Apologies if this seems to be a really strange topic. :)
So, as I continue to do flip-turn drills, with a goal of doing flip-turns at my next meet (several months from now), something occurred to me:
How do you know your split-times in a particular swim when doing flip-turns?
Does it matter? (It matters to me, but am I a silly OCD/Newbie/ex-runner?)
Parents
Former Member
If you are wearing a watch and dive in, and a referee or official sees it, you will be disqualified. Even if the watch is off, or you could somehow prove you weren't pacing with it. As for pace clocks, they are SUPPOSED to be turned off for meets, but a few weeks ago I was racing the 1500 at a USA-S meet and the officials forgot to turn the clock off. I don't see it as my job to remind them of that, and I just so happen to breathe to my right side, which faced the clock, so coming in at each 100 I could see the clock and easily figure out my splits. I checked it every 400 meters (skipping the first 100 meters because I did not see what the clock said when the horn sounded to start the race!).
It was very helpful, but again, my conscience is clear here because I was going to be able to see the clock anyways. Should have been turned off. I have NEVER been at a big USA-S or USMS meet where pace clocks are on. They are a bit more on top of that sort of thing!
Fascinating.
For purely interest sake, I need to ask a couple of questions:
Why are clocks a "naughty" thing in swimming? How did this manifest? What is the issue here? (I come from a running background, with a reliance on split times, so please forgive my incredulousness around this.)
How would wearing a watch in a race be helpful in any way whatsoever? How can you even glance at it without disrupting what you are supposed to be doing? Glancing at a clock on the wall can be done with no interruption in form, but glancing at a watch on your wrist?? Seriously?? What am I missing here?
If you are wearing a watch and dive in, and a referee or official sees it, you will be disqualified. Even if the watch is off, or you could somehow prove you weren't pacing with it. As for pace clocks, they are SUPPOSED to be turned off for meets, but a few weeks ago I was racing the 1500 at a USA-S meet and the officials forgot to turn the clock off. I don't see it as my job to remind them of that, and I just so happen to breathe to my right side, which faced the clock, so coming in at each 100 I could see the clock and easily figure out my splits. I checked it every 400 meters (skipping the first 100 meters because I did not see what the clock said when the horn sounded to start the race!).
It was very helpful, but again, my conscience is clear here because I was going to be able to see the clock anyways. Should have been turned off. I have NEVER been at a big USA-S or USMS meet where pace clocks are on. They are a bit more on top of that sort of thing!
Fascinating.
For purely interest sake, I need to ask a couple of questions:
Why are clocks a "naughty" thing in swimming? How did this manifest? What is the issue here? (I come from a running background, with a reliance on split times, so please forgive my incredulousness around this.)
How would wearing a watch in a race be helpful in any way whatsoever? How can you even glance at it without disrupting what you are supposed to be doing? Glancing at a clock on the wall can be done with no interruption in form, but glancing at a watch on your wrist?? Seriously?? What am I missing here?
