My children swim competitively. In relays they have the rule that the 2nd-4th swimmer may not leave the blocks until the preceeding swimmer touches the wall. I was swimming in junior and senior high school in Broward county Florida in the 60's. I'm certain that we swam to the rule that we could not touch the water until the preceeding swimmer touched the wall. Therefore, we always anticipated and left the blocks as the preceeding swimmer was in mid-stroke with about 12 inches to go before touching the wall. Were we violating the rules or have they changed since 1967?
Parents
Former Member
I know my children have been taught to anticipate the swimmer coming into the wall. The best relay exchange is that the swimmer on the block only has the tip of the toe left on the block when the swimmer in the water touches the wall. So they are in motion and almost taking off, but still legally touching that block at the wall touch. This requires them to start their wind-up to lift off before the swimmer gets to the wall. This can cause a DQ for "jumping" if the swimmer in the water does not drive to the wall as expected, so I can see some coaches cautioning them to "make sure" that swimmer is in before take off.
I know my children have been taught to anticipate the swimmer coming into the wall. The best relay exchange is that the swimmer on the block only has the tip of the toe left on the block when the swimmer in the water touches the wall. So they are in motion and almost taking off, but still legally touching that block at the wall touch. This requires them to start their wind-up to lift off before the swimmer gets to the wall. This can cause a DQ for "jumping" if the swimmer in the water does not drive to the wall as expected, so I can see some coaches cautioning them to "make sure" that swimmer is in before take off.
