Super Sectionals and Chase Starts
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Anonymous
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So we have our club meeting for those going to Super Sectionals. They mentioned that chase starts could be a possibility to speed up the meet. I have not see a psych sheet for the meet (if anyone has one would love a link here) but are not chase starts a bad idea where a swimmer could catch up with the other swimmer? It also seems like it could lead to injury.
Would love to hear Super Sectionals tips and tricks for this meet from those that have done it before. |
Anonymous
Late entries are due this afternoon so I would expect a psych sheet to come out later this evening. The chase starts sound worse than they are, although it should make coaches mindful of things like say putting kids in the 200 fly or 200 breast as bonus events even if they are nowhere near the sectionals standard. Because that last lap is going to be significantly slower than the 1st lap for a swimmer much better in that event, and that is where the danger of getting caught comes in. They don’t start the chase until the lead swimmer has gotten 15 meters in on their last lap. Also important for the lead swimmer to immediately exit the pool after finishing. |
Anonymous
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So they don't start the chase based on the lead swimmer but rather the lag. It does look brutal to have a 2fly or 4IM immediately hop out of the pool, but the athletes do fine.
I will say that the food choices in that area are not great, so plan ahead and bring snacks! |
Anonymous
| They only do chase starts for 50’s |
Anonymous
| No meet specific tips, but my kids have been to LCM prelim/finals meets with chase starts in prelims. They did it for all events except the 50’s. Odd heats started from one side and even heats from the other side. It was very efficient and no one ever caught up with anyone. They wouldn’t call the swimmers to the block until the last swimmer was at least halfway across the pool, and by the time they started, the swimmer was only 10-15 m from the wall. It shaved at least 20-30 sec between heats. The only thing was to make sure the kids got out of the pool before the next swimmer came to the wall because some of them had a habit of waiting. |
Anonymous
| It’s normal for Sectionals prelims. I’ve only ever seen it be an issue once and a girl was clearly struggling in a bonus event…can’t remember which but it was a 200. Fortunately she was in an outside lane and the official was able to get her attention and move her to the side. |
Anonymous
Not true. It was fun to watch last year and exciting a couple of times when they had to quickly pull a kids out before the other was coming into the wall. Didn’t happen often but when it does it’s close. |
Anonymous
| Anyone know the link for meet central? Virginia swimming never put up the March 26-29, 2026 Speedo Sectionals so I doubt it will be there. |
Anonymous
That's not true. They actually do it for 100LCM and longer. The point is to save time by starting at each end of the pool. |
Anonymous
https://www.easternzoneswimming.org/page/meets |
Anonymous
| Anyone have the psych sheet? Did they end up putting it out? |
Anonymous
Wouldn't they include chase starts in the meet announcement? |
Anonymous
It says in the meet announcement that they may use chase starts depending on how many entries there are. |
Anonymous
No this isn’t correct. |
Anonymous
This site is never up to date and not meet central. |