Last updated on October 31st, 2023 at 06:09 am
When describing a DQ, or disqualification, swim officials are often called upon to “paint a picture” of what they saw. It is challenging to clearly describe some types of calls. Here’s one tip to help officials quickly and clearly describe the degree of “past vertical” without the use of hands.
During one large USA Swimming championship swim meet, I called a “shoulders past vertical before the backstroke finish” during an Individual Medley event. When the coach challenged the call, the deck referee came to talk with me. She wanted to get more information about what I saw. In particular, she wanted to know more about the degree of past vertical I observed.
Knowing that I couldn’t use my hands, I grappled to find some other way to clearly convey what I saw. I didn’t have enough confidence in my geometry skills to state the numerical degree of the angle. Then it occurred to me to use an analog clock! Setting 12 as “vertical” it was quick and easy both to convey and to receive a clear understanding of what I saw. I used the hands of an analog clock to describe it. I said, “The shoulders were like the hour hand on a clock in about the 2 – 2:30 position before the hand touched the wall.”
This simple analogy can help Referees, Chief Judges, as well as Stroke and Turn Judges more quickly and clearly relay information about past vertical dq’s. Swimmers benefit from accurate feedback, even if it comes in the form of a dq. Using the hands of a clock to describe the angle of past vertical can increase clarity and understanding between officials.
Title Image Credit: “Clock” by mag3737 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
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