Start a swimming heat from the referee’s whistle

Practice the sequence you already learned for “Start a swimming heat from the referee’s whistle” until the order feels automatic. Drill World Aquatics / USA Swimming start order from stroke-and-turn training. The field is not sent on a horn until the referee’s whistle has the swimmers on the blocks and the starter has a still field.

1. The referee blows the long whistle for the swimmers to step up.
2. The referee turns the field over to the starter with the outstretched-arm signal.
3. The starter takes control when the field is set.
4. Give the command “take your marks.”
5. Wait for a still field.
6. Sound the start only then.
7. Recall immediately if the start is unfair.
8. Do not start through a swimmer who is still moving on the block.