Several swim meets in Texas, in order to save time, will the swim the 200’s as “choice”. You pick to swim either fly, back, *** or IM and the heats can have different swimmers doing different strokes. When SCY Top Ten came out, I had two swims that weren’t listed. It turns out that the meet wasn’t submitted (a different issue). But in the course of my e-mails with TT, I learned that “choice” swims are not permissible for inclusion.
Are others aware of this rule? I checked the USMS Rule Book and, at a quick scan, could find nothing referring to this. I’ve never seen a meet entry that stated that 200s conducted in this manner are not TT eligible so I’m suspecting that some meet directors don’t know about it either.
Seems a bit weird. As a backstroker, I can guarantee that no advantage is gained having swimmers diving in next to you on the start or having the adjacent lane swimming fly. The swimmer is still swimming a verified time in a measured course. The only rationale I could come up with is the stroke and turn judges having difficulty keeping track of different types of swims.
Not worried about the TT times. They’re not the first, and probably not the last, that won’t get counted. And I guess you can always learn something new. I’m been racing USMS over 20 years and never knew about the “choice” event exclusion. But it would be interesting if someone could shed some light on this. I do know I won’t opt for a “choice” event again if I’m trying for a TT time.
Are "choice" events common at meets elsewhere? Any insights on this exclusion rule?
There is a simple way to avoid this in the future, and yes, it has happened before. Several times.
The meet information must list a recognized event. "Choice" is not a recognized event. In some areas where there are expected to be small participant turnouts, this is a popular (albeit wrong) way of combining heats to economize on pool time. It is the meet hosts you need to educate. Betsy was right, different strokes can be combined in one heat, but they all have to be listed as separate event numbers. It is a little more work for the meet host to pull them apart after the meet is over, but you get your top ten times, rather than wondering why not.
The very simplest way to avoid it is to list all events on the entry form and combine them as necessary at the meet. It's easy and follows established rules and format.
Masters swimming operates for the general benefit of all of the members, meaning that we follow rules, not what is expedient, easy, or quick for the meet hosts. The rules are clear as possible about what is allowed or not. We do not allow mixed relays with 3 of one sex and 1 of another. We do not allow choice events because the "choice" stroke cannot be defined within the constraints of technical swimming rules.
Everyone clear now?
There is a simple way to avoid this in the future, and yes, it has happened before. Several times.
The meet information must list a recognized event. "Choice" is not a recognized event. In some areas where there are expected to be small participant turnouts, this is a popular (albeit wrong) way of combining heats to economize on pool time. It is the meet hosts you need to educate. Betsy was right, different strokes can be combined in one heat, but they all have to be listed as separate event numbers. It is a little more work for the meet host to pull them apart after the meet is over, but you get your top ten times, rather than wondering why not.
The very simplest way to avoid it is to list all events on the entry form and combine them as necessary at the meet. It's easy and follows established rules and format.
Masters swimming operates for the general benefit of all of the members, meaning that we follow rules, not what is expedient, easy, or quick for the meet hosts. The rules are clear as possible about what is allowed or not. We do not allow mixed relays with 3 of one sex and 1 of another. We do not allow choice events because the "choice" stroke cannot be defined within the constraints of technical swimming rules.
Everyone clear now?
