I've been told that there is a new FINA rule or interpretation that disallows placing lap counters into the water. Does anyone know the official scoop on this?
I've wondered why in FINA meets, at least in the World Championships I've attended, that the lap numbers are only counted down and in the US they can only be counted up. It seems that the process should be the same in whatever meet in which you participate.
I agree that having an official display your lap count on the deck behind your lane is pretty useless to the swimmer unless an open water turn is done. That's another difference. In the US, it's the timer who keeps the official count and often the lap counter is corrected by the referee after being notified by the timer that their count and the displayed lap don't match.
I've wondered why in FINA meets, at least in the World Championships I've attended, that the lap numbers are only counted down and in the US they can only be counted up. It seems that the process should be the same in whatever meet in which you participate.
I agree that having an official display your lap count on the deck behind your lane is pretty useless to the swimmer unless an open water turn is done. That's another difference. In the US, it's the timer who keeps the official count and often the lap counter is corrected by the referee after being notified by the timer that their count and the displayed lap don't match.
