Today I heard that a swimming pool "back east" had been recently measured and found to be too short. Further, the rumor continues, any records set in that facility are alleged to be dis-allowed. True? False? Who knows the real skinny on this ?
Bert
Electronic timing can be wrong due to a swimmer not touching the pad hard enough to register the finishing touch, then seconds later either his hands or feet touch the pad and it registers 2-3 seconds slower. Hopefully the back up time is right......
Originally posted by Betsy
I have a question and I feel sure that someone has done or will do the calculations to answer it.
The whole controvery about pool length, of course, centers around fairness. BUT, which situation below gives the swimmer the larger advantage?
(1) Swimming 100 meters in a pool that measures 24.99 meters, timed electronically.
(2) Swimming 100 meters in a pool that measures 25.00 meters, timed by hand held watches.
Betsy
I doubt that it's possible to do calculations comparing the two situations, since #2 could be either an advantage or a disadvantage. It would depend on a number of factors, like the timers' reaction times in starting and stopping the watches, their angle of sight, etc. For example, at a recent meet, I was hand timed in one event three seconds slower than the official electronic time (it was a 50 Free, believe it or not!); needless to say, the electronic time was the correct one :D . But hand times can just as easily be too fast.
But either #1 nor #2 would result in an accurate time. My understanding (I could be wrong on this) is that a record wouldn't be recognized in either scenario.
Originally posted by KenChertoff
But either #1 nor #2 would result in an accurate time. My understanding (I could be wrong on this) is that a record wouldn't be recognized in either scenario.
World and USMS records are acceptable if timed by three watches. Three watches is also acceptable for Top Ten. (USMS article 103.13.3) Emphasis on three watches. If you have only two watches, those times are acceptable for Top Ten, but that's it.
Betsy, we've had exactly the situation you described at one of the pools in Kentucky. It's exactly 25.00 meters WITHOUT touch pads. So we now use semi-automatic timing (buttons). I bet it's a toss-up as to which is more accurate!
I saw the article Bert refers to in our local paper (Virginia Beach and Norfolk). It is great that the swimmers are still being recognized as All Americans.
However, I can't believe that measurement along the pool deck is all that is required??!! That doesn't make sense to me.
As far as I know, no post meet measurement was made. The pools were measured several years ago and have not been remeasured. To be eligible for USA Swimming qualifying and for USMS, the measurement requirements are more demanding than this high school requirement.
I officiate at high school meets and the organizers of this state meet are my friends, but they knew prior to the meet that the pool was not long enough for USA Swimming standards and they knew times from a Masters meet were not accepted. I don't think they were aware when they bid for the state meet and because previous records had been accepted (for high school), they mistakenly thought there was some tolerance.
The standards for this remeasurement bother me.
Betsy
