Here are a few things it would be quite helpful to know when you’re racing:
- At the start of the day, you should check with the team managers which heat and lane number you are. You need to remember these!
- When you stand behind the blocks, you SHOULD tell the timekeeper your name, they shouldn’t have to ask.
- The whistles at the start of the race can be a bit confusing, so here’s a quick explanation:
- -4 short whistles – make sure you have your goggles on and are ready to start
- -1 long whistle – get onto the blocks or in the water
- -‘TAKE YOUR MARKS’
- -Either beep or whistle – this is when you dive in/start
- At the start of the race, once the starter has said ‘take your marks’ you CAN’T move otherwise you’ll be disqualified.
- At the end of the race, you need to lean on the lane rope and wait for the other swimmers in your heat to finish:
- -Don’t climb out of the pool until you are told by the referee or until the next heat dives in
- -You need to climb out at the side of the pool
- -It’s usually nice to say well done to the people on either side of you even if you don’t know them.