(Not to be used at PVS meets after December 31, 1999 except for mini meets. )
For Timed Finals & Preliminaries:
Announce the event only at the beginning of a new event: Event 1, Men’s 13-14 100 Yard Freestyle
Heat x Step Up (In) Please
Referee’s whistle
100 Yard Freestyle (say smoothly and continuously with no pauses between words)
Paaauuusssse (take a breath)
Take Your Mark
For Finals (if no announcer then do as in Timed Finals & Preliminaries):
Announcer will announce new event if starting new event
Announcer will announce what Heat it is and possibly the individual swimmers
Ladies/Gentlemen Step Up (In) Please
If announcer does not announce which Heat, then add applicable heat name, i.e. C Heat, B Heat, or A Heat before you say "...step up(in)"Note: These heats were formerly referred to as the Bonus, Consolation and Final Heat
Referee’s whistle
100 Yard Freestyle (say smoothly and continuously with no pauses between words)
Paaauuusssse (take a breath)
Take Your Mark
Other items:
You should also pause after the referee’s whistle before giving the starting instructions. Speak in a conversational tone, do not speed up the commands. Your job is to keep the swimmers as calm as possible.
Say the full name of the stroke (Butterfly, Freestyle, Backstroke, Breastroke or Individual Medley, not fly, free, back, breast or IM). The distance type is Yard or Meter not Yards or Meters.
Use arm signals for hearing impaired swimmers.
The "Take Your Mark" should be said in the same tone of voice as the other starting commands. 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." Do not repeat the stroke & distance. Remember however, 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), 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. If there is a false start and you have sounded the start signal, recall the swimmers, and have the rest of the swimmers step off the blocks. Get the swimmers off the blocks as soon as you can, do not leave them standing there while you have a discussion with the Referee. Commands to use are "Step down" ("Stand down" for backstroke). Then either announce that there was no false start
or that a false start is charged to Lane x., then say "Ladies/Gentlemen Step Up Please" ("Place Your Feet Please" for backstroke), pause, "Take Your Mark.".
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" immediately after the Referee’s whistle.
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).