Change in Starting Rules

Whistle Start Protocol
No Recall False Start

At this year's United States Swimming convention, few rule changes were enacted. However, two very significant revisions to the starting rules were approved. They will be used in all PVS swimming meets (except mini meets) starting in January 2000.

The first change involves using whistle signals (rather than voice commands) to have swimmers step onto the blocks (or into the water for backstroke.) The second involves not recalling a heat (under most circumstances) if there is a false start. Rather the race will proceed and any swimmer(s) who left early will be notified of their DQ at the end of the race..

As background, the "whistle start" or signal procedure has been in use successfully at National Championship meets since the Junior Championships in March 1998. The "no false start procedure" has been in use at various national championship level meets since May 1999. Both these changes are being made to conform to USA Swimming rules that our swimmers experience when going to international meets.

The "whistle start" recognizes that in international swimming, the athletes frequently do not speak a common language. The "no recall procedure" recognizes that the first start is usually a swimmers best start and avoids recalling those swimmers who started fairly because of a failure by another athlete in the same heat.

The decision to implement both these changes on January 1 was recommended by the Competition Committee at its September meeting and approved by the PVS Board of Directors in October.

The PVS Officials Committee has taken steps to assure all its Referees and Starters are trained in the proper use of the new procedures prior to changes going into effect in January. Similarly, we anticipate that the coaches in PVS will be teaching our swimmers about the new procedures prior to January. With that effort, we expect a smooth transition.

The "Whistle Signal" Starting Protocol Overview of the "Whistle Start" procedure:
  1. Referee signals the swimmers to get behind the blocks and ready to step up/in by blowing a short series of whistles ("chirps").
  2. The starter will simply announce either "Heat" or "Event &, Heat "
  3. Referee signals the swimmers to step up onto the blocks or into the water by blowing one long whistle blast (for backstroke, a second long whistle blast when the referee is ready to have swimmers return to the wall and place their feet).
  4. When ready to turn swimmers over to the Starter, the Referee will signal with an out-stretched arm to the starter. This action "closes" the heat (this is the same as blowing the whistle in the old starting procedure). The out-stretched arm shall remain extended throughout the start.
  5. The Starter will now wait until the swimmers are settled, then request that the swimmers take their starting position ("Take Your Mark"). No other words will normally be spoken.
  6. When swimmers are motionless, the Starter will give the start signal.
The No Recall Starting Procedure Protocol
  1. The "Whistle Start Procedure" is followed until after the start signal is given.
  2. If one or more swimmers leave early, NO RECALL signal is normally given.
  3. Each swimmer is responsible for their start. Being "drawn off" by movement of another swimmer will no longer be grounds for being excused from also being charged with a false start.
  4. The Starter and Referee (as is current practice) will independently observe the start. If they agree as to which swimmers were in motion prior to the start, those swimmers shall be disqualified.
  5. Swimmers are notified of DQs for False Starts at the end of the race.