Modern technology

I can still remember when seeding for swimming meets was done by hand. Computers now handle all of that administrative work. Now, we take it for granted that we can easily move athletes from heat to heat by merely dragging their names on the computer screen, or add an athlete to an event and easily re-seed.

And where do the times come from? There was a time when two or three handheld watches decided the time. Now, we have the timing computer, of course!

Except when there is a pad failure, the computer handles it all. Humans and their limitations are not involved. Can it get any better?

The answer to that question is "yes," because we still have "humans and their limitations" involved in using the backup timing systems and watching relay takeoffs. However, help is on the way on both fronts.

Let's look at backup timing systems first.

Swiss Timing has a system of overhead cameras whereby each camera records two lanes at the rate of 100 frames per second, coordinated with the start system. If there is a pad failure, the administrative referee can look at the video to see to the hundredth of a second exactly when the swimmer touched the wall.

This kind of system has been used at the Olympics since at least 1988 and also at major international competitions. It won't be long before a system such as this is available at local meets, and the request over the P.A. of "We need two more timers" will be a thing of the past.

On the relay takeoff front, the NCAA has used Colorado Time Systems relay takeoff pads on the starting blocks for the last two years.

The NCAA rules have given the automatic system the sole jurisdiction in a narrow band between +/0.05 seconds. Outside of that range, dual confirmation with either a human and the machine or two humans is required.

On the other hand, FINA uses the automatic system as the sole judge of relay takeoffs with the overhead cameras, if available, as supplemental information. USA Swimming allows the use of the automatic system, but doesn't specify how, or if, it is to be integrated with human judging.

You saw versions of both of these systems in use at the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool this year. The more these systems are used for backup timing and relay takeoff judging, the more coaches, athletes and officials will gain confidence in their accuracy. This will make life easier for all of us.

John T. Wilson of Athens, Ga. is a member of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations Committee and is a USA Swimming and FINA referee.

Copyright Sports Publications, Inc. Aug 2003
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