkheads, course measurement of the two outside lanes and a middle lane must be confirmed at the conclusion of the session (each day of the meet).
HOW TO COMPLY:
First check with your LMSC or the USA Swimming LSC to see if a pool certification is already on file. If so, check that the measurement was done with a steel tape or electronic distance measuring device. Fiberglass tape is not acceptable. Also check to see that each lane was measured.
Electronic measurements are superior to tape measuring techniques. The services of a professional land surveyor may be your best choice. Check with the Civil Engineering department of your local university. They may be willing to do your pool measurement as a project for surveying students. Some community colleges also offer surveying classes. Each state has a State Professional Land Surveyors Association which maybe able to provide free or inexpensive services to your non-profit organization. Perhaps you have such equipment already on hand and know how to use it properly. If so, you need to be aware of the tolerance levels of your equipment over the distances required. It must be accurate to the 1/100th of a meter (1 cm). To achieve this accuracy, the markings on the tape must be to the millimeter, thousandth of a foot, or eighth of an inch. There are handheld laser devices available, priced around $500, that can measure over these distances with accuracy to the millimeter.
If you must measure with a tape, use a steel tape longer than the distance to be measured. Typically, this would be a 200 ft tape for 50 meter pools and 100 ft tape for 25 yard or 25 meter pools. Be attentive to the markings of the tape. Some are marked in tenths of a foot, others in feet and inches, others in meters. Fiberglass tapes are not permitted.
The tape should be supported at the same elevation every 20 ft. to prevent sag. This can be accomplished using kickboards, support poles, or threading the tape through pull-buoys. Thus for a 50 meter pool you should have at least 9 kickboards. Be sure that your tape is taut. Unsupported tape over 50 meters will require about 44 pounds of tension to eliminate sag, 30 pounds over 25 yards/meters. The tension can be determined using a tension handle attachment to the tape.
Measure your pool with touchpads in place if they are generally used in competition. Have touchpads at each end of the pool if that is your usual configuration. Note on the certification form whether touchpads were in place for the measurement and how many were present per lane. Most touchpads have a thickness of 8 mm (.008 meters) but could extend out further in the pool if they are not flush with the wall.
If a visual inspection indicates irregularities in the wall of the pool, one can use a waterproof vertical level of the appropriate length (80 cm minimum) to make sure the wall is vertical. If the level cannot be submerged, one can fasten a yardstick or other device to the level in order to reach the required depth. Only if the walls bow inward toward the pool would an actual measurement be necessary.
Hi, Anna Lea,
We are so fortunate to have a School of Engineering at Southern Illinois University. I consulted with the professor who teaches surveying. He and his students will be measuring our 50 meter X 25 yard pool next month. I also asked his advice concerning measurement using a tape for those who were not so fortunate as to have free surveyors. I shared this information with Pieter Cath and these guidelines will be included in the LMSC handbook. Also, the directions on the final revision of the Pool Certification form are a bit simpler than those you listed in your message.
GUIDELINES FOR POOL MEASUREMENT
The 2003 USMS Rules provide that results from events conducted in pools that do not meet the minimum pool length requirement (minus 0.00M) shall not be acceptable for Record Applications or Top Ten submissions. All competition pools shall be measured in each lane. In measuring your pool, the goal is to meet the minimum length requirement. Your pool should not be shorter than 50.00 meters (164 ft, 1/2 inch) for long course; 25.00 meters (82 feet, 1/4 inch) for short course meters; and 25.00 yards (75 feet) for short course yards. Pool certification shall be reported on the USMS pool certification form. Certification data need only be filed once unless structural changes have occurred since original certification. If your pool has a moveable bulkhead, you must have an initial pool certification on file for each lane. In addition, for pools with moveable bulkheads, course measurement of the two outside lanes and a middle lane must be confirmed at the conclusion of the session (each day of the meet).
HOW TO COMPLY:
First check with your LMSC or the USA Swimming LSC to see if a pool certification is already on file. If so, check that the measurement was done with a steel tape or electronic distance measuring device. Fiberglass tape is not acceptable. Also check to see that each lane was measured.
Electronic measurements are superior to tape measuring techniques. The services of a professional land surveyor may be your best choice. Check with the Civil Engineering department of your local university. They may be willing to do your pool measurement as a project for surveying students. Some community colleges also offer surveying classes. Each state has a State Professional Land Surveyors Association which maybe able to provide free or inexpensive services to your non-profit organization. Perhaps you have such equipment already on hand and know how to use it properly. If so, you need to be aware of the tolerance levels of your equipment over the distances required. It must be accurate to the 1/100th of a meter (1 cm). To achieve this accuracy, the markings on the tape must be to the millimeter, thousandth of a foot, or eighth of an inch. There are handheld laser devices available, priced around $500, that can measure over these distances with accuracy to the millimeter.
If you must measure with a tape, use a steel tape longer than the distance to be measured. Typically, this would be a 200 ft tape for 50 meter pools and 100 ft tape for 25 yard or 25 meter pools. Be attentive to the markings of the tape. Some are marked in tenths of a foot, others in feet and inches, others in meters. Fiberglass tapes are not permitted.
The tape should be supported at the same elevation every 20 ft. to prevent sag. This can be accomplished using kickboards, support poles, or threading the tape through pull-buoys. Thus for a 50 meter pool you should have at least 9 kickboards. Be sure that your tape is taut. Unsupported tape over 50 meters will require about 44 pounds of tension to eliminate sag, 30 pounds over 25 yards/meters. The tension can be determined using a tension handle attachment to the tape.
Measure your pool with touchpads in place if they are generally used in competition. Have touchpads at each end of the pool if that is your usual configuration. Note on the certification form whether touchpads were in place for the measurement and how many were present per lane. Most touchpads have a thickness of 8 mm (.008 meters) but could extend out further in the pool if they are not flush with the wall.
If a visual inspection indicates irregularities in the wall of the pool, one can use a waterproof vertical level of the appropriate length (80 cm minimum) to make sure the wall is vertical. If the level cannot be submerged, one can fasten a yardstick or other device to the level in order to reach the required depth. Only if the walls bow inward toward the pool would an actual measurement be necessary.
