So we had a dual college meet yesterday, against a team we should have beaten (we did not). I got stuck swimming the 50 and the 100free, after having been told the day before I would be swimming the 200im and the 100fly, which I was excited about. So from the very beginning I was a little bummed, because I really wanted the chance to swim something different, but alas and alack...that is not for me.
So I anchored the 200medley relay and pulled us ahead for a win...okay cool.
I swam the 50 free and got 1st but did a pretty cruddy time which was
disappointing (27.1)
Then I had the 100 freestyle. I got up on my block and Idk if any of you have experienced this, but when the block is not square to the pool...like its a little crooked? But this block was, and I had noticed it when I was taking my mark on the 50 free, so now I was more tuned into it, and I was trying to adjust myself so that I was square to the water, even though the block was not. While I was doing this the official said take your mark, so I just moved my foot over an inch and took my mark, and then go. I swam the race, won it, did a horrific-ly bad time for me (58.5) and took my warm down lap. When I got out my coach is trying to tell me about how I have the strength I just need to get the speed, and idk my coach really was just irritating me so I said okay and walked away. I went to see my mom, and she says she thinks they're disqualifying me for a false start. So I go down to talk to my coach, who doesn't really know whats going on. Eventually he takes out the rule book and is reading over if they can do this, and he finds the rule and him and the assistant coach decide that I can not be disqualified, because it wasn't really a false start, I was moving on the blocks which should have warrented a "swimmers stand up" at which point if I had fallen in or dove in rather I would have been dq'd. By now the meet has been stopped for 10minutes while the officials are discussing this, but my coaches never approached them with their finding. During the break which was some 30minutes later, my coach goes to them and brings up the rulings and stuff, but the official says: he knows it was a bad call, but now it is after the fact and can not be revoked. So, whatever, that stinks. But what made me most angry was that later, after the meet, I asked the official about the ruling, and he said, in football, if theres a question about a ruling, the coach doesn't come over to the refs 30minutes later, they stop everything and go running over right then. Which basically, implied that if the call had been argued right from the start when it happened, it would have been overturned and we would have tied the meet. The only reason I am not super angry is because the time was horrible, so its not like I loss a really good time.
But yeah.
Parents
Former Member
I'm sorry Morgan! That shouldn't have happened to you - much less in that manner.
I know exactly what you're talking about what with the cockeyed block.
We've got that here at the pools I swim at.
My understanding of the rule is that you need to come down and hold perfectly still after "take your mark." Many judges/ starters do try and give the benefit of the doubt to the swimmer and will often call, "stand" if they see someone fidgeting after "take your mark." However, (and I don't know NCAA rules - only sort of know the USS or Masters), some can run the race anyway and DQ for that fidget via "delay of meet."
Hopefully, a certified official can correct me on my thoughts here.
Ideally, the coaches should have known the ins and outs of the rule book and contested right then and there. I did that w/ one of my little swimmers and a change was actually made - but you need to call it to the attention of the officials within a certain timeframe. You gotta know the rule book well and be ready to take action. I never paid attention to the rules (my bad) until I was a coach and until I was affected by, should I say, extenuating circumstances as a swimmer.
Anyway, I feel your pain. I'm sorry it had to happen that way to you. BTW, I think your times were fast! But, I know it's hard if you were off from where you wanted to be. Great job anchoring your relay to victory! :applaud:
I'm sorry Morgan! That shouldn't have happened to you - much less in that manner.
I know exactly what you're talking about what with the cockeyed block.
We've got that here at the pools I swim at.
My understanding of the rule is that you need to come down and hold perfectly still after "take your mark." Many judges/ starters do try and give the benefit of the doubt to the swimmer and will often call, "stand" if they see someone fidgeting after "take your mark." However, (and I don't know NCAA rules - only sort of know the USS or Masters), some can run the race anyway and DQ for that fidget via "delay of meet."
Hopefully, a certified official can correct me on my thoughts here.
Ideally, the coaches should have known the ins and outs of the rule book and contested right then and there. I did that w/ one of my little swimmers and a change was actually made - but you need to call it to the attention of the officials within a certain timeframe. You gotta know the rule book well and be ready to take action. I never paid attention to the rules (my bad) until I was a coach and until I was affected by, should I say, extenuating circumstances as a swimmer.
Anyway, I feel your pain. I'm sorry it had to happen that way to you. BTW, I think your times were fast! But, I know it's hard if you were off from where you wanted to be. Great job anchoring your relay to victory! :applaud:
