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
big meets have
1) pressure pads on the blocks &
2) touch pads on the wall
the timing system records the moment when the swimmer touches the wall on his final lap for his part of the relay.
When the next relay member dives, the pressure pad on the block records the final moment the next swimmer touched the block.
The timing system compares the moment when
the incoming swimmer touches the wall to the moment when the leaving swimmer leaves the pad.
The leaving swimmer attempts to anticipate the incoming swimmers' touch.
Her feet just need to be touching the starting block after the incoming touches the wall. The leaving swimmer can be stretched out over the water about to leave the block.
remember there's 2 responsibilities
1) the incoming swimmer needs to make a predictable touch
2) the leaving swimmer needs to properly anticipate the incoming swimmers touch
Here's a little guideline on relay reaction time ranges:
if you left
-0.01 or less
you jumped but -0.03 to -0.01 is acceptable
0.00 to 0.09
you're cutting it too close
0.10 to 0.25
a good range for good exchanges, keep closer to 0.10
0.25 to 0.40
is slow but a good range to do safe starts for prelim swims to not get DQed for finals (usually the marching orders for prelims is
safe starts / swim fast
0.40 or more
is slow, you probably wanted to congratulate your team mate or help them out of the water before you left
I wonder, if one does a little hop a second before take off will the mechanism malfunction?
At least in the Daktronics system I am familiar with, no. The relay pad sends a signal to the timing console for every "departure" that it detects. So if there's a hop before the take-off, the relay pad will send two "departure" signals. The timing console is looking for the last departure signal, and compares it to the earliest time registered on the touchpad. Basically, the timing console keeps a moving window of opportunity... it's looking for touchpad and relay pad activity that are within a couple seconds (I don't know the exact time window), so that it gives every benefit of the doubt to the swimmer(s).
This is why it's important, when using relay pads, not to touch them. For example, if someone is leaning on the relay pad during an exchange, the pad may not properly detect the departure of the swimmer. (Yes, it's a way to cheat.)
-Rick
I think it would and I think this is why the NCAA rulebook specifies that the automatic system is only used to -0.09 seconds. They figure if it's more than that it should be a judge's call. Did the swimmer just leave really early, or was it something like you describe?
Clarification -- The NCAA rule is only "exclusive" to -0.09 seconds. If the automatic system detects -0.10, and it is observed by one human official, it is a DQ.
But yes, the theory is that any good official should be able to observe a departure that is -0.10 early or worse. Similarly, if they are +0.10 safe or better, there is little to no chance any human would accidentally call a false start.
(We have had a few cases where an official made a call for false start when the timing system detected +0.00, +0.01, +0.02.)
-Rick
I wonder, if one does a little hop a second before take off will the mechanism malfunction?
I think it would and I think this is why the NCAA rulebook specifies that the automatic system is only used to -0.09 seconds. They figure if it's more than that it should be a judge's call. Did the swimmer just leave really early, or was it something like you describe?
