Chief Timekeeper Clinic

ROLE OF THE POSITION

Of all the intermediate positions, Chief Timekeeper is probably the most straight forward. Accurate timing by this team is essential. The Chief Timekeeper and his assistant must maintain a constant check on the accuracy and efficiency of all the Timekeepers.

PERFORMANCE OF THE POSITION

Before the Meet

  1. Arrive early - at least one hour before the start of the meet.

  2. Check with Meet Manager about condition of watches and check watches, if required.

  3. Arrange a sign-out system for the watches if requested by Meet Manager.

  4. Arrange a time with Referee and Starter for the watch check.

  5. Have extra batteries, watches and pencils for Timekeepers on the deck, during the meet.

  6. Discuss with the Referee:

  - Signals for advising the Referee if all Timekeepers have a problem. E.g. card mix-up.

  - Will there be two swimmers per lane in distance events?

  - Need to appoint relay take over judges.

  - Special procedures distance events, two swimmers per lane?

  Need for extra timers. 25 metre swims in a 25 metre pool or 50 metre swims in 50 metre pool - will swimmers be moved to start at the turn end or will timers be moved to take finish at turn end?

  7. Conduct a briefing session and watch check with all Timekeepers 15 to 30 minutes before the start of the session.

    - Introduce yourself and your assistant and explain your duties.

  - Ensure you have enough Timekeepers, and arrange for more if required.

  - Identify the apprentice Timekeepers and ensure they work with experienced Timekeepers.

  8. Appoint relay take over judges if required and discuss correct

  position for observing relay take over and procedure for reporting

  of disqualification's.

  - If you have qualified Inspectors of Turns available, select

  a Head Timekeeper for each lane and notify the Referee.

  Discuss how to operate the different kinds of watches that

  are used. Stress that the person that starts the watch

  must stop the watch. NO EXCHANGING OF WATCHES.

  9. Identification of swimmers (Have a sample card or Lane Sheet):

  - correct name on card: matches the swimmer in the water

  - correct heat: for heats it's located under Heat, for timed

  finals or finals it's located under Final.

  - correct lane: for heats it's located under Heat, for

  timed finals or finals it's located under Final.

  - relays: swimmers swim in correct order.

  10. Discuss the recording of times on the time cards.

  - Recorded to the hundredths.

  - Correct location on the card for:

  a. timed finals: bottom middle under Final.

  b. preliminary heats: bottom left under Heats.

  c. finals: bottom middle under Final.

  - Splits:

  a. when - every time the swimmer comes by.

  b. how - lean over the end of the pool and observe the touch.

  c. where to record them on the card.

  - On far right. and on the back if not enough room.

  (Note: the Chief Finish Judge may request splits to go on the back of the card.)

    - On distance events, 800 and 1500, if you miss

  a split put a line through the space where the

  split would have been recorded. This will assist

  you in keeping track of the swimmer in the race, for the Bell Lap.

  11. Light touches when using electronics.

    - swimmer does not touch the pad firm enough to active the

  electronics.

  - report it to the Chief Timekeeper or his assistant.

    - write "LIGHT TOUCH" on the time card.

  12. When and how to ring bells if you have 800 or 1500 events

  during the session

    - 25 metre pool:

  a. In 800 ring the bell at the 750 lap.

  b. In 1500 ring the bell at the 1450 lap.

    - 50 metre pool:

  a. In 800 ring the bell at the 700 lap.

  b. In 1500 ring the bell at the 1400 lap.

  - Ring the bell over the right hand lane rope when your lane's

  incoming swimmer is 5 metres from his final turn until

  your outgoing swimmer is 5 metres passed his final turn

  (backstroke flags are 5 metres from the turn/end wall).

  13. How does the Timekeeper signal for help when he has a problem?

  - It is customary to have the timer raise his or her hand

  to get the Chief Timekeeper's attention. Alternate signals

  may be worked out in advance.

  14. Resetting of watches - on the Referee's whistle to start the

  next heat or as instructed by Chief Timekeeper.

  15. Advise Timekeepers to record time as fast as possible and to

  be prepared for the next race.

  16. Relays:

    - The first leg of relays (50 or 100 splits) shall be timed

  by all Timekeepers and recorded and published as official

  times.

    - Ensure the Timekeepers know the relay take off rules, and

  the Head Timekeeper is charged with this duty.

    - If requested, inform the swimmers of their "unofficial"

  time when they get out of the water.

During the Meet

  1. SW 2.7 The Chief Timekeeper shall assign the seating position

  for all Timekeepers and the lanes for which they are responsible.

  There shall be three (3) Timekeepers for each lane. There

  shall be two (2) additional Timekeepers designated. either

  of whom shall be directed to replace a Timekeeper whose watch

  did not start or stopped during an event, or who for any other

  reason is not able to record the time.

  2. CSW 2.13 states there shall be a minimum of two Timekeepers

  per working lane.

    - If there are only two Timekeepers then the Chief

  Timekeeper or his assistant shall have their times recorded

  on the card of the first and second place swimmers in the

  event of an Age Group Swimmer breaking a record in a Senior

  Meet.

  - The extra Timekeeper is essential for large meets and would

  be nice for all meets.

  - In the event you don't have extra Timekeepers, you or your

  assistant will provide the time.

  3. SW 2.7.2 The Chief Timekeeper shall collect from each Timekeeper

  a card showing the time recorded and, if necessary. inspect

  their watches.

  - A runner will be assigned to collect the cards.

    - You should look at the first one or two heats to ensure

  the times are being recorded properly and in the proper

  places (splits, timed finals. heats etc.).

  4. SW 2.7.3 The Chief Timekeeper shall record or examine the

  official time on the card for each lane.

  - This is only done if the Timekeepers are required to put

  the official times on the card.

  - The Chief Finish Judge normally does this.

    - If electronics are being used, the times are taken from

  the official electronics printout and compared to the

  manual times by the Chief Finish Judge.

  5. SW 11.3 Any timing device that is terminated by an official

  shall be considered a watch. Such manual times must be taken

  by three Timekeepers appointed or approved by the Member in the

  country concerned. All watches shall be certified as accurate

  to the satisfaction of the governing body concerned. Manual

  timing shall be registered either to 1/100 of a second or, if

  there are three digital watches which read out to 1/100 of a

  second. Where no Automatic Equipment is used, official manual

  times shall be determined as follows:

  6. SW 11.3.1 If two of the three watches record the same time

  and the third disagrees, the two identical times shall be the

  official time.

  7. SW 11.3.2 If all three watches disagree, the watch recording

  the intermediate time shall be the official time.

  8. CSW 11.3.2.1 If only TWO watches are being used, the arithmetic

  average to the slowest hundredth shall be the official time.

    - "Certified as accurate...." is done at the watch check.

    - For a record there must be THREE watches. The

  Chief Timekeeper or his assistant should always have their

  times recorded on the card if there are only two Timekeepers.

  9. SW 12.10 A swimmer in an individual event may apply for a

  World Record at an intermediate distance if he or his coach

  or manager specifically requests the Referee that his performance

  be especially timed or if the time at the intermediate distance

  is recorded by Automatic Officiating Equipment. Such swimmer

    must complete the scheduled distance of the event to apply

  for a record at the intermediate distance.

  - There will be an extra card attached to the normal card

  requesting an "Official Split". The Referee should advise

  you as soon as he is advised, and arrangements made to

  time the 50 metre end.

  10. Signal the Referee if something goes wrong in your area that

  needs to be fixed and requires the meet to stop.

  11. Take the time of the winner of each heat or other lane as

  required.

  12. Supervise all Timekeepers.

  - check that their times are accurate by observing the times

  being recorded.

    - check that the information is recorded correctly in the

  right place on the cards.

    - have your time recorded if required for a third time or if

  a Timekeeper's time is not right.

  - Chief Timekeeper's time is a diplomatic way for the Chief

  Timekeeper to stick his nose into every lane and observe

  that times are accurate. The Chief Timekeeper's time is not

  used when three good times are recorded.

  13. Evaluates apprentice Timekeepers.

  14. Move Timekeepers from a lane with no swimmer to a lane where

  a Timekeeper did not get a start on his watch.

  15. Solves ongoing problems in his area of responsibility.

After the meet

  1. Sign record applications.

  2. Ensure all watches are returned, shut off and stored properly.

  Those that are not working are marked and brought to the attention

  of the Meet Manager.

  3. Return the watches to the office or Meet Manager.

CHIEF TIMEKEEPER EXERCISES

How would you, as Chief Timekeeper, handle the following situations?

  1. Timekeeper 2 in Lane 5 consistently records times that are 0.40

  to 0.60 faster than the other 2 Timekeepers.

    - Observe the Timekeeper working. Is he attentive? Is he

  starting and stopping the watch properly? If everything

  appears normal give him another watch, and explain the

  problem. USE A LOT OF DIPLOMACY. We only have

  so many Timekeepers, and they all have swimmers. If nothing

  appears to work look at moving him to another position

  that he can handle well i.e. Marshall.

    - Review the correct procedure for taking starts and finishes

  i.e. Is the Timekeeper starting the watch by the sound

  of the start device instead of the flash? Also is the Timekeeper

  anticipating the finish? (Make sure he is watching the wall

  not the swimmer.)

  2. The Timekeepers in lane 4 are all inexperienced.

    - Trade places with one experienced Timekeeper to assist

  the others.

  3. Timekeeper 1 in lane 3 takes her split times seated in her

  chair.

    - Advise the Timekeeper of the importance of observing the

  touch and the time she records is not correct unless she

  observes the touch.

    - Review the correct position for taking splits - standing

  over the lane.

  4. Timekeeper I in lane 4 is a qualified Inspector of Turns.

  He is trying to take splits and judge turns at the same time.

    - Ask one of the other Timekeepers to take the splits and

  explain to the offending Timekeeper that the two jobs don't

  work together, because they both require his attention

  at the same time.

  5. All three Timekeepers in lane 6 are recording times that are

    inconsistent with the Referee's order of finish.

    - Observe the Timekeepers working.

    a. Are they attentive?

    b. Are they starting and stopping the watches properly?

    c. If you observe a problem, bring it to the attention of the Referee. USE A LOT OF DIPLOMACY, we only have so many Timekeepers, they all have swimmers, and we need both.

  6. After the start, 3 Timekeepers raise their hands. They have missed the start.

    - Are they all in the same lane?

    a. If so are there any lanes with no swimmers?

    b. If you have empty lanes move the Timekeepers into the lane with the problem.

    c. If no empty lanes and no extra Timekeepers the Chief Timekeeper and his assistant can take a time.

REMEMBER - IF YOU START THE WATCH YOU MUST STOP THAT WATCH

  7. A Timekeeper requests a bathroom break after the start of an 800M freestyle event.

    - It takes about 10 minutes to complete the 800M race.

    a. If you have no extra Timekeepers, and the Timekeeper has enough time, allow the break.

    b. You or your assistant can cover for him.

    c. If he doesn't have enough time inquire if he can

  delay until the start of the next race when he would have more time.

  8. The Referee has blown his whistle to signal the start of the next heat. The Timekeepers in lane 2 raise their hands.

    - There is a problem in lane 2.

    a. Use your prearranged signal with the Referee to hold the start.

    b. DO NOT LET THE RACE START with a problem among your Timekeepers.

    c. Make sure it is an important problem e.g. card mix-up or else do not hold up start again for a minor problem.

    - The Timekeepers must try to come up to the speed the Referee requires.

CHIEF TIMEKEEPER'S BRIEFING SHEET

_____ Watches all work.

_____ Check list of events. Any relays, 25M/50M, 800M, 1500M.

MEETING WITH REFEREE

_____ Arrange signals for 25/50M.

_____ Will there be two swimmers per lane for distance events.

_____ Where do you want the Split Times for the first leg of the relays written.

_____ Need to appoint relay take over judges?

BRIEFING OF TIMEKEEPERS

_____ Introduce, self, assistant, Starter.

_____ Do you have enough Timekeepers.

_____ Put apprentice Timekeepers with experienced ones.

_____ Do you have enough Qualified Head Timekeepers? If not let the Referee know.

_____ Discuss operations of watches.

_____ Have starter do watch check (let watches run for a full minute). While waiting, carry on with list.

_____ Cards, ensure correct name, heat, lane.

_____ Times - correct location on card for heats finals or timed finals.

_____ Splits where, Bells for 800M and 1500M.

_____ Light Touches. where recorded and who to notify.

_____ Relays, swum in correct order, first leg will require all Timekeepers to take a time. It is an Official Time. Where to write it?

_____ Have starter complete watch check - Ensure all Timekeepers have a similar time.

_____ Procedure and time to report to deck - HAVE FUN.

TAKE EXTRA WATCHES AND PENCILS