Starting block (swimming)
A starting block or starting base is the "starting device" in swimming .
conditions
Technically, the requirements for the construction and test procedures of starting blocks are regulated in DIN -EN 13451-4 ("Additional special safety requirements and test procedures for starting blocks").
The international swimming federation, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (Fina), also lays down provisions on the nature of the starting blocks, which are adopted by the national professional associations, such as the German Swimming Association , in their own set of rules. Starting blocks must therefore meet certain requirements in order to be suitable for hosting national or international swimming competitions. Lower standards can be set for regional events.
The Fina Facility Rule (FR) 2.7 provides information on starting platforms for competitions according to Fina rules. After this, starting blocks must not have any resilient effect. The jumping area may be at least 50 and a maximum of 75 centimeters above the water level and must be at least 50 × 50 cm in size. Their inclination should not exceed 10 degrees. In addition, grip options are provided for the starters, both for the forward and back start. The pole for the back start should be placed at a height between 30 cm and 60 cm above the water surface.
Starting blocks can be on one or both sides of a swimming pool . Usually there is a starting block per lane with its number. If there is only one row of starting blocks, the lane with the smallest number (0 or 1) should be on the right in the direction of the pool.
Designs
Older starting blocks were often solid stone or concrete blocks and did not yet have handles for the frontal starter. Due to the associated poor jumping properties, they are often replaced by newer models when renovating sports pools. Starting blocks can also be made of plastic or stainless steel; the take-off plate is often specially coated for better grip. Depending on the height of the block and the swimming pool, there are steps behind or to the side of the platform.
Additional equipment
Since the 2000s, several innovations regarding starting blocks have taken hold. In national and international competitions, these are now largely mandatory, while conventional starting blocks are very often used for small events.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing , starting blocks with an adjustable rear footrest and a higher platform inclination were tested for the first time. These are modeled on the starting blocks in running and patented by Omega SA . They were officially approved from 2010. The footrest enables a better jump at step starts .
In 2013 a footrest for the back start was also tested for the first time. The device called "back start aid" mainly consists of a transverse strip that hangs on the pool wall just below the surface of the water and is attached to the block when starting out of the water. By changing the position of the feet on the wall, the jump is improved and the risk of slipping on the vertical wall is reduced. Back start aids were still allowed in the regulations by Fina in 2013. Since 2015, the back start aids can also be used in Germany.
Modern starting blocks can also determine the reaction time of the athletes between the start signal and the actual jump and thus also early starts. In relay competitions, the time difference between hitting an electronic mat at the time of jumping on the starting block can be used to detect irregular (premature) relay changes.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ DIN EN 13451-4 Swimming pool equipment - Part 4: Additional special safety requirements and test methods for starting blocks. In: din.de. German Institute for Standardization , accessed on August 22, 2017 .
- ↑ a b FINA FACILITIES RULES. (PDF; 10 MB) In: fina.org. Fédération Internationale de Natation , p. 4f. , accessed on August 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Starting blocks in the swimming stadium. In: sportlexikon.de. Retrieved August 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Starting block for jumping into new dimensions. In: rp-online.de. November 12, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Peter Jacob: wings at the back start. In: swim.de. May 14, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Sebastian Schwenke: Rule adjustment: DSV approves back jump start. In: swimsportnews.com. March 23, 2015, accessed August 22, 2017 .