The lengthy description on the protocol that a person needs to be familiar with when performing the duties of a starter is sometimes hard to put in proper perspective when you consider that most of what is mentioned occurs in a time frame of several seconds. Only experience will allow you to think of most, if not all, of what must be done on each and every start, which brings us to the next consideration on starting. Once experienced, are you also good? Those wishing to become good and experienced must understand and absorb all information and put it to practice.

The definition of an experienced starter is complex. Determination of the definition will depend on who you talk to. To some, a good starter is one who has been starting for a long time. As a result, being good is associated with longevity in their minds. I contend that this is possible but only with numerous strings attached. For an experienced starter to be good, she/he must consider the following characteristics:

1. The purpose of the starter at any level is to ensure a fair start for all competitors. That is the sole purpose - it is not a forum for the starter to show who is in charge or to entertain the crowd. If the starter has ensured fair starts for all competitors, she/he will experience satisfaction of doing a good job which in itself is a boost to the ego.
2. Experience at all levels is a necessity. To become a good starter at a senior level, one must become proficient at the novice level and progress upward. Once proficiency has been achieved, the good starter should continue to work all levels so as to gain additional experience.
3. Proficiency comes with experience. All starters are going to make mistakes. A good starter knows that mistakes will happen but will learn from them. An experienced starter who does not admit to mistakes, boasts of accomplishments, or passes the blame onto someone else is a long way from becoming good. When a person has learned the basic procedures of the art of starting and continually works to improve her/his performance, the mistakes will become minimal. When mistakes are reduced to a minimum and of very little consequence, proficiency has been achieved. Add the characteristic of consistency to the starter that has become proficient and you now have what is known as a good starter.
4. Patience is a virtue, not only with the swimmers on the block, but also is paramount in developing a strong foundation at each level of starting. Too many starters, having worked a level once, expect to proceed to the next level immediately. This will occasionally occur, but in most cases proficiency must be achieved at each level before moving up. Being patient with the swimmers on the block is critical in becoming a good starter. Often, a starter is told after a meet, "Great job, you didn't have any false starts". It would be a great job and the starter should be commended if in fact all swimmers were motionless and had ample time to achieve their starting positions. Unfortunately this does not occur very often. This does not mean that you must have false starts to be successful. It simply means that all swimmers must be given time to assume their positions and become motionless. Too often, a starter will rush the start so that a decision does not have to be made giving the appearance that it was a good start. Many times a swimmer is left on the block because they were not yet set. Patience will allow for all swimmers to get set and experience will dictate when to stand up the heat and try again. It is important to understand that all situations cannot be stood up. If you were too patient and held the swimmers too long, admit your mistake and start again. An error on the slow side is not only possible but easy to correct. An error on the fast side is not correctable.
5. Admit mistakes and accept all responsibilities associated with them. The key to being good is to learn from your mistakes and not dwell on them. Too often, a starter will let one mistake overshadow a multitude of good starts. When this happens, the focus is still on the mistake instead of the current heat on the blocks.
6. Expect the unexpected. Be proactive - not reactive. We have heard these statements many times while officiating. Proficiency and continued practice at each level will give a starter the experience to instinctively perform with success knowing what could happen and being able to adjust before a potential problem occurs. Don't ever think that you have seen and experienced all situations.
7. Experienced starters will often become familiar and possibly good friends with many swimmers, families, and coaches. The swimmers habits and often faults may be well known. A good starter will not focus on a particular swimmer, but rather the entire field. If a mistake is noticed with a general focus, it must be called to ensure fairness to the entire field.
8. A good starter will also be a teacher. Coaches and swimmers appreciate constructive comments, particularly at the developmental age group level, if they help the swimmer improve on future starts. Another point of view is usually welcome. In all cases, and with the referee's consent, approach the coach first before saying anything to the swimmer. Some coaches will want you to talk to the swimmer, others will want to handle the situation on their own. Providing this assistance will help in several ways. First, it can improve on the swimmer's performance and technique on future starts. More importantly, it shows an attitude of being in the business to improve the sport and the performance of the athletes which is also the intention of most coaches. This may help eliminate, or at least soften, the "we/they" attitude which sometimes prevails on some decks. As a starter progresses to higher levels of swimming, it is not appropriate to offer such information unless a coach specifically requests suggestions. The reasoning behind this is that the stakes become greater for the swimmer and the coach at each progressive level. It is also more difficult to establish a close relationship with a swimmer and coach at an advanced level unless it began in the age group program. Therefore, a starter knowing that a swimmer has a potentially illegal technique in starting can be used by a coach in an attempt to overrule a disqualification, the argument being that the starter knew of the technique and focused on that particular swimmer instead of the entire heat. The coach has a right and an obligation to protect her/his swimmer and having this information may be all that is needed to get a reversal.
9. Not only teach the athlete and coach, but be able to share information and suggestions with other starters. The more proficient all starters on the deck become, the more fair the competition will be. A good starter will be willing to share information without fear of being replaced by someone who becomes more proficient. Encourage input from others whom you consider to be accomplished, skilled starters. This input must be requested by you to a skilled starter for an observation and critique of your performance during a session. If you ask, then you must be willing to listen to all comments without becoming defensive. Once the critique is completed, you must analyze the information. The more you are observed and critiqued, the more input you will have. Understand that philosophies of starting change periodically. You must be flexible to those changes and conform to the current philosophy. By listening to other comments and observing the proficient starter, you can incorporate what segments you like, discount what you don't feel comfortable with and develop your own style and personality as a starter. A starter that has her/his own style and personality and can still conform to the current philosophy is well on the way to becoming proficient and experienced.
10. Courage to do the right thing is critical. Whether as a starter or a recall starter, one must be able to respond if unfairness has occurred. A good experienced starter will respond regardless of what it might do to their reputation. If the decision to call a false start was done according to the rules and fairness prevailed, then it was the right decision.
11. Work every session as though it is your last. In other words, don't start a session with a lackadaisical attitude regardless of the level. You don't know if an accident, an illness, or politics will prevent you from ever starting again. If you perform to the best of your ability at each outing and something tragic happens, you will be remembered for your last performance over all others. You will also remember that last performance as being your best and no one can take that away from you.
12. Be professional. Professionalism is a must in all positions on the deck, but because all competitors, coaches, and parents attention is focused on the start of a race, the starter's calm demeanor and presentation stands out more than any other position. The starter can establish the mood and decorum of the meet by following general rules of professionalism. In conjunction with this thought, the starter needs to give their undivided attention to their performance. Full concentration is a must. The starter must be as rested and in the best physical condition as possible, present the sharpest image possible by wearing a neat, clean and appropriate uniform and must perform their duties as if the opportunity will never occur again.

In closing, many of the characteristics mentioned are not new to most good experienced starters. My purpose is to reiterate what it takes to become proficient so that those who wish to become starters have some guidelines in which to begin and those who have experience will be aware of the many considerations that go into becoming experienced and proficient.