! L x i NH I 7* , ,4 7 7 ,__7 -7 _ — — — — — 1 || 5% NW A CBWWATW" STUDY 3F ”'3‘ 0 TYPES. OF BACKSWGKE 83111?sz 1% SWEMMWG “9333 30:“: 51 Beam 23'? SEER. Mum S s ATE $923353??? ‘I’ am; ._ we" Qty‘ 3‘. : 3:32:32; Stat-c B 2 m University 1' w 1‘ ya; 4.1 u.-- mud or '5 1m & SUN? BUDK BINDERY INC. _ LIBRARY BINDERS ' annmm ABSTRACT A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO TYPES OF BACKSTROKE STARTS IN SWIMMING BY William M. Rea This study was conducted in an attempt to determine which of two backstroke starts is the more advantageous. The subjects included eighteen high school swimming team members and five members of the Michigan State University swimming team. The coaches of these swimmers were asked to train each subject on the two specific starts. It was suggested that each of the starts be practiced for fifteen minutes after each training session. After a period of six weeks, each swimmer went to Michigan State University to be tested. Each subject performed both types of starts three times while being filmed. A camera was positioned thirty feet above the pool water level so that the swimmer, starter, markings on the pool deck, and starting block could be recorded on film. A cine- matographic analysis was conducted to determine how much time, in seconds, it took the swimmer to reach a point twenty feet from the starting end of the pool. The swimmer's velocity also was calculated at that point. One hundred thirty-eight starts were filmed and analyzed. A two-way mixed-model analysis of variance with equal cell William M. Rea frequencies was applied to the data to determine if there was a significant difference between the mean elapsed starting times using the two types of starts. The same analysis was used to determine if there was a significant difference between the mean velocities at the twenty-foot mark using the two types of starts. The following conclusions were drawn from the results: 1. The time it took to reach the twenty-foot mark from the sound of the gun was faster when the subjects performed the modified start. 2. The velocity at the twenty-foot mark was faster when the subjects performed the modified start. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO TYPES OF BACKSTROKE STARTS IN SWIMMING By William M. Rea A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation 1973 "‘ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The writer wishes to express his sincere appreciation to the following people whose invaluable guidance and assistance made this research possible. Dr. W. W. Heusner Mr. Richard Fetters Mr. Scott Soth Mr. Charles McCaffree A grateful note is also sent forth to the Michigan State University swimming team and the volunteers from high schools across the state for their cooperation in this study. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . LIST OF FIGURES. . LIST OF APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION . Statement of Problem. . . Hypothesis. . . Significance of the Study . Limitations of the Study. . Definitions . . . . . . . II REVIEW OF LITERATURE . III PROCEDURES . Selection and Nature of Subjects. Description of the Testing Apparatus. Preliminary Preparation . . . . . . Administration of the Trials. Description of Experimental Conditions. Method of Data Analysis IV PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA. Data Analysis . . . V SUMMARY, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. Summary . Discussion. Conclusions . . Recommendations for Further Study . BIBLIOGRAPHY . APPENDICES . . . . o . . o . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Page ii iv vi oo NNNNH H Table LIST OF TABLES Data in Rea and Soth Study . . . . . . Mean Times in Seconds Taken to Reach the Twenty- Foot Mark by Subject and Start Types. 0 O O O O O O O I O O O O O 0 Mean Velocities at the Twenty-Foot Mark by Subject and Start Type. . . . . . . . Analysis of Variance Table (Time Analysis) Analysis of Variance Table (Velocity Analysis). . . . . iv Page 18 19 21 21 Figure LIST OF FIGURES Starting position Starting position Starting position Starting positio study. . . . . . for for for for the conventional start . the modified start . the stand-up start . the Scheuchenzuber Page 11 Appendix A LIST OF APPENDICES Raw Data--E1apsed Time of Bach Subject from the Starting Block to the Twenty- Foot Mark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raw Data--Velocity of Each Subject at the Twenty- -Poot Mark . . . . . . . . Number of Frames Converted to Time in secondSo O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 Raw Data--Frames Converted to Velocity in Ft/Sec. Letter Sent to High School Coaches Post Card Returned to the Author by the Coaches. . . . . . . . vi Page 26 27 28 29 30 31 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Gary Dilley, of Michigan State University, introduced a new type of starting position for the backstroker at the 1966 National Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships. Since then there have been a few changes in the rules which have made it easier for the backstroker to perform a start similar to Dilley's. Although several swimmers have modified their starts since the 1966 NCAA competition, the question has not been answered as to which type of start is of greater advantage to the backstroker. It is the aim of the writer to answer this question in the following thesis. There have been few research projects devoted to the backstroke start. Swimming coaches have had to rely on empiri- cal evidence to determine which type of start to teach their backstrokers. Conflicting data have been presented and pub- lished on the different types of starts; therefore, further investigation was warranted. Statement of Problem This study was conducted in an attempt to determine which of two backstroke starts is the more advantageous. Hypothesis The following hypothesis was tested: There is no signifi~ cant difference between the conventional and modified backstroke starts with respect to velocity and time taken to reach a point twenty feet from the starting end of the pool. Significance of the Study The findings of this study should be of considerable value to athletes and coaches concerned with improving the racing start in the backstroke. The writer also hopes to stimulate further study in this area. Limitations of the Study 1. The writer was not able to be present at all training sessions. 2. All coaches may not have interpreted the instructions as intended by the writer. 3. The findings of the study were limited to the use of only male high school and collegiate swimmers. 4. The use of cinematography for measuring speed and velocity was limited because water splashing hindered the writer in the analysis of the film. 5. The start types were not tested in random order. Definitions 1. Conventional Start - This starting method is in the form of a deep crouch with the swimmer's feet on the gutter, his hands on the bar attached to the starting block, and his head between his hands. Most of the swimmer's weight is 3 distributed evenly between his feet and his arms, with his arms flexed and his head and body close to the block. At the sound of the starting gun, the swimmer throws himself backward, releasing his hands and throwing them to the side and overhead, and at the same time extending his legs vigor- ously into the wall. The body is completely extended with a slight arch as it travels over the water (see Figure l). 2. Modified Start - This starting method begins with the swimmer standing on the gutter facing the starting block and leaning forward slightly with his hands placed on the front edge of the block. His fingers point to the back of the block, and the heels of his hands are over the front edge of the block. At the sound of the gun, the hands are thrust into the front edge of the block while the knees are slightly bent causing the hips to drop. As his body approaches a position parallel to the water, the swimmer's legs thrust against the gutter to carry him over the water. At the same time, his arms are thrown out to the side, remaining straight and then extending over the head just before entry (see Figure 2). 3. Velocity - The velocity is the speed at which each subject is traveling, measured in feet per second, at the twenty-foot mark. 4. Time - The time used in this study is the elapsed time in seconds from the starting stimulus to the moment at which the subject reaches the twenty-foot mark. 5. Dilley Start - The Dilley start is the same as the modified start with the exception of the hand position before Figure 1. Starting position for the conventional start. Figure 2. Starting position for the modified start. 6 the sound of the gun. The swimmer places his hands on the starting grips provided instead of on the top of the blocks. 6. FINA Start - The FINA start is the same as the con- ventional start with the exception of the position of the feet before the sound of the gun. The swimmer places his feet against the wall just below the water level. The feet may not be placed on the gutter. 7. NCAA Start - The conventional and the NCAA starts are synonymous. 8. Stand-Up Start - This starting method begins with the swimmer standing on the front edge of the block with his large toe and second toe curled over the edge. He is bent forward from the waist with his hands hanging loosely perpen- dicular to the water level. At the gun the swimmer swings his arms in a circular motion, drops his head, and dives forward. The arms are swung forward with the legs thrusting into the block forcing the body to extend parallel to the water. Upon entering the water, the swimmer takes one arm pull while turning over on his back (see Figure 3). 9. Rea and Soth Start - The modified and the Rea and Soth starts are synonymous. Figure 3. Starting position for the stand-up start. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE There have been few articles written which are directly related to the backstroke start in question. The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming Guide of 1973 (7) dictates the procedure to be followed in performing the backstroke start. Rule 2, Section 1, Article 2, states: "In the backstroke start, each swimmer shall line up facing the starting mark with both hands grasp- ing the starting grips (this to include the end of the pool or any part of the starting block) and with both feet in contact with the end of the pool. Upon the command 'Take Your Mark!‘ he shall assume any desired position which does not remove him completely from the water, nor his hands, nor his feet from contact with the end of the pool. When the starter sees that the swimmers are completely motionless, he starts the race with the Pistol Shot." Rea and Soth (8) reported on the Gary Dilley start at the 1966 National Collegiate Athletic Association Champion- ship Swimming and Diving Meet. They also conducted a study shortly after the meet using Dilley as a subject. Rea and Soth collected data on four starts of each of the conven- tional and modified types. Cinematography was used to measure Dilley's elapsed time from the wall to the twenty~foot mark and his velocity at the twenty-foot mark. Data on the four starts of each type are as follows (Table l). 9 TABLE 1 DATA IN REA AND SOTH STUDY Average time to Average velocity at the twenty-foot the twenty-foot mark mark Conventional 2.695 seconds 5.067 ft/sec Modified 2.519 seconds 5.676 ft/sec From these data, Rea and Soth concluded that the modified start was faster for Dilley. The authors stated that because of the single subject used and the amount of data collected, the study should not be considered conclusive. Stratten (10) compared three types of backstroke starts. The experiment tested the hypothesis that the National Col- legiate Athletic Association backstroke start is the fastest start. Specifically, the experiment compared the speed with which a swimmer reaches a point twenty feet from the starting block using each of the following three starts: the inter- national rules (FINA) start, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) start, and the Dilley start. Thirteen subjects were used in the study with the timing done by stop watches which could time to the 1/100 of a second. Stratten concluded that the NCAA start is faster than the FINA and Dilley starts. 10 A different type of backstroke start, called the "stand- up start", was introduced by Decker (5) in 1971. This type of start does not comply with any rules for backstrokers at the present time. The author attempted to show that the stand-up start is faster with the hope of possibly influenc- ing the rule makers to change the rules to permit this type of start. A statistical evaluation of the times obtained indicated the existence of a highly significant difference in favor of the standing start in all but the first timing situation. That is, the standing start is not significantly faster until a minimal distance has been covered, at which point the difference in favor of the standing start becomes highly significant. This type of start would eliminate the present controversy over varying types of backstroke start hand grips. Joseph Scheuchenzuber (9) filmed, with a high speed motion picture camera, 200 time trials of four backstroke start styles (Figure 4). The swimmers were tethered to a timer in order to record their times electronically over a four-meter distance from the starting wall. The total time period for each trial began with the shot of the starting gun and ended as the swimmer reached the four-meter mark. The object of Scheuchenzuber's study was to evaluate the four starts to see if they were equally effective. He con- cluded that the NCAA start was fastest with the FINA start being the slowest. The two modified positions proved to be slower by .04 seconds. One of these two starts was reported . ease-O , :MI‘OI; O -u.‘ 11 8 4 tion for the Scheuchenzuber study. ing posi Start Figure 4. 12 to be the Rea and Soth start but in viewing Figure 4, the reader can see that the starting techniques are not the same as for that start. CHAPTER III PROCEDURES Selection and Nature of Subjects Letters were sent to the coaches of the top twenty Michigan high school backstrokers asking for their help and cooperation in a study of the relative effectiveness of two different starts. The modified start was explained in detail and methods of training were outlined. Post cards were enclosed so that each coach could indicate if he would participate and list the swimmers that could be tested. Twenty names were returned and eighteen actually participated. Five Michigan State University swimming team members also participated. Only two subjects had used the modified start in competition previous to this study. Those two men favored the modified start. The remaining subjects were not sure as to the effectiveness of the new start. All of the subjects were volunteers and all had experience swimming backstroke in competition previous to the study. Description of the Testing_Apparatus For this cinematographic study, a Bell and Howell 16mm movie camera, a wide angle lens, and tri-X negative Kodak film were used. The speed of the camera was set at 48 frames per second, with the camera stationed thirty feet directly 13 14 above a mark twenty feet from the starting end of the pool. The starter was also in the picture so that the flash of the gun, indicating the start of the race, could be photographed. Tape was placed at the edge of the pool at six-inch intervals for a distance of eighteen inches on each side of the twenty- foot mark. All markings were located so as to be recorded on the film. Preliminary Preparation Each high school coach was given instructions in the correct way to perform each start. The swimmers were asked to practice the conventional backstroke start for fifteen minutes and the modified start for fifteen minutes three days a week at the end of their daily training sessions. The swimmers practiced both starts for six weeks. The eighteen high school subjects were neither supervised nor observed in practice by the writer. However, the writer did super- vise the five college swimmers and was able to correct any problems or misunderstandings about the start. Administration of the Trials The study lasted for six weeks. All of the time spent, except the last day, was devoted to training the athletes in performing both the conventional and modified starts. The last day was utilized in testing each subject to obtain the time in seconds it took him to reach a point twenty feet from the starting end and the velocity he had attained at that point. All subjects met at one site and were given as much time as needed to warm up for the testing period. The 15 subjects performed three conventional starts in random sub- ject order and then in the same order performed three modified starts. Movies were taken of each start for analytical purposes. Description of Experimental Conditions The final testing period was performed at Michigan State University's Indoor Intramural Pool. The water temperature was seventy-nine degrees Fahrenheit. The air temperature was a constant eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit. The subjects were provided towels with which to dry off between starts. A thirty-two caliber starting pistol was used to initiate each start. The starter was positioned so that the flash of the gun was recorded by the camera. Method of Data Analysis A ball drop was made with an eight-pound rubber diving brick from a height of nine feet. The formula 5 = é-at2 (s is distance, a is acceleration due to gravity, and t is time) was used to find the time taken for the ball drop. The value used for acceleration due to gravity was 980.498 centimeters per second, which is the value at the front of the Physics Math Building on the Michigan State University campus. The conversion factor of .03281 was used to change centimeters per second to feet per second. l257a (s is 9 feet, a is 32.1661 ft/sec) fl ll .748129 seconds H‘ II 16 It took thirty-four frames for the ball drop; there- fore, by dividing t by the number of frames used, it was possible to calculate the number of seconds used per frame of film: .748129 seconds + 34 frames = .0220 seconds per frame .0220 seconds per frame - 45.446 frames per second The time it took each subject to reach the twenty-foot mark was calculated by counting the number of frames from the flash of the gun until the subject's head reached that point. The subject's velocity at the twenty-foot mark was calculated by using the formula velocity is equal to distance divided by time. In this case, the time equals the number of seconds per fram times the number of frames taken to cover a specified distance (eighteen inches on each side of the twenty-foot mark for a total of three feet). 1 l x seconds per frame x number ofhframes = 136.338 number ofiframes A two-way, mixed-model analysis of variance with equal cell frequencies was applied to the data to determine if there was any significant difference between the elapsed starting times of the two types of starts. The same analysis was applied to determine if there was any significant dif- ference in the velocities at the twenty-foot mark between the two types of starts. CHAPTER IV PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA The purpose of this study was to determine which of two backstroke starts is the more advantageous. Each of the twenty-three subjects in the study performed three backstroke starts of both types. All one hundred thirty- eight starts were filmed for analysis with a 16mm camera. Data Analysis The mean time required for each subject to reach the twenty-foot mark, by start type, was calculated by the use of a CDC 3600 computer. These data are presented in Table 2, which also shows the overall mean time for all starts by type (start 1 - Modified, start 2 - Conventional). The subjects averaged .199 seconds less time to reach the twenty-foot mark when using the modified start than they did when using the conventional start. The mean velocities by subject and start type are presented in Table 3. The subjects had an average velocity of .907 feet per second faster at the twenty-foot mark when using the modified start than they did when using the con- ventional start. A two-way, mixed-model analysis of variance with equal cell frequencies was applied to the data of Table 2 to 17 18 TABLE 2 MEAN TIMES IN SECONDS TAKEN TO REACH THE TWENTY-FOOT MARK BY SUBJECT AND START TYPES (l-MODIFIED, Z'CONVENTIONAL) Start Subject MEHIfied 1 ' Conventional 2 1 2.552 2.698 2 2.508 2.632 3 2.640 2.801 4 2.786 2.720 5 2.383 2.691 6 2.412 2.654 7 2.544 2.852 8 2.556 2.845 9 2.552 2.742 10 2.588 2.852 11 2.588 2.882 12 2.383 2.632 13 2.456 2.823 14 2.515 2.742 15 2.662 2.918 16 2.376 2.562 17 2.625 2.632 18 2.500 2.889 19 2.434 2.662 20 2.338 2.596 21 2.508 2.742 22 2.640 2.860 23 2.390 2.706 2.516 2.716 K1 X‘2 MEAN VELOCITIES AT THE TWENTY-FOOT MARK BY SUBJECT (l-MODIPIED, Z-CONVENTIONAL) AND START TYPE 19 TABLE 3 Start Subject MadifiediI' Conventional 2 1 5.643 5.259 2 5.616 4.896 3 5.686 4.557 4 5.113 5.248 5 6.205 5.248 6 6.295 5.552 7 6.010 4.656 8 6.305 5.761 9 5.406 5.123 10 5.686 4.596 11 5.762 4.449 12 6.403 4.058 13 6.107 5.080 14 6.123 4.989 15 5.789 4.670 16 6.609 5.844 17 5.541 5.686 18 5.789 4.547 19 6.205 5.434 20 6.600 5.313 21 6.295 5.258 22 5.724 4.547 23 6.205 4.728 5.957 5.050 x1 2.2 20 determine if the observed difference between the average elapsed starting times, using the two types of starts, was statistically significant. The same type of analysis was applied to the data of Table 3 to test the significance of the difference in mean velocities at the twenty-foot mark between the two types of starts. The analysis of variance table for starting time is given in Table 4. The obtained F-ratio for type of start is highly significant. The null hypothesis is clearly rejected in favor of the modified start. Similarly, the analysis of variance table for velocity is given in Table 5. Again, the obtained F-ratio is significant. The observed mean difference in velocity is significant and in favor of the modified start. 21 TABLE 4 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE TABLE (TIME ANALYSIS) ss 'df ms f p Type of start 1.3776 1 1.3776 25.44 <.0005 Start x Subject 1.1914 22 .0542 Subject 1.8096 22 .0822 2.31 .003 Error 3.2733 92 .0355 TABLE 5 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE TABLE (VELOCITY ANALYSIS) ss df ms f p Type of start 28.403 1 28.4013 90.3284 <.0005 Start x Subject 6.9173 22 .3144 Subject 15.0198 22 .6827 5.1893 <.O005 ErrOr 12.1035 92 .1315 r CHAPTER V SUMMARY, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Summary The purpose of this study was to determine which of two different types of backstroke swimming starts is more advantageous. Eighteen high school and five Michigan State University varsity swimming team members participated in the study. Each subject practiced for fifteen minutes three times per week on each of the two starts after their regular workout sessions. At the end of a six-week period, tests were conducted. Each subject performed both types of starts three times while being filmed. A camera was positioned thirty feet above the pool water level so that the swimmer, starter, markings on the pool deck, and starting block could be recorded on film. A cinematographic study was conducted to determine how much time, in seconds, it took the swimmer to reach a point twenty feet from the starting end of the pool. Also, each swimmer's velocity was calculated at that point. One hundred thirty-eight starts were filmed and analyzed. A two-way, mixed-model analysis of variance with equal cell frequencies was applied to the data to determine if there was a significant difference between the mean 22 23 elapsed starting times using the two types of starts. The same type of analysis was used to determine if there was a significant difference between the mean velocities at the twenty-foot mark using the two starts. Discussion The superiority of the modified backstroke start in swimming has been demonstrated in this study. From the review of literature, it is found that seven different backstroke starts have been tested and analyzed. One researcher concluded from his data that the Rea-Soth, or modified, start was slower than the NCAA, or conventional, start. From viewing Figure 4 it can be seen that the true modified start was not used in Scheuchenzuber's study. One difference between the modified start and all other backstroke starts (except the stand-up start) is that the backstroker does not have to change from a pulling action with his arms to a pushing action. The pulling action which holds the backstroker in a position close to the starting block is eliminated in the modified start. With swimmers becoming faster and faster each year, races in championship meets have become closer. Automatic timers calibrated to .001 seconds and place pickers cali- brated to .0001 seconds are required at national and world- class competitions in swimming. State meets and even local A.A.U. swimming meets have used automatic timers with great success. Any start which allows a swimmer to modify his time by even a small amount could make the difference 24 between success and failure in many championship meets. Therefore, the relatively large observed difference of almost .2 seconds between the conventional and modified starts in this study becomes highly significant. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, the following conclusions can be drawn from the obtained data: 1. The elapsed time it takes to reach the twenty-foot mark is less when performing the modified start than when performing the conventional start. 2. The velocity at the twenty-foot mark is greater when performing the modified start than when performing the conventional start. Recommendations for Further Study Further study in this area might be accomplished by the following: 1. Different age groups and members of both sexes should be included in future studies. 2. The heights of the subjects should be included in the data to determine if there is any correlation between the height of the subject and the speed of the modified or conventional starts. BIBLIOGRAPHY List SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY of Books 1. List Carlile, Forbes. Forbes CarZiZe on Swimming. London: Pelham Books, Limited, 1963. Counsilman, James. The Science of Swimming. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, Limited, 1963. Gallagher, Harry. Harry Gallagher on Swimming. London: Pelham Books, Limited, 1970. Talbot, Don. Swim to Win. New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1969. of Publications S. 10. Decker, Jim. "Time-Distance Analysis of Backstroke Starts", Swimming Technique, Volume 8, Number 1, April, 1971, pp. 3-5. Meisel, Harry M. "A New Backstroke Start", Swimming Technique, Volume 7, Number 1, April, 1970, p. 7. National Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming Guide, Phoenix, Arizona: College Athletics Publishing Service, 1973. Rea, William, and Soth, Scott. "Revolutionary Back- stroke Start”, Swimming Technique, Volume 3, Number 7, January, 1967, p. 92. Scheuchenzuber, H. Joseph. "NCAA Backstroke Start is Faster", Swimming Technique, Volume 9, Number 1, April, 1972, p. 13. Stratton, Gaye. "A Comparison of Three Backstroke Starts", Swimming Technique, Volume 7, Number 2, July, 1970, p. 55. 25 APPENDICES 26 APPENDIX A RAW DATA--ELAPSED TIME OF EACH SUBJECT FROM THE STARTING BLOCK TO THE TWENTY-FOOT MARK* First column - start type; second column - start number 1 - Modified; 2 - Conventional Subject 11 12 13 . 21 22 23 01 2.706 2.332 2.618 2.662 2.750 2.684 02 2.420 2.530 2.574 2.684 2.597 2.618 03 2.706 2.596 2.618 2.794 2.860 2.750 04 2.816 2.794 2.750 2.662 2.728 2.772 05 2.420 2.332 2.398 2.662 2.684 2.728 06 2.398 2.442 2.508 2.728 2.596 2.640 07 2.508 2.530 2.596 2.772 2.860 2.926 08 2.574 2.332 2.464 2.816 2.838 2.882 09 2.376 2.618 2.662 2.816 2.750 2.662 10 2.596 2.662 2.508 2.684 2.904 2.970 11 2.728 2.530 2.508 2.904 2.904 2.838 12 2.376 2.464 2.310 2.574 2.640 2.684 13 2.508 2.486 2.376 2.772 2.816 2.882 14 2.530 2.552 2.464 2.728 2.750 2.750 15 2.662 2.794 2.530 2.860 2.926 2.970 16 2.354 2.442 2.332 2.596 2.574 2.518 17 2.662 2.596 2.618 2.596 2.640 2.662 18 2.664 2.508 2.530 2.882 2.838 2.948 19 2.398 2.464 2.442 2.662 2.750 2.574 20 2.330 2.354 2.330 2.618 2.596 2.574 21 2.486 2.530 2.508 2.750 2.706 2.772 22 2.552 2.574 2.794 2.838 2.882 2.860 23 2.398 2.354 2.420 2.596 2.640 2.882 * All data in seconds 27 APPENDIX B RAW DATA--VELOCITY OF EACH SUBJECT AT THE TWENTY-FOOT MARK* First column - start type; second column - start number 1 - Modified; 2 - Conventional Subject ll 12 13 21 22 23 01 5.243 4.869 6.817 5.680 5.049 5.049 02 5.927 5.680 5.243 4.398 5.049 5.234 03 5.453 5.927 5.680 4.869 4.260 4.544 04 5.049 5.243 5.049 5.049 5.243 5.453 05 6.197 6.492 5.927 5.243 5.453 5.049 06 6.492 6.197 6.197 5.680 5.927 5.049 07 5.927 6.492 5.608 4.701 4.869 4.398 08 6.492 5.927 6.197 4.869 4.701 4.544 09 5.927 5.243 5.049 5.453 4.869 5.049 10 5.927 5.453 5.680 4.544 4.701 4.544 11 4.869 5.927 6.492 4.260 4.544 4.544 12 6.816 6.197 6.197 5.680 5.680 5.927 13 6.197 6.197 5.927 5.243 5.453 4.544 14 6.197 5.680 6.492 5.049 4.869 5.049 15 5.927 6.197 5.243 5.049 4.260 4.701 16 6.816 6.816 6.197 5.927 5.680 5.927 17 5.927 5.243 5.453 5.927 5.453 5.680 18 6.197 5.927 5.243 4.701 4.398 4.544 19 6.197 6.492 5.927 5.453 5.243 5.608 20 6.816 6.492 6.492 5.243 5.453 5.243 21 6.492 6.197 6.197 5.453 4.869 5.453 22 6.197 5.927 5.049 4.701 4.398 4.544 23 6.492 6.197 5.927 5.243 4.544 4.398 * All data in feet per second 28 APPENDIX C NUMBER OF FRAMES CONVERTED TO TIME IN SECONDS Frames Seconds ‘ 'Framesyv , _Seconds 105 2.310 121 2.662 106 2.332 122 2.684 107 2.354 123 2.706 108 2.376 124 2.728 109 2.398 125 2.750 110 2.420 126 2.772 111 2.442 127 2.794 112 2.464 128 2.816 113 2.486 129 2.838 114 2.508 130 2.860 115 2.530 131 2.882 116 2.552 132 2.904 117 2.574 133 2.926 118 2.596 134 2.948 119 2.618 135 2.970 120 2.640 136 2.992 29 APPENDIX D RAW DATA--FRAMES CONVERTED TO VELOCITY IN FT/SEC Frames Velocity 20 6.816 21 6.492 22 6.197 23 5.927 24 5.680 25 5.453 26 5.243 27 5.049 28 4.869 29 4.701 30 4.554 31 4.398 32 4.260 30 APPENDIX E LETTER SENT T0 HIGH SCHOOL COACHES February 14, 1967 Dear Coach, I hope your boys have been practicing the new backstroke start. If you were here at MSU during the Michigan meet you would have seen Gary Dilley get beat on the start. I hope this did not discourage you because Gary was not performing the start as stated in the paper you received. He was lean- ing too far back before the gun was fired. Against Indiana Dilley beat Hickocks by about one and a half feet on the start. For this reason and with your cooperation I hope to prove that the start is faster, the same speed or slower. The date and time that we will be able to use the Men's Intramural pool in the Men's I.M. building has been set at 9:30, Sunday, March 5th, the day after the Big Ten Champion- ships. The building will be closed at that time but you will be able to get in the southwest door by the outdoor pool. Please indicate on the enclosed post card if you foresee any problems with the date and time set aside for the filming of the start. Also, please indicate the names of the boys that will be coming and send the card to me as soon as possible. Thank you, William M. Rea III l6l9-C Spartan Village East Lansing, Michigan P.S. You can read the paper you received in this month's "Swimming Technique." The starting block pictured in that article has been since improved upon to fully comply with the rules. 31 APPENDIX F POST CARD RETURNED TO THE AUTHOR BY THE COACHES Time and Day OK Not 0K Backstrokers 1. 2. 3. Coach MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRAR I III II III IIIIIIIIIIII III“