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
Originally posted by Edward The Head
I still don't see the point, you can still have some one else time you and tell you what's going on.
One argument that I can see against it is that some watches have a function that allows you to set a beeper to go off at a given interval. This would allow you to time your stroke to some predetermined, "optimal" standard. Of itself, I could think of worse things, except if it throws off the stroke of another competitor. When I used to compete in racewalking, people would occasionally do this before it was banned and it drove other competitors nuts. The offender usually got a serious talking-to after the race.
Now imagine a pool (or open water race) full of beepers all set to different intervals. Ouch.
Originally posted by Edward The Head
I still don't see the point, you can still have some one else time you and tell you what's going on.
One argument that I can see against it is that some watches have a function that allows you to set a beeper to go off at a given interval. This would allow you to time your stroke to some predetermined, "optimal" standard. Of itself, I could think of worse things, except if it throws off the stroke of another competitor. When I used to compete in racewalking, people would occasionally do this before it was banned and it drove other competitors nuts. The offender usually got a serious talking-to after the race.
Now imagine a pool (or open water race) full of beepers all set to different intervals. Ouch.
