Beer bet.
Does anyone have a link to the FINA rule that explains how automated equipment is used to judge relay take offs?
The FINA rules I've been able to find on-line first point you to section SW 13.1, which then points you to FR 4. But FR 4 doesn't address it.
I need the link to the explict FINA paragraph to win my beer.
I already have the undocumented statement from the Washington Post April 1, 2007.
"Officials ruled Crocker left 0.01 of a second earlier than the allowable start time. Crocker got off the blocks with a reaction time of -0.04 of a second. The most allowed is -0.03."
Thanks
In the patent application for the Daktronics relay exchange platform (patent 7403135), in the background for the patent, it says
... It has been demonstrated that the accuracy of force measurement methods is limited by the fact that the swimmer may have one toe in contact with the relay takeoff swimming platform, but exert an immeasurable force against it.
...
The starting block measures the time when you stop applying force to the pad. That is not the same as the time when you actually no longer contact the top of the starting block.
Whether -0.03 is the best safety margin, dunno. But a negative time does not necessarily mean the person left early.
In the patent application for the Daktronics relay exchange platform (patent 7403135), in the background for the patent, it says
... It has been demonstrated that the accuracy of force measurement methods is limited by the fact that the swimmer may have one toe in contact with the relay takeoff swimming platform, but exert an immeasurable force against it.
...
The starting block measures the time when you stop applying force to the pad. That is not the same as the time when you actually no longer contact the top of the starting block.
Whether -0.03 is the best safety margin, dunno. But a negative time does not necessarily mean the person left early.
