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CONTENTS
TimekeepING
General
The
Rac
e
Specific
Responsibilities and duties
Chief
Timekeepe
r
Summary
of key responsibilities: Chief Timekeeper
Chief
Lane Timekeeper
Summary
of key responsibilities: Chief Lane Timekeeper
Timekeeper
Reserve
Timekeepers
Watch
failure or malfunction
Reading
your watc
h
Determining
the official time
Watch
reading adjustments
These notes detail the responsibilities, duties and
procedures of the Timekeeper and will help you whether you
are working at Championship or at Club level.
The notes are structured to take you through the procedures
and responsibilities and rules, as you would encounter them
in the normal course of a swim meet.
1.1.
As a Timekeeper you are to report to the referee
thirty (30) minutes before the advertised starting time of
the swim meet.
1.2.
This enables the referee to mark you present against the
officials’ appointment roster to give you a programme.
1.3.
You need several items of equipment to do your job properly.
These include your stopwatch, pencils, notepad and a
clipboard.
1.4.
Before arriving to the pool, check the display of your
stopwatch and replace the batteries if necessary. Batteries
should be checked before and regularly during the
competitive season.Pencils are required instead of felt tip,
ink or ballpoint pens as a pencil (HB or softer) will
continue to write even in the timecard or your paper gets
wet.
2.1.
Scratch
events are started from a pistol shot, horn, whistle or word
of command. You start your watch when you see the flash of
light from the starter. When a flash is obscured, such as by
bright light, start your watch at the sound of the starting
signal.
2.2.
If a horn, whistle or word of command has been used
without a starting flash, start your watch at the sound of
the starting signal.
2.3.
You stop your watch at the instant any part of the
swimmer’s body contacts the finish wall, or in open water
events at the instant any part of the body contacts or
passes under the finish line.
2.4.
Of course, immediately after starting your watch you
should check that the watch is functioning properly and
report any malfunction to the chief lane Timekeeper. Do this
check regularly throughout the race.
2.5.
Championships are judged and timed using Automatic
Officiating Equipment (AOE) initiated electronically by the
starting device. The manual time you take as Timekeeper are
used as a back-up in case of malfunction such as the
swimming failing to activate the finish pad. It is to be
expected that there will be a small variation between the
manual times you take and those recorded on the Automatic
Officiating Equipment – due to your reflex differences.
2.6.
In 1991, FINA approved the use of Semi-Automatic
Timing (SAT) for world record purposes. This equipment is
initiated electronically by the starting signal. The
Timekeepers stop the timing equipment by pressing hand-held
push buttons at each lane the instant any part of the
swimmer’s body contacts the finish wall. The push buttons
are connected to the AOE. Timekeepers shall operate only one
push button.
2.7.
Timing equipment terminated by an official is
considered to be a watch.
3.1.
Timekeepers have several distinct roles. You need to be aware
of the relative responsibilities of each role if you are to
work effectively at all Meets. The four roles concerned are:
-
Chief Timekeeper
-
Chief Lane Timekeeper
-
Lane Timekeeper
-
Reserve Timekeeper
3.2.
Each competition requires:
-
one (1) Chief Timekeeper,
-
three (3) Timekeepers per lane, one (1) of whom is
appointed as Chief Lane Timekeeper, and
-
two (2) Reserve Timekeepers
3.3.
Also two (2) assistants to the Chief Timekeeper are often
appointed at major meets.
4.1.
The Chief Timekeeper is in charge of all Timekeepers
and has eleven responsibilities in addition to timekeeping
duties. The Chief Timekeeper:
4.2.
Takes the time of first place or any possible record
breaker;
4.3.
Allocates
Timekeepers to their respective lanes, appoints Chief Lane
Timekeepers as well as the Reserve Timekeepers and assigns
seating positions if Semi-Automatic Timing Equipment is in
use;
4.4.
For Championships, Timekeepers will have been
assigned already to particular lanes but there may well be a
need for changes if an official is unable to attend;
4.5.
Ensures that Timekeepers are informed about the
operation of any timing equipment and checks that the
equipment is operating effectively;
4.6.
in the case of AOE or SAT this check will be carried
out in conjunction with the equipment operator and
supervisor during the pre-competition briefing and watch
check.
4.7.
Checks all watches for accuracy as follows:
4.7.1.
Before the start of the Meet all Timekeepers are to
participate in a watch check procedure which consists of :
4.7.1.1.
Starting Timekeeper’s watches at the Starting Signal
initiated by the starter, and
4.7.1.2.
Stopping their watches on a pre-arranged signal;
4.7.1.3.
Watches are to be run continuously for at least the
length of time required for the longest event on the
programme or a 400m event if there is a longer event;
4.7.1.4.
Watches are not to be reset to zero until times have
been checked with the Chief Timekeeper;
4.7.1.5.
All watches should be within the accuracy limits of
+/- a few hundredths of a second
4.7.2.
Watch batteries or cables should be replaced where
necessary;
4.7.3.
Note: this procedure will vary when Semi-Automatic
Timing is to be used.
4.8.
Instructs Timekeepers what they are to do in the
event of their watch failing at the start or during the
race;
4.9.
Tell Timekeepers to check their watches several times
during each race, in addition to the check immediately after
the start, to ensure that the watch is working properly;
4.10.
Inspects the watch of any Timekeeper when considered
necessary such as checking the time recorded of the first
placing;
4.11.
Instructs Timekeepers when to reset their watches to zero
ready for the start of the race;
4.12.
Note:
Timekeepers are not to zero their watches until they
are give the signal to do so.
4.12.1.
Generally this will be the “Referee’s signal”
to start the next race. During the pre-competition briefing
Timekeepers are to be told what to do if they are not ready
when the signal is given.
4.13.
Signals the Referee when all Timekeepers are ready for the
start of each race;
4.14.
To carry out this duty properly the Chief Timekeeper will
have discussed the signal to be used with the referee and
told Timekeepers during the briefing.
4.15.
Note:
This procedure will not apply when Automatic
Officiating Equipment and/or Semi-Automatic Time is in use,
and its use otherwise will depend on the nature of the
competition (see above notes on resetting watches).
4.16.
As the person responsible for efficient timekeeping, the
Chief Timekeeper must inform the Referee of any Timekeeper
who is inefficient or unable to do timekeeping duties for
any reason e.g. illness or incapacity.
5.1.
Take time of first placing/record
5.2.
Method of start
5.3.
Allocation of duties
5.4.
Timing equipment
5.5.
Watch check
5.6.
Watch failure
5.7.
Reset watches
5.8.
Ready signal
5.9.
Report inefficiencies
6.1.
Apart from the responsibilities for timekeeping,
Chief Lane Timekeepers have five additional tasks. They are
to:
6.1.1.
ensure that the lane sheet, result slip or event card
used to record lane times shows the correct event number and
heat number as well as the correct lane number;
6.1.2.
inspect watches on behalf of the Chief Timekeeper,
checking each watch recording a time on the particular lane
and is to record the time from each watch on the result slip
or event card;
6.1.3.
determine the official manual time for that lane;
6.1.4.
if result slips or event cards are used, ensure that
they are collected for the chief recorder immediately after
each race;
6.1.5.
report any irregularities to the chief Timekeeper,
such as the failure or inaccuracy of a watch.
Note:
The Marshal is responsible for placing competitors in
their assigned lane at Championships. When the Marshalling
procedure is not used, the Chief Lane Timekeepers should
check the name of their competitor.
7.1.
Check event/heat/lane is recorded
7.2.
Record watch times
7.3.
Official lane time
7.4.
Result to Recorders
7.5.
Report irregularities
8.1.
Lane Timekeepers are required to operate, as
directed, any equipment or timing device approved for use at
the meet.
8.2.
In any scratch event, Timekeepers will start their
watch when they see the flash of light from the starting
signal or smoke;
8.3.
Timekeepers are to position themselves for each start
so that they have a clear and uninterrupted view of the
Starter.
8.4.
In handicap events, Timekeepers start their watches
when the Starter positions the handicap starting signalling
device at a pre-determined position notified during the
initial briefing;
8.5.
the Starter simultaneously tells competitors “Go”
and then calls out starting numbers.
8.6.
To get a proper view of the finish, Timekeepers must
stand at the finish looking down the face of the wall
directly over the lane in which their competitor is
swimming;
8.7.
the implication is that if the competitor is
finishing in a lane different to the starting lane,
timekeepers need to move to that lane in order to take the
time correctly;
8.8.
you cannot take the time from the side of the pool.
8.9.
Taking times accurately is the singe most important
responsibility of Timekeepers to ensure each competitor is
treated fairly.
8.10.
To avoid anticipating the finish, Timekeepers are
advised to watch the competitor until approximately five (5)
metres from the finish and then look down the face of the
finish wall, ready to stop the watch at the instant any part
of the competitor’s body contacts the finish wall.
8.11.
This procedure for taking the time applies to both scratch
and handicap races. (The same principle applies when taking
the time in open water competition.)
8.12.
The method of touch particularly in form strokes is not the
responsibility of the Timekeeper.
8.13.
When Automatic Officiating Equipment is in use, Timekeepers
may observe whether a swimmer touched the touchpad lightly
or firmly. Make a note of any light or “soft” touches on
your programme in case of an enquiry from the Referee of
Chief Timekeeper. If it is quite clear that a competitor may
be disadvantaged then you should immediately tell the Chief
Timekeeper of the possibility that the pad may have been
activated by a second touch rather than the first.
8.14.
Timekeepers are to keep a personal record of their
individual times for each on their programme or notepad (or
lane time sheet) in order to be able to verify the time in
case of enquires from the Referee, Chief Recorder or any
other authorised official.
8.15.
Watches are inspected when a record has been broken, but you
may be asked also to verify times when the manual times
differ by more than 3/10ths of a second from the time
recorded by the Automatic Officiating Equipment.
8.16.
Watches are to be reset to zero prior to the start of each
race when instructed to do so by the Chief Timekeeper or at
the Referee’s signal.
8.17.
Most competitors want to know the time they have achieved as
soon as they finish the race. You can tell them the lane
time recorded but must inform the competitor that the
time is unofficial until there is an official announcement
of results.
8.18.
This information may be evident on an electronic scoreboard
if Automatic Officiating is in use. (Electronically recorded
results are also subject to official confirmation.)
8.19.
Each Timekeeper may operate only one watch that can be
checked by the Referee, Chief Timekeeper or Chief Lane
Timekeeper at any time.
8.20.
Only one person may operate a push button or watch if times
are to be used for record purposes.
8.21.
Timekeepers cannot perform any other duties during an event
e.g. judge from the side of the pool.
9.1.
The Reserve Timekeepers are to start their watches at
the starting signal of each race as if they were Lane
Timekeepers.
9.2.
They may be called upon at any time by the Chief
Timekeeper to replace a Lane Timekeeper whose watch has
malfunctioned or who for any other reason is unable to take
the time or for example, to take the time on a record
attempt or a split time on a distance event.
10.1.
On noticing that a watch has malfunctioned the
Timekeeper must immediately tell the Chief Lane
Timekeeper who shall notify the Chief Timekeeper without
delay.
10.2.
In this circumstance the Chief Timekeeper can
10.2.1.
Replace the Timekeeper with a Reserve Timekeeper
(provided their watch is functioning and was started at the
starting signal);
10.2.2.
Replace the Timekeeper with a Timekeeper from another
lane not anticipated to fill a major placing or break an age
record; or
10.2.3.
Have the Timekeeper start the failed watch (or a
replacement) from an elapsed time call from the Chief
Timekeeper. (This is best done at a thirty or sixty-second
elapsed time mark.)
10.2.4.
The time for that watch will be sum of the time
recorded on the restarted watch and the elapsed time call.
This time, taken in “two parts”, cannot be accepted for
record purposes, as the watch was not started at the
starting signal.
11.1.
Most common forms of watches have a digital display accurate
to 1/100th of a second e.g. 1:08.86. This is the actual time
that is recorded on the result slip or event card and is
used to determine the time.
12.1.
When all three watches or two of the watches on the same lane
record the same time, the identical time is the official
time.
e.g. 1:01.79
1:01.75
1:01.79 official
time is 1:01.79
12.2.
When all three watches record different times, the
official time shall be that of the watch recording the
middle time.
e.g. 1:01.79
1:01.75
1:01.82 official
time is 1:01.79
12.3.
If for some reason only two watches record the time,
and they differ, the watch average of the two times time
shall be taken as the official time. Records require
three times.
e.g. 1:01.79
1:01.75 official
time is 1:01.77
12.4.
The official manual time will be determined by the
Chief Lane Timekeeper in accordance with the above
procedures (see earlier notes). The Recorders will determine
times when semi-automatic times are involved, as Timekeepers
do not get finish times of each race.
13.1.
The following adjustment procedures are mentioned here for
completeness.
13.2.
It is not permitted to announce times that do not agree with
the official placing.
13.3.
When Automatic Officiating Equipment or Semi-Automatic Timing
is used, the placing and times recorded on that equipment
prevail over manual results except when the Referee may be
required to make a decision in accordance with the Rules of
Swimming – which cover also the adjustment procedure that
is to be followed. The manual time you take is used as a
backup and for comparison purposes.
13.4.
It sometimes happens that the ranking of official manual
times disagrees with the Finish Judge placing e.g. the fifth
place getter is credited with a time faster than the fourth
place competitor. In these circumstances the Judge’s
placing prevails and the manual times are adjusted to credit
competitors involved with the same manual time.
13.5.
The Recorders calculate the average of all watch times
on the lanes concerned and each competitor involved is
credited with this average time
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