PVS Starter’s Scripts	Potomac Valley Swimming, Inc
		JRG   10/2000

 

For Timed Finals & Preliminaries:

• Referee signals next heat to get ready behind the blocks by a short series of at least four whistle chirps.

• Starter announces the heat (can be Event number and Heat Number or just Heat number). For Mini-meets only include distance and stroke.

• Referee’s long whistle to signal swimmers to step up/in (only if necessary tell heat “Ladies/Gentleman step up/in please”).  
  For Backstroke Only Referee's second long whistle to signal swimmers to place their feet (only if necessary tell heat "Ladies/Gentleman place your feet").

• Referee turns the heat over to the starter by signaling with an arm motion.

• If Referee then drops their arm, relax the swimmers.   Do not resume until the Referee turns control back to you.

• Paaauuusssse (make sure swimmers are ready, take a breath).

• Take Your Mark.

For Finals (if no announcer then do as in Timed Finals & Preliminaries):

• Referee signals next heat to get ready behind the blocks by a short series of at least four whistle chirps.

• Announcer will announce new event if starting new event.

• Announcer will announce what Heat it is and possibly the individual swimmers.

• Referee’s long whistle to signal swimmers to step up/in (Only if necessary tell heat “Ladies/Gentleman step up/in please”).
  For Backstroke Only Referee's second long whistle to signal swimmers to place their feet (only if necessary tell heat "Ladies/Gentleman place your feet").

• Referee turns the heat over to the starter by signaling with an arm motion.

• If Referee then drops their arm, relax the swimmers.   Do not resume until the Referee turns control back to you.

• Paaauuusssse (make sure swimmers are ready, take a breath).

• Take Your Mark.

Other items:

• The Referee signals the next heat to get ready after the last swimmer finishing touches.

• Use arm signals for hearing impaired swimmers at the appropriate times (long whistle, and take your mark).

• The “Take Your Mark” should be said in a conversational tone of voice.  Remember you are inviting the swimmers to swim, not ordering them to do so.

• Please say nothing beyond what’s outlined here (do not say “bell lap event”, do not tell relays to exit the pool at the end of their leg, etc.).

• Give the swimmers adequate time after “Take Your Mark” to settle down.  If too much time goes by, then stand them up (“Stand” or “Stand Up”, “Stand” or “Stand Down” for backstroke), let them relax, (say “Place your feet” for backstroke and let the swimmers comfortably get in position), then say “Take Your Mark. Remember  that you must be patient with the swimmers and not use the “Stand Up” command too often.  If you must stand them up a second time, then have them step off the blocks (“stand down” for backstroke).  Let the swimmers relax for a short time, then “Ladies/Gentlemen Step Up Please” (“Place Your Feet Please” for backstroke) or the long Referee whistle, then make a generic announcement about assuming the starting position without delay, then pause and say “Take Your Mark.”
  If a third stand up is required, and it is the 2nd for a specific swimmer, then warn that lane.  If more stand ups are required, and it is the 3rd for a given swimmer, then let the Referee handle it.

•   If there is a false start but you never sounded the Start signal have the swimmers step off the blocks and relax.  If there is a false start and you have sounded the start signal, then the heat continues (you do not recall the heat).  You should note the lane(s) that left early on your program.    The Referee will initiate contact with you if they believe they have observed a false start

• Announce if one or more swimmers in the heat are going for an initial split time.  Say, “Lane x is going for a lead off split of 100 Yards” after the Referee’s long whistle and the swimmers are on the blocks or at the wall.

• The feet may be in any position on the starting platform before the “Take Your Mark”.  After the “Take Your Mark” at least one foot must be at the front of the platform.  This is an area where you should not nit-pick the swimmers.  If someone’s foot is not close to the front of the block, then you will have to stand them up (“Stand” or “Stand Up”).  Then tell the offending swimmer “Lane x, you must have one foot at the front edge after the Command”.

• Use crisp and concise commands for other circumstances that may occur (“toes” in backstroke for example).

Comments or suggestions for improvement.