I attended an open water swim competition this past weekend and about 80% of the swimmers were wearing wrist watches. This meet was USMS sanctioned/recognized as all competitors had to be registered USMS members. None of the approximately 550 swimmers were disqualified for wearing wrist watches. I thought timing devices were not allowed but couldn't find wrist watches specifically mentioned in the open-water swimming rules. Could someone clarify this and/or point me in the right direction as to where this is addressed in the rules.
Parents
Former Member
Heck, most of the pools I swam USMS meets in had pace Clocks somewhere around the deck or the digital pace clocks running somewhere....I used these clocks in a few of the mile events I swam by simply looking up at the clock hanging on the wall.
Additionally, I have seen many, many swimmers get input regarding pace from their counter or people/coaches in the stands by simply looking up on the air intake side of the stroke and looking for the pace signal....in the form of arms up or down or going round and round.....I cannot think of a time I wondered what my pace was during a swim....and...most of the time my own sense of pace had me pretty close to the pace. Heck, I remember on time when my son was counting laps for me at the USMS Zone Championships at the Univ. of Texas Pool in Austin. He gave me the signal to pick up the pace (to bust 20 minutes in the mile) when I felt/knew I was on or below the pace. As the swim turned out I went 19:29, but swam far over the line of safety to swim that time....I’ll never forget the grin on his face when I asked him why he gave me the off the pace signal….and he told me because I thought you still have some left in you….The little dork darn near caused me to have a heart attack.
:)
Heck, most of the pools I swam USMS meets in had pace Clocks somewhere around the deck or the digital pace clocks running somewhere....I used these clocks in a few of the mile events I swam by simply looking up at the clock hanging on the wall.
Additionally, I have seen many, many swimmers get input regarding pace from their counter or people/coaches in the stands by simply looking up on the air intake side of the stroke and looking for the pace signal....in the form of arms up or down or going round and round.....I cannot think of a time I wondered what my pace was during a swim....and...most of the time my own sense of pace had me pretty close to the pace. Heck, I remember on time when my son was counting laps for me at the USMS Zone Championships at the Univ. of Texas Pool in Austin. He gave me the signal to pick up the pace (to bust 20 minutes in the mile) when I felt/knew I was on or below the pace. As the swim turned out I went 19:29, but swam far over the line of safety to swim that time....I’ll never forget the grin on his face when I asked him why he gave me the off the pace signal….and he told me because I thought you still have some left in you….The little dork darn near caused me to have a heart attack.
:)
