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.
The FINA and USA-Swimming rules only apply to what the swimmer is allowed to wear, not to pace clocks, coaches or counters. In USA-S “Verbal counters … may use watches and signal intermediate times to the swimmer.”
The rule primarily applies to pacing devices (such as Tempo Trainers) and radio receivers (just what I always wanted, my coach shouting in my ears while I’m swimming), but watches are being banned because there has been an interpretation somewhere to include these as “mechanical or electronic device than can convey pace or speed”.
The FINA and USA-Swimming rules only apply to what the swimmer is allowed to wear, not to pace clocks, coaches or counters. In USA-S “Verbal counters … may use watches and signal intermediate times to the swimmer.”
The rule primarily applies to pacing devices (such as Tempo Trainers) and radio receivers (just what I always wanted, my coach shouting in my ears while I’m swimming), but watches are being banned because there has been an interpretation somewhere to include these as “mechanical or electronic device than can convey pace or speed”.
