Ok - I realize that as I hit 65+, I am a little more shakey on the blocks. Fellow swimmers tell me that my starts are fairly good (I suspect they take age into consideration!); but I noticed that the guy in the lane next to me at a recent meet (who was a bit younger) started in the water and was even with me at about 20 yards into a 500.
I was wondering if anyone has a sense of what the advantage really is for "older" swimmers in terms of blocks v. in-water starts. Especially for those of us who prefer 200's and above!
Parents
Former Member
I'm glad someone posted about this topic. I was wondering the same thing in regards to how much time is lost when starting in the water vs from the blocks. At my last meet, I started from the blocks and wound up hitting the bottom of the pool with me knees (yep, it was a bad start). Also, trying to get a good jump absolutely tore my knees up and my arthritis flared up horribly.
When starting from the wall, how does one go about letting the referee/timekeepers, etc. know that you are starting down there? Do you have to tell them ahead of time, or when they announce your heat just jump in and wave and say "hey, I'm starting from the wall"??
I'm glad someone posted about this topic. I was wondering the same thing in regards to how much time is lost when starting in the water vs from the blocks. At my last meet, I started from the blocks and wound up hitting the bottom of the pool with me knees (yep, it was a bad start). Also, trying to get a good jump absolutely tore my knees up and my arthritis flared up horribly.
When starting from the wall, how does one go about letting the referee/timekeepers, etc. know that you are starting down there? Do you have to tell them ahead of time, or when they announce your heat just jump in and wave and say "hey, I'm starting from the wall"??
