There is an interesting article at the Swimming World website www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../26979.asp.
Some how the touch pad doesn't jibe with what everyone saw and there is no appeal.I like the suggestion that it takes 2 for a DQ,either 2 judges or a judge and the touch pad.I also think video evidence should be allowed for appeal.
A handful of comments:
* What is often forgotten about Relay Judging Pads is that there are _two_ things that must work correctly for an accurate read. The touchpad in the water much register correctly, and the relay pad on the block must register correctly. When there is a relay pad "error", it is often the case that the touchpad is at fault. I.e., the relay pad correctly detected the 'departure' at the correct time, but the touchpad in the water was late detecting the finish in the water, resulting in an erroneous early take-off detection.
* It's important to note that electronic timing equipment is very sensitive, and requires a lot of maintenance. At least with a Daktronics system, if you run a meet in an 8-lane pool with relay pads, and three backup buttons... there are (at least) 48 different electrical connections that must be working perfectly. Each of those connections must be cleaned and tested regularly.
* Yes, the NCAA rule book allows for video evidence to be used to check the relay pads. One thing that is worth noting -- the NCAA rule book puts very specific requirements on that video. It must be a video system that is installed expressly for the purpose of doing video review. I.e., you can't use video from a coach or parent in the stands.
* It is interesting that the High School rules do not allow for video review.
* The USA Swimming rulebook is pretty silent on the use of relay exchange pads, I believe. The general policies that I have seen in effect are that the relay pads can never be 'automatic', but can be one-half of a dual-confirmation. We often run with rules that say that the relay pads can save you (i.e., if two humans observe early, and the relay pads say safe, then it can save you).
* Most rule books allow for a rather wide latitude for the 'timing operator' to declare a malfunction of the timing system.
-Rick
A handful of comments:
* What is often forgotten about Relay Judging Pads is that there are _two_ things that must work correctly for an accurate read. The touchpad in the water much register correctly, and the relay pad on the block must register correctly. When there is a relay pad "error", it is often the case that the touchpad is at fault. I.e., the relay pad correctly detected the 'departure' at the correct time, but the touchpad in the water was late detecting the finish in the water, resulting in an erroneous early take-off detection.
* It's important to note that electronic timing equipment is very sensitive, and requires a lot of maintenance. At least with a Daktronics system, if you run a meet in an 8-lane pool with relay pads, and three backup buttons... there are (at least) 48 different electrical connections that must be working perfectly. Each of those connections must be cleaned and tested regularly.
* Yes, the NCAA rule book allows for video evidence to be used to check the relay pads. One thing that is worth noting -- the NCAA rule book puts very specific requirements on that video. It must be a video system that is installed expressly for the purpose of doing video review. I.e., you can't use video from a coach or parent in the stands.
* It is interesting that the High School rules do not allow for video review.
* The USA Swimming rulebook is pretty silent on the use of relay exchange pads, I believe. The general policies that I have seen in effect are that the relay pads can never be 'automatic', but can be one-half of a dual-confirmation. We often run with rules that say that the relay pads can save you (i.e., if two humans observe early, and the relay pads say safe, then it can save you).
* Most rule books allow for a rather wide latitude for the 'timing operator' to declare a malfunction of the timing system.
-Rick
