Split requests seem to be all the fashion lately. I know they're perfectly legal, though I haven't read the rule itself. I'm wondering about them though ... It seems oddly unfair, for example, that a person never (or rarely) swimming open 50s could hold world or national records or #1 rankings in those events. (I'm just saying it's odd, while recognizing it could be perfectly legal.) But, aside from that and further, what if someone really played the system. What if, for example, someone was after a 50 free record. They entered a meet in the 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 free and led off free relays and requested split requests in each event to try to set a record. Is this legitimate or legal? Would a meet director be bound to accept split requests for all these events? Is there a limit? Do meet directors have discretion to deny multiple split requests? I can see a situation where multiple attempts at a 50 might result in a better time ...
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Former Member
What's interesting is that USA Swimming and USMS rules differ on initial distances for relays. In USA Swimming, as long as the lead-off swimmer completes his/her leg legally without being disqualified, the time counts for an initial distance split. It's OK if the relay is DQed due to another swimmer infraction. In USMS, it is required that the entire relay complete the event without being disqualified.
If USMS didn't have that rule, then I absolutely guarantee that there would be a bunch of fake relays entered at big meets like nationals. Enter a relay, but only show up with one swimmer going for an initial split. When no one dives in for legs 2-4, the relay is DQ'd, but the split time stands. This is a good USMS rule.
What's interesting is that USA Swimming and USMS rules differ on initial distances for relays. In USA Swimming, as long as the lead-off swimmer completes his/her leg legally without being disqualified, the time counts for an initial distance split. It's OK if the relay is DQed due to another swimmer infraction. In USMS, it is required that the entire relay complete the event without being disqualified.
If USMS didn't have that rule, then I absolutely guarantee that there would be a bunch of fake relays entered at big meets like nationals. Enter a relay, but only show up with one swimmer going for an initial split. When no one dives in for legs 2-4, the relay is DQ'd, but the split time stands. This is a good USMS rule.
