SW 10.15 No pace-making shall be permitted, nor may any device be used or plan adopted which has that effect.
The topic of having someone give you feedback on your pacing during a race came up in the 1500 Test Set thread. My impression is that pace-making is very common and the rule against it largely unenforceable, but that the rule is there and quite clear. Swimmers may not use devices which help them pace their race and they may not adopt a plan that allows someone on deck or in another lane to help them pace their race.
In the other thread an interpretation was posted, my interpretation of the interpretation was that it dealt specifically with using devices, but that it didn't say pace-making was ok if it didn't involve a device (watch or radio).
Outside of using a device, has anyone ever been DQed for pace-making? If having someone else give you pacing feedback is ok, what is wrong with using a device? Should the whole rule be thrown out?
I am not in any way intending to criticize anyone who has had pacing help, I would love it if it turned out that this was legal, I mean who really wants to swim 60 lengths at what one thought was goal pace only to find out that one has swum a stinky time?
I use a watch in practices, but never at meets. Wasn't aware of the rule, just didn't find that a watch served any purpose in the events that I swam (nothing more than 100 free so far). I figured that since someone was providing timing services, and since I don't look at my watch except after a repeat, it wouldn't be of any use in a race.
Even with open water, where there's a longer distance, I haven't used a watch, except for an aquathlon where I needed the watch for the run leg. But even when wearing it, I really didn't look at it, since I was too focused on trying to sight, swim, sight, swim, etc. To look at my watch seemed to require stopping and holding my wrist close enough so the watch face was visible through my goggles (which definitely don't qualify as reading glasses). And while shark scares don't worry me... really! honest! (heh!)..., I'd heard that it wasn't a good idea to wear jewelry or watches in areas where a shark or three might frequent.
Soooo watches=fine for practices and solo pool swimming... not really all that useful for racing. I think what I need is a motor, but that would come under "device." ;)
I use a watch in practices, but never at meets. Wasn't aware of the rule, just didn't find that a watch served any purpose in the events that I swam (nothing more than 100 free so far). I figured that since someone was providing timing services, and since I don't look at my watch except after a repeat, it wouldn't be of any use in a race.
Even with open water, where there's a longer distance, I haven't used a watch, except for an aquathlon where I needed the watch for the run leg. But even when wearing it, I really didn't look at it, since I was too focused on trying to sight, swim, sight, swim, etc. To look at my watch seemed to require stopping and holding my wrist close enough so the watch face was visible through my goggles (which definitely don't qualify as reading glasses). And while shark scares don't worry me... really! honest! (heh!)..., I'd heard that it wasn't a good idea to wear jewelry or watches in areas where a shark or three might frequent.
Soooo watches=fine for practices and solo pool swimming... not really all that useful for racing. I think what I need is a motor, but that would come under "device." ;)
