the
importance of the Starter.

Only the latter, should be considered when the starter is being
selected for any meet whether it be at the "C" level or a
National meet. The starter's position is no place for an "ego
trip" looking for recognition or for the person seeking power and
authority over a group. Neither is it a showplace for the ham"
actor. The best starter goes out on the deck, does his job and is
seldom noticed by most of the people at the meet with the
exception of the swimmers. Have you ever worked a meet and had
several swimmers come up to you and thank you for doing a good
job? Work for it, it is a big thrill.

Philosophy of the start


Now that automatic starting and judging equipment is becoming
more prevalent in our meets, the starter must learn to use the
various types of equipment that he may find at the pools. The
BEEPER is rapidly replacing the gun, but use of the beeper is
putting an additional requirement on the starter. He must know of
operational peculiarities of the hand control. Because of this,
the Starter must give himself enough time before a meet to become
familiar with the equipment being used. When fully automatic
timing and judging equipment is used, the starter becomes the
only person on the deck who has any direct influence on the
outcome of any individual performance in the pool. If the start
is not given as impartially and precisely at the right moment,
one or more swimmers have an advantage over the others who are at
a disadvantage. This same philosophy also applies to the gun
start.

Firing the gun.., and points leading up thereto:

First of all ... and a point often overlooked ... IT IS NO SIN TO
HAVE A FALSE START!

If someone has an advantage over the others, FIRE THE SECOND GUN,
OR HIT THE BEEPER! Five other swimmers will silently thank you;
most of them will have seen it. Many people who start meets feel
that a few false starts or recalls is due to the starter's
inconsistency. Consistency is the key to any sport officiating,
not mechanical patterns but consistency. One of the fundamental
points to remember is that the swimmers on the blocks are about
to enter into strenuous COMPETITION and every true competitor will strive to gain every advantage he or she can over the
others. That same person is also a FAIR competitor and will
readily respond to a starter who exhibits impartial fairness to
all. Younger swimmers don't present the same problems that do the
older ones, particularly, the Senior swimmers and the AA and AAA
swimmers. The starter who finds it necessary to place undue
restrictions on the swimmers at the blocks should take a long
look in the mirror and have a questioning conversation with the
person looking back.

NOTES FOR THE STARTER. Cont'd.

THE METHOD .... What is the secret? Two very important points
and much, much, much practice.

1.

When the swimmers are called to the blocks, give them time
to wind down the fidgets, adjust the glasses and pull down
the suits. Give them time to get ready, (this only takes a
very few moments...much less time than a false start by a
swimmer who isn't ready). Watch for the "magic moment
sign" of "we're ready", then calmly, conversationally,
give a dignified "take your mark". Your voice inflection
is most important at this point. This is the end of your
conversation with them... after telling them what they are
to do, and this will be treated more fully later, your
voice inflection asks them to "take your mark".

Your voice should have a politeness to it. Not a big
question "are you going to"? but a "I know you will" tone.
If the first "come down" is ragged, stand them up
immediately. Nine times out of ten someone is going to go
in: if your command was given to early, this often happens
and it is really your fault even though you will probably
charge the one who did go in just on general principles.
But if your command is given at the right moment, it will be
a good start. The percentage even gets much better as the
swimmers get used to you and respect you and trust you.

2.

WHEN TO FIRE THE GUN OR PUSH THE BUTTON... another magic
moment ...!

First of all, recognize that there is very rarely a point
at which all people on the blocks are completely
motionless. It can be honestly said that such is the case
in less than one in twenty starts. However, there is a
point at which the competitors are ready as they will ever
be for that particular group. You may be able to
recognize this and fire immediately! The worst thing that
a starter can do is to make that charged up swimming
machine remain in that wound up position for more than a
fraction of a second, let alone for three or four. They
just won't tolerate it. The second worst thing that a
starter can do is to fire BEFORE ALL are ready or locked
down. A good starter learns to recognize when that
swimming machine is coiled, cocked and ready to spring.

It is learned through week in and week out of practice and
experience in observing and working with swimmers. If you
really want to be a good starter, make it a point to go to
a meet where a recognized good starter is working, sit behind him or her and listen and watch. After a while you
will get to know exactly what he or she is going to do.
Mentally go through the motions yourself, it will make it
much easier when you pick up that gun for the first time.

3. WHAT TO SAY ... AND WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO SAY IT ...


As was stated earlier, the starter is on the deck for the
sole purpose to get the swimmers off in a fair and
impartial manner. Prior to getting them off though, there
are certain things that must be said according to the
rules. Any more than that is up to the dictates of the
situation. For the experienced swimmers, the A swimmers
on up know what they have to do. The rules require that
the starter announce the distance and event and when a
warning shot may be fired ... nothing more! Any more than
that is a distraction to the swimmers of that caliber...
Remember all swimmers in this class are out to make a
specific time or goal. Any remarks other than that is not
what the starter is out there for.

The starting position is not a place for rhetoric, neither
is a starter judged on his or her eloquence.