Video Finish

[Anonymous]

The swimming threads never disappoint. I am an official and one of the mock scenarios in the training involves a parent with supposed video evidence that contradicts a call. They are very clear that video evidence is not admissible in any situation, period. Do not be that parent who makes this into a whole situation. You’re in for a long few weeks if you are already this crazy about A meet spots. Let the season play out, and whoever is actually faster will end up in the lineup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The swimming threads never disappoint. I am an official and one of the mock scenarios in the training involves a parent with supposed video evidence that contradicts a call. They are very clear that video evidence is not admissible in any situation, period. Do not be that parent who makes this into a whole situation. You’re in for a long few weeks if you are already this crazy about A meet spots. Let the season play out, and whoever is actually faster will end up in the lineup.

Not really, the way our team works, is the A-meets are in one faster and deeper pool all the B-meets are in a shallow pool or (one they don't even practice in) or one of these shallow pools around the county. I suspect the times will fall off considerably. For many kids time trials are the only time they'll compete in a nice pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The swimming threads never disappoint. I am an official and one of the mock scenarios in the training involves a parent with supposed video evidence that contradicts a call. They are very clear that video evidence is not admissible in any situation, period. Do not be that parent who makes this into a whole situation. You’re in for a long few weeks if you are already this crazy about A meet spots. Let the season play out, and whoever is actually faster will end up in the lineup.

Same (also PV/summer league official), + 1. Every once in a blue moon — very rarely!! — I have been on deck when an official flat out got it wrong, would not back down, and video evidence would have been useful. This happened in a summer league Divisionals several years back when one of the top swimmers swam a clean race, but the referee marked the wrong swimmer as false starting. Video evidence showed the referee got the wrong lane, but the summer league (leaving this vague on purpose) said it was too late. I was on deck and it was clear the referee got the wrong lane, but nothing was done. The swimmer probably would have won All Stars. It’s summer league, though. So really, it’s not a huge deal. That same swimmer will likely still be successful in years to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The swimming threads never disappoint. I am an official and one of the mock scenarios in the training involves a parent with supposed video evidence that contradicts a call. They are very clear that video evidence is not admissible in any situation, period. Do not be that parent who makes this into a whole situation. You’re in for a long few weeks if you are already this crazy about A meet spots. Let the season play out, and whoever is actually faster will end up in the lineup.

Not really, the way our team works, is the A-meets are in one faster and deeper pool all the B-meets are in a shallow pool or (one they don't even practice in) or one of these shallow pools around the county. I suspect the times will fall off considerably. For many kids time trials are the only time they'll compete in a nice pool.

You are worrying about the wrong things. A swimmer who is legitimately faster will be able to post a good time in a crappy pool. Stop thinking of excuses as to why your kid won’t make the lineup. Your time would be better spent looking into lessons to improve their technique, or if they are truly really into swimming finding the best training environment for them in the winter so they can get better at racing. This is like when a soccer parent complains that the team lost because the game was on grass instead of turf. You either got it or you don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The swimming threads never disappoint. I am an official and one of the mock scenarios in the training involves a parent with supposed video evidence that contradicts a call. They are very clear that video evidence is not admissible in any situation, period. Do not be that parent who makes this into a whole situation. You’re in for a long few weeks if you are already this crazy about A meet spots. Let the season play out, and whoever is actually faster will end up in the lineup.

Not really, the way our team works, is the A-meets are in one faster and deeper pool all the B-meets are in a shallow pool or (one they don't even practice in) or one of these shallow pools around the county. I suspect the times will fall off considerably. For many kids time trials are the only time they'll compete in a nice pool.

You are worrying about the wrong things. A swimmer who is legitimately faster will be able to post a good time in a crappy pool. Stop thinking of excuses as to why your kid won’t make the lineup. Your time would be better spent looking into lessons to improve their technique, or if they are truly really into swimming finding the best training environment for them in the winter so they can get better at racing. This is like when a soccer parent complains that the team lost because the game was on grass instead of turf. You either got it or you don’t.

Excuses? listen to you. I'm not about to do training a sorry excuse of sport like this.

[Anonymous]

Semi-related to OP's question - would you ask a coach to follow up on a child's 'official' time if it didn't match what child was told/what pool scoreboard showed (touchpad time)? Imagine child was told 39.9, scoreboard said 40.X, and then official time was recorded as 41.Y.

Does it change your answer if either the 39 or the 40 would have been a champs cut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Semi-related to OP's question - would you ask a coach to follow up on a child's 'official' time if it didn't match what child was told/what pool scoreboard showed (touchpad time)? Imagine child was told 39.9, scoreboard said 40.X, and then official time was recorded as 41.Y.

Does it change your answer if either the 39 or the 40 would have been a champs cut?

Are you talking about club swim? If so, protests can only occur when there is wide disparity between the two watch times, the plunger time; and the touchpad time. Also, scoreboards are often very off. The coach will handle it, though, not you as the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Semi-related to OP's question - would you ask a coach to follow up on a child's 'official' time if it didn't match what child was told/what pool scoreboard showed (touchpad time)? Imagine child was told 39.9, scoreboard said 40.X, and then official time was recorded as 41.Y.

Does it change your answer if either the 39 or the 40 would have been a champs cut?

Are you talking about club swim? If so, protests can only occur when there is wide disparity between the two watch times, the plunger time; and the touchpad time. Also, scoreboards are often very off. The coach will handle it, though, not you as the parent.

These are the USA Swimming Protocols:
https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/officialsdocuments/officials-training-resources/timing-adjustment-resources/timing-adjustment-rule-change.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Semi-related to OP's question - would you ask a coach to follow up on a child's 'official' time if it didn't match what child was told/what pool scoreboard showed (touchpad time)? Imagine child was told 39.9, scoreboard said 40.X, and then official time was recorded as 41.Y.

Does it change your answer if either the 39 or the 40 would have been a champs cut?

Are you talking about club swim? If so, protests can only occur when there is wide disparity between the two watch times, the plunger time; and the touchpad time. Also, scoreboards are often very off. The coach will handle it, though, not you as the parent.

+1 also, watch times shared by the timer are usually faster than the actual official time because timers may start the watch after the start vs. exactly at the same time

[Anonymous]

I'm sure you have shared the video and now have a reputation as that parent. I feel for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Same (also PV/summer league official), + 1. Every once in a blue moon — very rarely!! — I have been on deck when an official flat out got it wrong, would not back down, and video evidence would have been useful. This happened in a summer league Divisionals several years back when one of the top swimmers swam a clean race, but the referee marked the wrong swimmer as false starting. Video evidence showed the referee got the wrong lane, but the summer league (leaving this vague on purpose) said it was too late. I was on deck and it was clear the referee got the wrong lane, but nothing was done. The swimmer probably would have won All Stars. It’s summer league, though. So really, it’s not a huge deal. That same swimmer will likely still be successful in years to come.

False starts require dual confirmation from both the Referee and Starter. They both would have to get it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Same (also PV/summer league official), + 1. Every once in a blue moon — very rarely!! — I have been on deck when an official flat out got it wrong, would not back down, and video evidence would have been useful. This happened in a summer league Divisionals several years back when one of the top swimmers swam a clean race, but the referee marked the wrong swimmer as false starting. Video evidence showed the referee got the wrong lane, but the summer league (leaving this vague on purpose) said it was too late. I was on deck and it was clear the referee got the wrong lane, but nothing was done. The swimmer probably would have won All Stars. It’s summer league, though. So really, it’s not a huge deal. That same swimmer will likely still be successful in years to come.

False starts require dual confirmation from both the Referee and Starter. They both would have to get it wrong.

Agree. Additionally, don't assume you know what the disqualification was. Perspective changes depending on deck position; you know that. And please stop discounting summer league as not a huge deal; to a lot of these athletes, it is. - also a USAS and Summer League Official.

[Anonymous]

summer swimming is for fun... kids have plenty opportunities to make A meets, B meet is fun too... I don't even bother bring it up even if i know timers messed up ... it rarely happens in our meets though, since we have 3 timers per lane... why so serious, parents

[Anonymous]

talking about timing error... for club swimming, i knew one of my son's team mates got gifted 10 seconds in one event, maybe because the people entering times made an error... i am pretty sure the kid's parents knew it, the kid knew it too... with this mistaken time, the kid qualified invitational or championship events.... i don't see anybody has a problem with it, including coaches.... the kid kept competing those qualifying events, only finished last every time...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:talking about timing error... for club swimming, i knew one of my son's team mates got gifted 10 seconds in one event, maybe because the people entering times made an error... i am pretty sure the kid's parents knew it, the kid knew it too... with this mistaken time, the kid qualified invitational or championship events.... i don't see anybody has a problem with it, including coaches.... the kid kept competing those qualifying events, only finished last every time...

This isn’t timer error. This is data error.