Relays are a regular part of most swimming competitions from club level to high school, college, and Olympic competition and are worth up to twice the points compared to individual events. Relay exchange technique may be a determining factor for legal relays and can affect performance time and final place. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if Time Only (TO), Time and Video (TV), Video Only (VO), or Coach Only (CO) feedback had an effect in improving relay exchange times.
Method
Sixteen high school varsity male swimmers (M age = 16.00 years, SD = 1.70; M height = 170.76 cm, SD = 12.30; M weight = 63.40 kg, SD = 7.60), were participants in this study. Participants had a minimum of one year of competitive swimming experience (M competitive = 3.938 years, SD = 2.12), weighed more than 40.8 kg, and were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment conditions: Time Only (TO); Time and Video (TV); Video Only (VO) and Coach Only (CO). Swimmers performed 12 relay exchanges per session one day a week for nine weeks. Group exchange order was randomized. Exchanges were videotaped and images were temporarily stored on a TiVo™ DVR. The Colorado Timing Relay Judging Pad System was used to determine the exchange time for all groups.
Analysis/Results
Means for the eight exchange times per testing session that were closest to 0.00 seconds were calculated. Grand means for each group were determined using these means. T-tests run between groups did not determine significant differences between treatments, however, TV and TO had significantly higher number of performances in the acceptable range. Swimmers with six or more years experience (M years = 6.2, SD = 0.45) averaged 69.2% (SD = 5.81) of their relay exchanges within the acceptable range of 0.00 - .25 seconds; swimmers with 4 - 5 years experience (M=4.2 years, SD = 0.45) averaged 65.2% (SD = 7.12) and swimmers with less than three years experience (M = 1.33 years, SD = 0.82) averaged 42.00% (SD = 11.31).
Conclusions
Results suggest that multiple feedback methods may be used to improve relay exchange times. Further research should increase the number of participants and examine the trigger point that cues athletes to begin movement for their relay exchange.
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