Competitive Swimmers Modify Racing Start Depth Upon Request

White, Josh C.; Cornett, Andrew; Wright, Brian V.; Willmott, Alexander P.; Stager, Joel M.

doi:10.25035/ijare.05.02.06

Cited by 9 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…These findings are consistent with results reported previously when novice high school aged swimmers (14.8 ± 1.1 yrs) and experienced collegiate aged swimmers (20.1 ± 1.2 yrs) were asked to execute a shallow start (White et al, 2011). Statistically, both groups of swimmers were able to decrease the maximum depth of the center of the head in response to being asked to execute a shallow racing start and the groups were not different in their ability to modify depth.…”

Section: Maximum Depth Of the Head And A Request To "Start Shallow"supporting

confidence: 92%

“…The current study is important because it does show that the capability to modify the maximum depth of the center of the head is not specific only to the highly experienced collegiate swimmers or the inexperienced high school swimmers studied by White et al (2011) or the elite junior swimmers filmed by Blitvitch et al (2000). Instead, our study demonstrates that the capability to modify the maximum depth of the center of the head is present in competitive swimmers regardless of age.…”

Section: Maximum Depth Of the Head And A Request To "Start Shallow"mentioning

confidence: 82%

“…We compared the ability of novice high school (14.8 ± 1.1 yrs) and experienced collegiate aged swimmers (20.1 ± 1.2 yrs) to modify head depth upon "request" (White, Cornett, Wright, Willmott, & Stager, 2011) by having the swimmers execute two starts. The first start was a "typical" racing start.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Start Depth Modification by Adolescent Competitive Swimmers

Cornett¹,

White²,

Wright³

et al. 2012

IJARE

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To expand upon previous studies showing inexperienced high school swimmers can complete significantly shallower racing starts when asked to start "shallow," 42 age group swimmers (6-14 years old) were filmed underwater during completion of competitive starts. Two starts (one normal and one "requested shallow") were executed from a 0.76 m block into 1.83 m of water. Dependent measures were maximum depth of the center of the head, head speed at maximum head depth, and distance from the starting wall at maximum head depth. Statistical analyses yielded significant main effects (p < 0.05) for start type and age. The oldest swimmers' starts were deeper and faster than the youngest swimmers' starts. When asked to start shallowly, maximum head depth decreased (0.10 m) and head speed increased (0.32 ms -1 ) regardless of age group. The ability of all age groups to modify start depth implies that spinal cord injuries during competitive swimming starts are not necessarily due to age-related deficits in basic motor skills.The safety risks associated with the execution of a competitive racing start are due to several factors. Some of these are under the swimmer's control and some are not. For example, the trajectory of the body upon leaving the starting block, the velocity at which the body is traveling, and the depth of the head during the trajectory are to a large extent determined by the swimmer or the physical body characteristics such as mass and strength. Block height and water depth, in contrast, are a function of the facility and regulatory requirements. If a swimmer comes into contact with the pool bottom, the severity of the injury that occurs is influenced by the swimmer's momentum, primarily a function of the velocity and mass of the swimmer. The swimmer's velocity is related to the forces generated by the swimmer while on the block, the swimmer's ability to reduce the resistive forces (streamline) once entering the water, and the height of the block above the water surface. The execution of a safe racing start therefore requires the swimmer to exhibit a complex blend of motor abilities, including such skills as static and dynamic balance, multiple axial movements, and ballistic locomotor skills.

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Section: Maximum Depth Of the Head And A Request To "Start Shallow"supporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Maximum Depth Of the Head And A Request To "Start Shallow"mentioning

confidence: 82%

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Start Depth Modification by Adolescent Competitive Swimmers

Cornett¹,

White²,

Wright³

et al. 2012

IJARE

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“…There have been two studies that have dealt specifically with purposeful modification of racing start depth (Cornett et al, 2012;White et al, 2011). In both of these studies, swimmers were instructed to execute two racing starts: (a) a "typical" racing start and (b) a racing start in which the swimmer was asked to execute a "shallow start."…”

Section: Rules and Regulations For Teaching Racing Startsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additional work has focused on the ability of competitive swimmers of different ages and ability levels to control the depth of their starts (Blitvich et al, 2000;Cornett, White, Wright, Willmott, & Stager, 2012;White, Cornett, Wright, Willmott, & Stager, 2011). Broad conclusions from this research are that (a) maximum head depth and head speed at maximum head depth vary as a function of swimmer age, water depth, block height, and start type and (b) swimmers regardless of age and competitive experience are able to modify start depth in response to water depth and other factors.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Teaching Competitive Racing Starts: Practices and Opinions of Professional Swim Coaches

Cornett¹,

White²,

Wright³

et al. 2012

IJARE

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Competitive Swim Start Safety

Cornett

White²,

Wright³

et al. 2014

IJARE

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It could be argued that the only component of competitive swimming that is associated with any appreciable risk to the swimmer is the execution of the racing start from a starting block into shallow water. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collected and considered input as a means to formulate guidelines for minimum water depths for the installation of starting blocks. Because there are only limited data on the depths and the velocities swimmers attain while executing starts, the data that are available need careful consideration. Insight into the central question, "how deep is deep enough?" involves consideration of values for maximum head depths, maximum head velocities, and the ability to control trajectory during racing starts. This review considers the literature pertinent to the key variables that, in general, stratify risk and determine successful, safe start outcomes.

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Competitive Swimmers Modify Racing Start Depth Upon Request

Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

Start Depth Modification by Adolescent Competitive Swimmers

Start Depth Modification by Adolescent Competitive Swimmers

Teaching Competitive Racing Starts: Practices and Opinions of Professional Swim Coaches

Competitive Swim Start Safety

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