Simple. You have absolute power to change any technique rules, start/finish rules, age up rules, sky is the limit as long as the rules pertain to swimming. What would you change and why?
I would first change the wrist watch rule. Any looking at a wrist watch as a pacing device is going to slow you down. If the swimmer wanted he could look at the clocks or timing systems that are in place.
The second rule I would change is the backstroke turn rule. I would change is so once past the backstrock flags, the swimmer could turn over and do one arm pool. The swimmer could kick as long as he wanted. I would take out the continous turning acting. While we do the best we can, it is called differently over different parts of the world.
michael
Selfishly, I'd be jolly happy if we just ditched the breaststroke entirely as GeoChuck suggests. But my daughter would be bummed and I wouldn't have the pleasure of watching the real experts ply their craft. But I think we should at least get rid of the simultaneous two hand touch rule for turns and finishes on *** and fly. I hate them. Unless by some stroke of luck I hit the wall at the right time, I always find myself floating into the wall for a few tenths to make sure I get both hands on the wall at once. I'd rather do the much faster one hand turns that I do in practice :D and not lose any momentum going into the wall!
I likewise vote for eliminating the "continuous turning action" rule for the backstroke turn. I always seem to have a bit of a glide in my turn. And I find it the most difficult call to make as a stroke & turn judge at USS meets. Who cares if someone wants to have a leisurely glide into the wall? Don't think they should be DQd for that. They're going slower, not getting an unfair advantage. But only one arm pull into the wall past the flags or else we will be doing freestyle. Backstroke is a far superior stroke.
Simple. You have absolute power to change any technique rules, start/finish rules, age up rules, sky is the limit as long as the rules pertain to swimming. What would you change and why?
1. Revoke the upwards dolphin kick for breaststroke pullouts. Just because a Japanese cheater "won" Olympic gold is no reason to allow such shameful behavior during the most technically demanding of swimming strokes.
2. Award Shirley Babashoff her well-earned Olympic golds from Montreal '76. Disqualify all the East German women, yes even Kornelia Ender. And no, I don't know what to say about Roland Matthes' medals.
3. Erase the current Women's 200 IM record, for similar reasons. Chinese dopers shouldn't be allowed any more than DDR dopers.
4. Properly fund the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
5. Make Duke Kahanamoku's name as well known as those of Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.
6. Give Dave Denniston back the use of his legs. His textbook stroke and his turns/pullouts videos simply astound me.
I would change breaststroke, as a matter of fact I would not allow any to be done. Then I would not allow backstroke, I get sea sick swimming backstroke. I would also eliminate all events over 100m or yards and the older I get I may want to disallow 100s.
I would make backstrokers swim entirely backstroke instead of backstroke plus a little bit of free. And I would allow masters swimmers to be part of any organization they wanted without threat of sanction. And I would keep records for all the distances for every stroke. And I would allow any of the three other styles to be swum in a freestyle event even if the swimmer totally submerges (as in some styles of breaststroke for example).
I would first change the wrist watch rule. Any looking at a wrist watch as a pacing device is going to slow you down.
I would guess that audible signals are more of an issue than looking at the watch. But I agree, I am forever forgetting to remove my watch. :eek:
