reaction time

Rob, Out of curiosity were the reaction times used on false starts too? The dual confirmation applies here as in the take-offs. As a starter, if I observe a false start then I go to the referee for confirmation. Would the reaction times then be looked at for confirmation?No, reaction time is only used on relay starts. If you think about it, to get a forward start (regular start) reaction time of less than 0.00, your feet have left the block which usually means that your body is out over the water. Any starter/referee who doesn’t notice a swimmer stretched out over the pool before the horn should get a white cane and a dog. Note the difference between track reaction times and swimming reaction time measurements is that in a track start, the reaction time is a measure of when pressure is applied to the starting block, in swimming it is a measure of when there is no pressure once the swimmer has left.

Rob, Out of curiosity were the reaction times used on false starts too? The dual confirmation applies here as in the take-offs. As a starter, if I observe a false start then I go to the referee for confirmation. Would the reaction times then be looked at for confirmation?No, reaction time is only used on relay starts. If you think about it, to get a forward start (regular start) reaction time of less than 0.00, your feet have left the block which usually means that your body is out over the water. Any starter/referee who doesn’t notice a swimmer stretched out over the pool before the horn should get a white cane and a dog. Note the difference between track reaction times and swimming reaction time measurements is that in a track start, the reaction time is a measure of when pressure is applied to the starting block, in swimming it is a measure of when there is no pressure once the swimmer has left.