Timer Training

• Become familiar with your watch (Start, Stop, Reset).
• Start the watch with a firm part of your finger, not the pad of your thumb (less variability).
• Before each race I'll say “Timers, clear your watches.” It means we are ready. If your not ready, raise your hand and yell.
• At the start of a race, step back to the first row of chairs, so the starter can see the swimmers.
• Start watch by looking at the starter strobe. Don’t wait for the sound. The error could be as much as 0.1 seconds.
• Check your watch to make sure it's running. If your watch didn't start and you have a swimmer in your lane, raise your hand and the head timer will give you an extra watch.
• Even if you don't have a swimmer in your lane, start your watch anyway. Others may need to use it, if I run out of watches.
• At the end of the race, move forward so you can see the swimmer touch the wall under water. Don’t anticipate the touch, Wait until you see it before stopping the watch.
• Do not judge whether the touch is legal. As soon as any body part touches the wall, stop the watch.
• It is good practice to double check the swimmers name with the name on the card as the swimmer exits the pool.
• There are 3 timers per lane: 1 from the team of the swimmer and 2 from the opposite team.
• Select one timer per lane who writes quickly and legibly to record all 3 times. If you do not write legibly, you will be visited by the Automation team.
• Record the times in the same order to know which time is from which timer.
• The longest and shortest times don’t count. Circle the middle time.
• If your watch has 3 decimals (000), truncate to two (00), don’t round.
• If you only get two times, then average the two times and write “Average” on the card.  If needed, truncate to hundredths (00), don't round.
  
• If you only get one time, then circle it and write “1 Time” on the card.
• After recording your times, raise your card so the runners or the head timer can collect them.
• If there are multiple heats of an event, you should record all heats on the same card before turning in the card.
• If you need to leave before the end of the meet, you are responsible for finding your replacement. (If you can’t find a replacement, let the head timer know as soon as possible to give time to find a replacement.)
• Sometimes the head timer and assistant head timer may time the swimmers, too, so if you miss a time at the finish, check with the head timer to see if he/she has the time.
• Turn off cell phones pagers.

A meets only:

• Lane 1 and 6 are takeoff judges for relays. Referee will brief takeoff judges. After the briefing we need you to stay until the end of the meet. If you have to leave before the end, do not time in lane 1 or 6.