Relay Take-Offs

 

2011 UIL 5A State Championships (Lane 6 DQ'ed via machine on this exchange)

 

The UIL has updated the relay take-off rules for championship meets (district, region, & state).  It's definitely a move in the right direction!

 

TISCA release:

In all UIL championship meets in which electronic relay judging equipment is being utilized, a minimum of two (2), preferably four (4), relay takeoff judges must be assigned to observe relay exchanges.

1. An individual relay takeoff judge should be assigned to observe no more than four (4), preferably two (2) lanes.
2. Side takeoff judges should be positioned on the side of the pool nearest the lanes for which they have responsibility.
3. Lane takeoff judges should be positioned facing the side judge and adjacent to starting platforms for which they have responsibility, where they will have an unrestricted view of the incoming and outgoing touches and departures.
4. An alleged rules infraction, that is observed by any of the takeoff judges, shall be recorded immediately in writing. Each relay takeoff judge, who observes an alleged rules violation, shall wait until the last competitor of the heat is in the water before signaling an observed violation by raising a hand overhead, with open palm.  Both officials observing relay takeoff exchanges shall not be located next to each other on the side of the pool.
5. When the relay judging equipment records an exchange of 0.00 and beyond on the positive side, or from the manufacturer’s starting point, there shall not be an early relay takeoff violation charged unless there has been an observed contact with the starting block by a swimmer or team personnel at the block and observed by the official assigned to the lane.
6. Should the electronic relay judging equipment fail, it would take dual confirmation from officials to validate a DQ.

RELAY TAKEOFF PAD USAGE TABLE

Non-Omega Timing System

• Any negative value - DQ MUST have confirmation by at least one (1) takeoff judge
• 0.00 and greater - LEGAL (NO VIOLATION) (Judges are not considered unless there was an observed contact as described in #5 above)

 

Omega Timing System

• Any negative value less than -0.03 - DQ MUST have confirmation by at least one (1) takeoff judge
• -0.03 and greater - LEGAL (NO VIOLATION) (Judges are not considered unless there was an observed contact as described in #5 above)

 

Long-time Texas Swimming Blog readers will recall numerous posts on some ridiculous relay DQ's in past UIL state championships.

 

To find a few of those, just type "Appendix B" and/or "Relay Protocol" into the search option in the upper left of this site.