YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming and Diving Fo: Time discrepancy

Message

   Alright here's the scenario:
We had a swimmer in the 25 butterfly (so watch times only,) whose times were listed as 22.03 and 22.79. Qualifying time is a 22.59. Now under normal circumstances, these two times would be averages and they would come up with a qualifying time. The coach, however, wants to throw the time out. I find this totally unfair to the 8 year old swimmer who has no control over why the timers pushed their buttons at different times. We always say benefit of the doubt goes to the swimmer, so why wouldn't that apply here? Is there a rule that I can show the coach to allow the swimmer to keep their time?

Author	Message
mandy52799 New Member Joined: Jan/19/2011 Location: United States Posts: 3	Topic: Time discrepancy Posted: Jan/22/2011 at 6:49pm
	Alright here's the scenario: We had a swimmer in the 25 butterfly (so watch times only,) whose times were listed as 22.03 and 22.79. Qualifying time is a 22.59. Now under normal circumstances, these two times would be averages and they would come up with a qualifying time. The coach, however, wants to throw the time out. I find this totally unfair to the 8 year old swimmer who has no control over why the timers pushed their buttons at different times. We always say benefit of the doubt goes to the swimmer, so why wouldn't that apply here? Is there a rule that I can show the coach to allow the swimmer to keep their time?

	IP Logged

Ed Miller Moderator Group Moderator - Officials Joined: Apr/29/2006 Location: United States Posts: 159	Posted: Jan/31/2011 at 6:17pm
	Under the USA-S technical rules (Rule102.16.5.B(3)), if only two watch times are available, , the time shall be the average of those two watch times. It may well be that the coach also took a watch time and his time supported the slower time, or other swimmers finished ahead of this swimmer in the heat with slower times, in which case he is trying to be fair to all the swimmers and not let one swimmer qualify based on a suspect time when others who swam faster do not qualify. You should really talk with the coach and find out his reasons for his decision. Ed Miller National Officials' Committee Chair
	IP Logged

mandy52799 New Member Joined: Jan/19/2011 Location: United States Posts: 3	Posted: Jan/31/2011 at 7:37pm
	I've discussed this particular case with the coach ad naseum. Its not a matter of putting another swimmer at a disadvantage. This swimmer came in first place (We had 4 officials place judging.) The second place swimmer swam a time of 23.12 so there really isn't anything suspect with that part of it. It basically comes down to one of the timers made an error. I find myself at a loss with this situation because I had already pointed out to the coach the rule you cited above. She is still opting to toss the time like it never happened. I guess at this point I wonder why we are even here as officials if the rules aren't going to be applied. I'm at a total loss as to what to do here.
	IP Logged

Ed Miller Moderator Group Moderator - Officials Joined: Apr/29/2006 Location: United States Posts: 159	Posted: Jan/31/2011 at 8:44pm
	What reason did the coach give for deciding that the time is not valid? Did the coach time the swimmer and get a time closer to the higher time. Even though the swimmer came in first, did the swimmer finish a full second faster than the next swimmer, or was it a very close finish? Not being there, I cannot comment on those issues. I don't know why your coach doesn't want to accept your swimmer's time, but there must be something there because coaches don't just throw out times. The rule is what it is, but the coach must have a reason for not wanting to accept the time. That has to be between you and your coach. Ed Miller National Officials' Committee Chair
	IP Logged

mandy52799 New Member Joined: Jan/19/2011 Location: United States Posts: 3	Posted: Jan/31/2011 at 9:39pm
	Her reasoning was that there was such a difference in the two watch times, so she claims it couldn't possibly be a valid time. As far as if there was a full second between the swimmers, I can't say since I didn't have a watch in my hand, but I was place judging and it wasn't close.
	IP Logged

Rules and Officials
YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming and Diving Fo :YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming - General :Rules and Officials