Starting, Recalls, False Starts What is a False Start and what is NOT a False Start Starting - Pace, Patience, Practice A Starter cannot be too slow Practice saying Stand Please slowly, softly, without concern or urgency in your voice Watch and understand the swimmers 1
Starting One person can be both Referee and Starter, or can use 2 different people If 2 different people, duties per USA swimming rules SSL does NOT use short chirps. Long whistle by Referee should be loud enough to be heard What should Referee and/or Starter do when swimmers do not step to the edge of the pool (or into the water) on the long whistle? The Starter has priority on deck position. The Referee works around the Starter Ref s hand signals should not interfere with the Starter 2
Recalls When to Recall a race A swimmer commits a False Start A swimmer does not have a fair start Try to Recall while the swimmers are in the air. Do NOT Recall if the starting signal has not been sounded 3
Recalls Recall by releasing the Start button, then holding it down continuously or firing the starting pistol one or two additional times If the swimmers do not stop, Referee and other officials use whistles to stop the race Stop the swimmers at the turn Have other swimmers enter the pool as directed by the Ref 4
Recalls Examples of not a fair start The race is started and the Starter observes that a swimmer did not respond to the Take Your Mark (TYM) commend and started late In backstroke, a swimmer slips on the end wall before the Start Signal is sounded The Start Signal is given and the Starter realizes that a swimmer had not assumed a stationary position 5
False Starts A swimmer is charged with a False Start when the swimmer starts before the start signal. During dual meets, a False Start is determined by the Starter In SSL, the race MUST BE RECALLED to charge a False Start 6
False Starts A swimmer is disqualified for a second False Start A swimmer who is disqualified for a second false start may swim unofficially with permission of the Referee and both coaches For Time Trials and Championships, a False Start must be dual confirmed by both Referee and Starter 7
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. One swimmer looses their balance and falls feet first into the water. False Start? Same, but the swimmer looses their balance and to avoid hitting the wall, dives into the pool. False Start? 8
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. One swimmer looses their balance and falls feet first into the water. False Start? Answer: No. The swimmer did not Start before the Start Signal. Same, but the swimmer looses their balance and to avoid hitting the wall, dives into the pool. False Start? Answer: No. The swimmer did not Start before the Start Signal. Even though the swimmer dove into the pool, it was not an attempt to start the race. 9
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, but before becoming stationary looses their balance and rolls (summersaults) into the water. What does the Starter do? Is this a False Start? 10
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, but before becoming stationary looses their balance and rolls (summersaults) into the water. What does the Starter do? Says Stand Please Is this a False Start? No. The swimmer did not Start before the Start Signal. 11
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, and becomes stationary. The Starter is waiting for other swimmers to become stationary when this swimmer rolls into the water. What does the Starter do? Is this a False Start? 12
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, and becomes stationary. The Starter is waiting for other swimmers to become stationary when this swimmer rolls into the water.. What does the Starter do? Says Stand Please Is this a False Start? Maybe. This is a False Start if the Starter determines that the swimmer was attempting to start the race. This is a judgment call as to whether the swimmer was starting or whether the swimmer lost their balance because the Starter waited too long for the other swimmers to assume a stationary position. 13
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, and becomes stationary. The Starter is waiting for other swimmers to become stationary when this swimmer dives into the water. What does the Starter do? Is this a False Start? 14
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, and becomes stationary. The Starter is waiting for other swimmers to become stationary when this swimmer dives into the water. What does the Starter do? Says Stand Please Is this a False Start? Yes. The swimmer Started before the Start Signal. 15
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, and becomes stationary. The Starter is waiting for other swimmers to become stationary when this swimmer dives into the water. The Starter says Stand Please and another swimmer dives in. What does the Starter do? Is this a False Start? 16
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, a swimmer assumes a starting position, and becomes stationary. The Starter is waiting for other swimmers to become stationary when this swimmer dives into the water. The Starter says Stand Please and another swimmer dives in. What does the Starter do? The Starter should say Stand Please. Is this a False Start? For the first swimmer, Yes, if the Starter determines that the swimmer started before the Start Signal. For the second swimmer, this is a judgment call. Did the swimmer Start in response on the Stand Please? If so, then not a False Start. If the second swimmer dove in of his/her own volition, then this could be a False Start. If the situation becomes confusing, benefit of doubt goes to the swimmers. 17
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, all swimmers assume a starting position, and become stationary. The Starter gives the Start Signal, but just before the Start Signal, one swimmer dives into the pool and swims. What does the Starter do? Is this a False Start? 18
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, all swimmers assume a starting position, and become stationary. The Starter gives the Start Signal, but just before the Start Signal, one swimmer dives into the pool and swims. What does the Starter do? The Starter should recall the race. Is this a False Start? Yes, if the Starter observed the swimmer Start before the Start Signal and recalls the race. If the Starter does not recall the race, there is no false start. 19
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, all swimmers assume a starting position, and become stationary, except one swimmer who remains standing. What does the Starter do? Is this a False Start? 20
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, all swimmers assume a starting position, and become stationary, except one swimmer who remains standing. What does the Starter do? Says Stand Please Is this a False Start? No. None of the swimmers started before the Start Signal. If the Starter still has control of the swimmers, then the Starter should say TYM again. If the swimmer responds, start the race. If the swimmer does not respond, say Stand Please and ask the swimmer if they are ready. If the swimmer indicates they are ready, say TYM and when all swimmers are stationary, Start the race. The swimmer could have assumed a typical starting position or could be standing in a stationary position. 21
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, all swimmers assume a starting position, and become stationary, except one swimmer remains standing. The Starter Starts the race. The Starter then realizes that the one swimmer is still standing did not respond to TYM. What does the Starter do? What does the Referee do? Is this a False Start? 22
On the long whistle, swimmers step to the edge of the pool. On TYM, all swimmers assume a starting position, and become stationary, except one swimmer remains standing. The Starter Starts the race. The Starter then realizes that the one swimmer is still standing did not respond to TYM. What does the Starter do? Recall the race. What does the Referee do? Recalls with repeated whistles if the swimmers continue to swim. Is this a False Start? No. The Starter should not have started the race as all the swimmers did not assume a starting position. Obviously, the swimmer did not hear TYM and so had not assumed a stationary starting position. 23
Starting Techniques Go slow. Be consistent in voice commands. Smooth delivery Inviting In control without commanding Display confidence Be focused After starting a race, keep the microphone keyed and do not move it until the swimmers have surfaced, you as the Starter are sure it was a clean start, and the Referee has not requested a Recall. 24