Greater Richmond Aquatic League :: IMPORTANT: USA Swimming Water Depth Change

Registrar

Water Depth Change - Special Notice (2/20/2007)

February 15, 2007

Special Notice to All Members of USA Swimming

Pursuant to USA Swimming Rule 504.8, the USA Swimming Board of Directors has decided to amend Rule 103.2.2 (page 43 of the 2007 Rules & Regulations) which specifically applies to teaching racing starts to provide as follows:

103.2 WATER DEPTH –

.2 /M/ Teaching Racing Starts – Minimum water depth for teaching racing starts in any setting from any height starting block or the deck shall be 6 feet (1.84 meters) measured for a distance of 3 feet 31/2 inches (1.0 meter) to 16 feet 5 inches (5.0 meters) from the end wall.

This decision has been made with the advice and consent of the Safety Education Committee, the Rules and Regulations Committee, and legal counsel. The purpose of this action is to further protect novice swimmers from accidental bottom strikes while they are learning to execute racing starts. This change is effective immediately
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Jim Spevak
GRAL Registrar
TVW Board/Computer Rep.

Secretary · Posted: Post subject:

This change only applies to teaching diving starts correct? This would require almost, if not all teams to train in the divewell area and without a starting block. Does this apply to experienced swimmers diving off the blocks for drills?

sailingcal21 · Posted: Post subject: This is a Dangerous Position to Take

I think that it is more dangerous, will result in more incidents and more serious injuries.

Teaching starts in less than actual situations will give swimmers false confidence. And will likely result in less or no actual racing start training.

Over GRAL's history how many injuries due to racing starts at meets and practices have been reported? How many incidents have been observed? Indeed when serious injuries do happen they are horrific. The facts of the incident should be considered and addressed, not a knee-jerk reaction without appropriate research.

How many racing dives must be made as training dives to "certify" that a 5 year old is competent and needs no more racing dive training?

During swimming practice isn't the swimmer "training" the start, the swim, the turn and the finish. Which means that the swimmer will never actually train going off a starting block until he or she gets to a meet. The height of the starting block changes the whole dynamic of the racing dive. So do we have to install starting blocks specifically located for racing dive training?

It pains me to watch 5 year olds jump off the blocks into the water. What the hell are they doing on the blocks if they can't even dive? Let's make some rules about that and concerning starts when the visiting teams pool doesn't even have regulation blocks, to show the judges, lawyers and insurance companies that we can competently manage the dangers of swimming, instead of them having them tell us our business. Remember the Senator who was advocating seat belts for motorcycles... until someone fitted a motorcycle with a seat belt and asked him to ride it.

Next we will have backstroke swimmers wearing helmets and arm protection.