New USA Swimming Timing Malfunction Rules Take Effect

In line with the similar changes from the NFHS, USA swimming has made a change in their rules for timing adjustments. Being this late in the competitive season and this close to trials and championship meets, this is potentially a risky call.

Barb Ship, an official in the Potomac Valley Swimming LSC, wrote an expalanation in the group’s latest officials newsletter:

Beginning May 1, 2016, the USA Swimming rules for timing adjustments due to a lane malfunction change to the following:

102.24.4D Adjustment for Malfunction on a Lane — When a malfunction is confirmed on a lane, the back-up times for that lane shall be calculated in accordance with 102.24.4B and integrated with the accurate primary times in establishing the official time and determining the results.

With the adoption of this rule, timing adjustments will no longer require complicated calculations for lane malfunctions. The backup time, as determined by 102.24.4B, will be the official time. While the procedure for determining the official time has simplified, it remains the responsibility of the Administrative Official/Administrative Referee to determine if the primary time is valid. Note, the procedures to adjust times due to a heat malfunction (102.24.4D in the 2016 rulebook) have not changed.

The full newsletter, including an explanation on how to administer the new rules in the Meet Manager software, can be seen here.

What does this mean?

This means that instead of having to calculate out times from a malfunctioned timing pad, the backup time that is computed from the timers behind each lane will be used. When a back timer is behind the block, they are in each (usually two per lane) responsible for clocking a time on their stop watches instead.

Why is this significant?

Usually this late in the season, with Olympic Trials around the corner, it is unusual for USA Swimming to alter their rules, especially when it has to deal with clocking times. If something with the pad and timing system goes wrong, in order to receive an accurate time, they will use the time based off of someone else’s finger. Whether their reaction time and finger is parallel to what it would be if the swimmers hand hit the pad is slim. This could make the time too fast or too slow and as we all know, every one-hundredth counts.

Backstroke Ledge Starting Procedure

Also taking effect on May 1st is an update of the starting procedure when a backstroke ledge is used.

The starting procedure for backstroke reads as follows:

Start — The swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands placed on the gutter or on the starting grips. Standing in or on the gutter, placing the toes above the lip of the gutter, or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter, before or after the start, is prohibited. When using a backstroke ledge at the start, the toes of both feet must be in contact with the end wall or face of the touchpad. Bending the toes over the top of the touchpad is prohibited.