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 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.
We can count up or down in the US (USMS 102.10.6D), although I haven't seen anyone count down.
And as for the official count...I just hope that someone has it. Most of the time, between the starter, referee, counters, timers, CTS operator, you can reasonably hope that someone has the right number.
Anyone moving slow enough to receive assistance from plastic cards on a stick should be taken out to pasture.
Weird things often happen at swim meets. Stranger things have happened.
Patrick King
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.
We can count up or down in the US (USMS 102.10.6D), although I haven't seen anyone count down.
And as for the official count...I just hope that someone has it. Most of the time, between the starter, referee, counters, timers, CTS operator, you can reasonably hope that someone has the right number.
Anyone moving slow enough to receive assistance from plastic cards on a stick should be taken out to pasture.
Weird things often happen at swim meets. Stranger things have happened.
Patrick King
