When the ACWS Sea Serpents host a meet, we provide timers for our team; one for each lane; with one back-up timer.  You will be asked to volunteer as a timer for our meets and probably at other meets, sometime during the season.  If you are at a non-Sea Serpent-hosted meet, and our team is assigned the responsibility to time lanes, please volunteer your services promptly and graciously (usual length is for half of the meet, if everyone helps).  Be courteous to your fellow Timers by being on time for shift relief and share the responsibility equally during the meet and from meet to meet.

While timers are volunteers, they are actually officials - so it's important to know the responsibilities, rules, and procedures of timing.  Timers have 2 prime responsibilities: 1) make sure the right swimmer is in the right event, the right heat, and the right lane and 2) provide accurate backup times for every swim event.

·         Most sanctioned meets use 3 timing systems: automatic (electronic touch pads), semi-automatic (buttons which stop the automatically started clock – "The Plunger"), and manual (digital stop watches).  Usually, there are 2 timers per lane: one operates the Plunger and a stop watch simultaneously, while the other operates a stop watch and records the watch times on the cards or lane timer slips.  The person with the clipboard is generally considered to be the "Head Lane Timer".

·         Swimmers line up behind the starting blocks by lanes/heat for their swim event.  The Head Lane Timer ensures the correct swimmer is present to swim by checking the name of the swimmer against the card, lane timer slip, or heat sheet.  Perform this check prior to the Referee's series of short whistles (that notifies the swimmers and timers it's time for the next heat).  At the series of short whistles, make sure your swimmer is ready to swim and standing behind the block.  When the Referee blows the long whistle (that signals the swimmers to step up onto the blocks), make sure your swimmer is stepping up.  Sometimes it's confusing and difficult to hear - you must be alert and attentive.  If a swimmer misses their heat, they can be disqualified.  If there's a problem, get the Referee's attention immediately.

·         Once all the swimmers are on the blocks, the Referee will turn the heat over to the Starter.  Generally, the Starter will only say, "Take your mark", then sound the start signal.  The Referee and Starter are located on the side of the pool along with the Start Console.  The Start Console emits the audio start signal and a simultaneous visual flash.  Start your watch on the flash, not on the sound (do not push the button).  If you miss the flash, or the flash fails for some reason, start your watch on the sound of the start signal.  Find a spot near your lane where you can see.  If your watch fails to start (or stops during the race), raise it over your head and get the attention of the Chief Timer (usually called Head Timer).  He/She will bring you another watch or pick up the time for you.  Always start your watch for every heat, even if you don't have a swimmer in your lane.  It may be needed by another timer.

·         If your swimmer misses their heat, write "NS" on the card or lane timer sheet.  If your swimmer gets out of the pool before the end of their race, write "DNF" on the card or lane timer sheet.  During the race, count the laps of your swimmer.  If it's 200 Yds/Meters or longer, mark them on the card, lane timer slip, or heat sheet, so you don't loose count.  Don't rely on the scoreboard or lane counter!  You need this information to determine when it's the last lap.

·         Stop your watch and push the button at the end of the race when any part of your swimmer's body touches any part of the wall.  Don't worry if it's legal or not - that's the Stroke & Turn Judge's responsibility.  Get right up to the edge of the pool and look down for the touch ... don't be afraid to get wet.  Also, don't anticipate the touch.  It's easy to get fooled  This is a common problem with very young swimmers.  If you are working the plunger, push the button on the plunger only once for a count of two - that's all it takes.  Every time you push it, the computer records a new time.  Once you stop the watch and push the button, step back away from the blocks and record the watch time.   Write the time to the hundredth of a second without rounding (i.e., 33.49).  If you missed the finish, write "NT" on the card or lane timer slip.  Don't try to match your time to the time on the scoreboard - it shouldn't be the same, and most often will not be the same.  If there's a big discrepancy, report it to the Chief Timer.  A Runner will collect the card or lane timer slips after each heat or event, respectively.

·         At the end of the race, things get very crowded at the blocks - 2 or 3 timers, an official, and lots of screaming swimmers.  Move the swimmers back and work with the official to share the space.  Also, if your swimmer is having difficulty getting out of the pool after a race, offer to help them.   It will help to keep the meet moving along in a timely manner.

·         If the swimmer misses the touch-pad or hits it late, write that (and any other "anomaly") on the card or lane timer slip.

·         For relays, check the name of each swimmer and make sure they swim in that order.  If they don't, make a note on the card and notify the Referee.

·         Stay back behind the blocks, except when stopping your watch and pushing your plunger button at the end of the race.  If you get between the blocks at the start, you may block the Starter and/or Referee's line of sight to the swimmers in the heat.  Your movement could also distract them or a swimmer during the start.

·         For 25 Meter/Yd events, your swimmer may start at the opposite end of the pool from where you are standing.  Another method is for the Timers to go to the other end of the pool.  In this case, make sure to check your swimmer's name at the end of the race.  If it's not the right swimmer, write their name on the card or lane timer slip and notify the Chief Timer.

·         In very large swim meets or invitational meets; the sponsoring organization may resort to something called "overhead starts".  This is when swimmers in the previous heat remain in the water for the start of the subsequent heat.  This saves time and gives the swimmers a little rest at the end of their race.  You may occasionally have to remind your swimmer to stay in the water in such cases.  Things will be moving pretty quickly when using this method, so you must pay attention to the whistles and where you are in the race.  In many cases, the Referee's short whistles will come before the race is over (usually when the swimmers are about halfway out on the last lap) and the long whistle will come when the last swimmer touches the wall.  You have to get your swimmer up, stop the watch and hit the plunger button, record the watch time, clear the watch, and get ready for the start of the next heat quickly.  It takes teamwork.  If we are not using overhead starts (which is likely that we will not), make sure your swimmer quickly moves back behind the blocks - if they want their times, give it to them there, not up at the edge of the pool.

·         If you need a break to go to the restroom, notify the Chief Timer.  He/She will get a relief timer for your lane.

It's very important that you take your responsibility as a Lane Timer seriously.  The swimmers work hard and are giving it their best shot.  They deserve the same in return.  You help keep the meet flowing smoothly by making sure swimmers are ready for their races.  And, while the automatic timing system usually operates correctly and provides the swimmers their Official Times, often the Timing Judge needs your backup times to determine the Official Time when the system malfunctions.