Starting System

[Carole]

:confused: We need to replace our starting pistol and so bought a gun type one - bit like a megaphone. It is unreliable and too quiet for Club Champs so are back at square one!
Anyone selling one cheap? Got suggestions for ones which don't mind damp atmosphere (!?!) in fact - HELP!
Carole Benton:confused:

[Dreama]

starting pistol? woah they're scary! get a thing with a beep and a light! much less scary for younger swimmers than pistols/guns...speaking of which I heard once that we weren't supposed to use them any more because of dunblane or something? am i wrong?

[lane4]

Originally posted by Dreama
speaking of which I heard once that we weren't supposed to use them any more because of dunblane or something? am i wrong?

No you're not wrong. I read about that too a couple years back but not sure if it has happened totally everywhere yet?

[chris_lamb]

Originally posted by Dreama
speaking of which I heard once that we weren't supposed to use them any more because of dunblane or something? am i wrong?

I think there is a general policy of moving away from pistols, but current ASA Laws (or is it Technical Rules) still permit the use of pistols for starting.

[Carole]

New one is bleep + light - old one was like cap gun! Are willing to spend a fair bit if necessary to be able to run monthly competitions, Sussex League etc. We do need one which doesn't lead to false starts through light but no sound or sound only - or as the "new" one does - strangled type noise. Anyone got a timed one - timed from starter's "Take your marks!" to guarantee standard wait time?

[chris_lamb]

Originally posted by 1066swimmers
Anyone got a timed one - timed from starter's "Take your marks!" to guarantee standard wait time?

I hope such a device does not exist! If it did, it would not comply with the rules for starting. After the command "Take your marks", the starter must wait until all the swimmers are stationary before giving the starting signal.

[Bazza]

And if there was a set period of time between 'take your marks' and the start, people would learn to anticipate it, which is why I was taught a good starter varies the time between the two.

[chris_lamb]

Originally posted by bazzaroodoo
And if there was a set period of time between 'take your marks' and the start, people would learn to anticipate it, which is why I was taught a good starter varies the time between the two.

A good starter waits until the swimmers are stationary, irrespective of the length of time. :)

[Carole]

Would stop the "tactical" stuff we've been subject to recently 'though!

[Pete]

Having a set time between Take Your Marks and the start signal would cause chaos. If swimmers knew this they would anticipate the signal, twitch early to trigger others knowing it was early. Really bad idea.