Revised Starting Procedures

Introduction

Two very significant changes to competitive starting procedures were adopted by USA Swimming in September 1999. The first involves using whistle signals (rather than voice commands) to have swimmers step onto the blocks (or into the water for backstroke.) Its use will become mandatory no later than May 15, 2000. The second involves not recalling a heat (under most circumstances) if there is a false start. Rather the race will proceed and any swimmers who left early will be notified of their DQ at the end of the race. Its use at the PVS level of competition is optional.

PVS plans to adopt both the "whistle protocols" and the "no recall" starting procedures beginning in January 2000. But they will not be used at mini meets prior to May 15, 2000.

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

Within PVS, the "no false start procedure" will only be used when you are also using the "Whistle Start" procedure.

Until May 15, 2000 all meets that will be using the "Whistle Start" procedure must indicate this in the meet announcement. Any meet that plans to use the no false start procedure must indicate this in the meet announcement (either before or after May 15, 2000).

 Overview of the "Whistle Start" procedure:
  • Referee signals the swimmers to get behind the blocks and ready to step up/in by blowing a short series of whistles (of at least 4 "chirps").
  • Referee signals 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).
  • 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 be kept there throughout the start.
  • 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 be spoken (this is the goal).
  • When swimmers are motionless, give the start signal.
  • Any problems during the start are handled as they were before.
 "Whistle Start" Procedure

The Referee will blow a short series of whistles (of at least 4 "chirps") to signal the swimmers to get into position behind the blocks. This should happen just after the last swimmer has completed their distance (or possibly later). This signal needs to be timed such that you can keep the meet moving along on the timeline.

It is appropriate for the Starter to announce "Heat x" after the short series of whistles, but before the Referee signals the swimmers to Step Up/In. If necessary to help people know where you are in the meet, the announcement can be "Event Y, Heat x." Whatever you do, be consistent. For Mini-meets only include distance and stroke.

The Referee will get the swimmers up on the blocks (or in the water) when the Referee is ready to start the next heat. This will be fairly quick in meets that are being run as fast as possible, and not so quick in other circumstances (such as Finals where the swimmers names are being announced, or where the Referee is waiting for something to finish or occur before getting the swimmers up/in).

For heats with deaf swimmers, the Starter shall continue to use the appropriate arm signals at the proper times (particularly since the Referee will now be giving other hand signals). Be sure that any deaf swimmers are in position behind the blocks, you may use an arm movement to indicate to the swimmers to move up by the blocks.

There are still optional instructions that may be given by the Starter. These are:

 

  • Event, stroke & distance
  • Advise the heat of a swimmer attempting a time at an initial distance.
  • Place your feet (for backstroke starts).
  • Notify relay swimmers to leave the pool promptly.

When the Referee is ready for the swimmers to step up/in, a single long whistle blast is issued. If the swimmers do not respond in a reasonable period of time, the Referee may indicate by arm motion to step up/in, or the Starter may announce "Gentleman/Ladies Step Up/In Please". It is our goal to keep use of these optional commands to an absolute minimum, but until the procedure is understood by our swimmers, it will be used as often as necessary.

For backstroke the long whistle signals the swimmers to step in. Once in the water another long whistle is used to signal them to return to the wall and place their feet. This will usually be given shortly after the swimmers have entered the water. If necessary, the Starter should instruct the swimmers to "Place Your Feet".

When the Referee is ready, he shall signal with an outstretched arm to the Starter that the swimmers are under the Starter's control. This action "closes" the heat. This is the same action/decision that the Referee's whistle used to signify. Referees should continue to use their discretion at this point for any late arriving swimmers. If needed, have the Starter step the heat down, and find out why the swimmer was late. If there are no problems, the Referee's arm should remain extended toward the Starter.

The Starter, upon being given control by the Referee, will check for any starting problems (toes in backstroke, swimmers or timers in the way, etc), and correct any observed problems. There will now be a pause (take a deep breath, scan the field up and down, or whatever works for you to ensure that a pause happens). If the field is not yet ready to start, pause some more. When the field is ready, say "Take Your Mark". That is ALL you say. With no opportunity to say the distance and stroke first, starters will need to practice saying "Take your Mark" in as conversational a tone as before (this is harder to do than you might think).

Wait for the field to get into position (at least one foot at the front edge of the platform). Once everyone is in position and has stopped moving, issue the start signal. Be patient for the swimmers to become still. But don't wait too long, if necessary, instruct them to "Stand/Stand Down." This part is no different than past practice.

If there are problems with the start, then call it back. This could be a swimmer leaving early, some external problem (equipment malfunction, extraneous noises, flash, etc), or simply a bad start (you "blew it"). Get the swimmers back and then consult with the Referee. If the cause is a swimmer leaving early, indicate to the Referee which lane(s) it was, and any other circumstances that you believe may have contributed to the early start. This is no different than past practice.

When everything is working as it should, the only verbal command given will be "Take Your Mark".

Recall Starters may still be used (if the no recall procedure is not also being used) and will function as they did before.

Note that the Referee is now much more intimately involved in moving the meet along, both in terms of getting the swimmers onto the blocks and deciding when to turn the heat over to the starter. The starter no longer has a role in getting the swimmers on the blocks.

Formerly, Referees could be doing other things so long as they blew the whistle to close the heat and closely observed the start. Now they will have to focus on the starting process much earlier if the meet is to keep moving.

If a heat needs to be stepped down from the blocks or backstroke swimmers are told to "Stand", it is acceptable to use a voice command, rather than a whistle, to have the swimmers step back up or place their feet.

It will be important, at least for a while, to make sure the timers are aware that the new procedures are being used. Many are used to resetting their watches on the referee's long whistle. In many cases, the whistle will now come before they would have finished recording the times, so they need to be instructed to reset their watches as soon as the times have been recorded.

No Recall Start

This procedure will only be used in meets whose Meet Announcement states it will be used – whether it is before or after May 15, 2000.

 Overview: ·
  • The Whistle start procedure is followed until after the start signal is given.
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  • If one or more swimmers leave early, NO RECALL signal is normally given.
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  • Swimmers are notified of DQs for False Starts at the end of the race.
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    No Recall Start Procedure

    This procedure is used only in conjunction with the "Whistle Start" procedure. What is different is that a heat is not recalled except for a bad start by the Starter, or something has happened that the Starter/Referee feels caused an unfair start. In this case, call the heat back and start again. If a heat is recalled, then there is no false start, no matter why you called the heat back.

    If there is movement at the start, the heat is allowed to proceed, and any involved swimmers disqualified at the conclusion of the race. This includes swimmers who may have been drawn off by the offending swimmer. However, if you accidentally recall the heat for a false start, then there is no false start. Starters need to consider how to prevent themselves from recalling on a false start. Recommendations are to not let go of the start button, or immediately open your hand so you cannot do the recall.

    There is no Recall Starter used in this procedure. If more than one Starter is being used, the other starters will be doing something other than being a Recall Starter.

    The Referee and the Starter should be on the same side of the pool unless the pool configuration or staffing levels necessitate doing otherwise. This includes backstroke, so now you will need to watch for toes in all 8 (or even 10) lanes.

    The Starter and Referee should always record in their program what lane(s) left early. (If no false start is observed, continue to keep track in your program of what heat has been completed as in the past.) If the Referee observes a false start, the Starter & Referee will confer. If they agree on the lane(s) that left early, then at the end of the race those swimmers will be disqualified. If practical, the Referee notifies the athlete at the end of the heat, otherwise advise the coach. The Referee does NOT lose the authority to unilaterally make a call, but as in the past, this should be used with extreme caution.

    There is normally no forgiveness of swimmers who have left early. The only exception is some external event caused the false start (flash, loud noise, etc), but NOT because they were drawn off by another swimmer moving early.

    This change does NOT preclude the Starter or the Referee from recalling a heat if they judge that it was not a fair start (e. g., sudden noise or light flash at the start), the signal was inadvertently given before the field was ready, the course was not clear, etc.

    As is current practice, if a swimmer or swimmers leave early (with no start signal yet given), the starter should attempt to stand the field up rather than give the starting signal. If appropriate, the swimmer(s) who left early should be charged with a false start.

    In rare circumstances, an external event could result in movement prior to the starting signal, but the heat was not called back because the Referee and Starter did not observe it in a timely manner. In that case, the initial swim cannot stand since there was movement prior to the start. Those swimmers that left early will need to be given an opportunity to re-swim.

    Link to Updated PVS Starter's Scripts

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