Electronic Timing Official Training

Clinic

Agenda

IntroductionsRole of ET OfficialCertification ProcessEquipment SetupOperating the ConsolePaperwork – Determining the official timeWorked ExamplesQuestions

OSI Officiating Philosophy

Fair and equitable conditions of competition are maintained and uniformity in the sport is promoted so that no swimmer has an unfair advantage over another

What does that mean?• Success of every meet depends on the

official’s integrity, knowledge, concern and regard for the competitive interest of the swimmer

• One set of rules applies to all swimmers• Swimmers get the benefit of the doubt• Demonstrate impartiality and professionalism

on deck

Professionalism on Deck

Wear standard uniformTypically white polo over blue shortsLong pants/skirts for championship finalsSometimes khaki instead of blueNo team logos or advertising

Wear credentials and name tagBe in position on time. Do not vacate position until

replacement in place

The ET OfficialWhy?

No swimmer shall be required to re-swim a race due to equipment failure which results in unrecorded or inaccurate time or place. (USA Swimming Rule 102.16.4D)

What?Part of a larger officiating crewOperate electronic timing equipmentDetermine official timeInstruct timers in proper timing procedures

Certification ProcessRegister as non-athlete member with USA SwimmingMust pass a background check through USA SwimmingMust attend USA Swimming online Athlete Protection

TrainingBegin volunteering at meetsAttend ET Clinic within first 20 hours of trainingAfter 20 hours of training obtain 2 positive

recommendations from certified ET’sForward training record and recommendations to ET

chair. Await confirmation to take online test.Take and pass on-line open-book test

Minimum Training RequirementsAt least 2 of the first 6 hours must be with a designated

ET trainer10 observed hours on timing console10 observed hours on time verificationIntroductory sessionAttend ET Clinic within first 20 hours of training2 sessions at sanctioned 12 & under meetWork at non-home meetSuccessfully complete a heat or lane malfunction

calculation (by hand)Work one session with the Hy-Tek operator2 consecutive positive recommendations from 2 different

trainers

Instruct Timers in Proper Timing ProceduresPrior to start of event, instruct timers in proper

timing procedures.Start watch at strobe flashStop watch and button when touch is seenTimer operates one watch and one button. No timer

can operate both watches or both buttonsRecord times on supplied event sheetHead timer will collect event sheetsRaise hand if you fail to start watch – head timer

should have a backupRing bell on long events

Set Up Timing EquipmentBe familiar with Colorado and Daktronics

systemsKnow how to set up and operate the equipmentAllow time before the meet to set up and

diagnose problemsHome crew will often set up equipment, but you

still need to check it overEnsure starting unit connectedEnsure buttons and pads in place and

connected using harness or deck platesPerform test start and then reset for first race

Typical ET Setup

Scoreboard

TimingConsole

ResultsComputer

StartingConsole

Buttons

Operate Timing EquipmentET Console should start timing when starting unit soundsIf ET console fails to start, start it manuallyEnsure ET console set for correct event and heatCheck for No Shows/Lanes turned on/offMark No Shows on ET head sheetWhen ET unit on deck avoid making console beep just

prior to the startCheck for intermediate touches. Add/Delete touches as

requiredFinish arm if necessaryStore-Print; Reset; Advance to Next Heat or Next Event

FOCUS ON DRIVING THE CONSOLE WHEN TASKED TO DO SO

Determining the Official TimeAutomatic / Semi-Automatic / ManualPrimary / Secondary / Tertiary timesWhat is the official time?

Types of Timing SystemsAutomatic

Automatic start. Finish on touch padsSemi-Automatic

Automatic start. Finish on buttonsManual

Watches

Timing System DesignationPrimary

The most accurate system availableCould be automatic, semi-automatic, or manualNormally automatic PADS

SecondaryBackup to primary system. Typically BUTTONS

TertiaryAt least one watch should be used as a back up for a

automatic or semi-automatic system

Determination of Official TimeTiming resolution in 100’s, not 1000’s of seconds.

Thousands are dropped with no rounding

The time from the correctly operating primary system is the official timeAutomatic: Pad timeSemi-Automatic or Manual

Middle time of 3 buttons/watchesAverage of 2 buttons/watchesTime of single button/watch (not a good idea)

The primary timing system is probably operating properly if the secondary or tertiary time confirms by 0.30 seconds or less

Colorado vs. DaktronicsAverage delay ~ 0.15 seconds

Start

Human Delay

Button

Pad

Watch

Finish

Colorado automatically deducts 0.15

May 2012 Rule Changes – 4C102.24.4 C Primary Timing System Malfunction –

A malfunction may have occurred if:(1) The difference between the time obtained by the

primary system and the back-up system(s) is approximately .30 second or greater; or

(2) The place judge(s) reports a different order of finish; or

(3) It is reported the swimmer missed the touchpad or had a soft touch

4C Rule Change interpretationIt is not practical to wait for order of finish for all

heats. Follow the verification process outlined in next few

slidesAllow 0.30 second difference to validate pad;

however if other information available, such as order of finish, lane timing adjustment printout or watch times indicate that the pad may be wrong, investigate further and determine if it more appropriate to use the pad time or an adjusted backup time.

May 2012 Rule Changes – 4D102.24.4 D Determining Official Time –

The clause “may be incorporated into the automatic or semiautomatic system by design or may be” was temporarily removed, but will be back in the 2013 rule book.

Time Verification (Colorado)At least one button confirms pad time

YUse pad time

Watch confirms pad time

Y Use pad time

Watches confirm one button time and faster

than pad

Y Use button time

Buttons confirm each other and faster than

pad

Y Use button average

Collect order of finish and coaches time. Compare with pad/watch/button times. Use best judgment.

Watches confirm each other and faster than

pad

Y Calculate watch/pad average difference and use adjusted watch

average

N

N

N

N

N

Time VerificationAt least one button confirms pad time

YUse pad time

Watch confirms pad time

Y Use pad time

Watches confirm one button time and faster

than pad

Y

Buttons confirm each other and faster than

pad

Y

Collect order of finish and coaches time. Compare with pad/watch/button times. Use best judgment.

Watches confirm each other and faster than

pad

Y Calculate pad-watch average difference and use adjusted watch

average

N

N

N

N

N

Calculate pad-button average difference and use adjusted button

average

Calculate pad-button average difference and use adjusted button

average

Lane Timing AdjustmentButton times and watch times need to be

adjusted by “timing system difference”Calculate average difference between valid pad

and button (or watch) times in that heatHy-Tek can print out lane timing adjustment

sheet for buttonsIf less than 3 valid lanes, look at previous and

next heats of same stroke

Lane Timing Adjustment (2)What if previous, current, and next heats do not

provide 3 valid lanes to calculate average?Look at previous two and next two heats of the

same strokeIf previous two and next two heats still have less

than 3 valid lanes:For Colorado button adjustment, use button time

directlyFor Daktronics button adjustment, subtract 0.15For watch adjustment, use watch time directly

Heat Malfunction AdjustmentIf automatic system subject to early or late start,

need to adjust ALL timesFor each valid lane (pad validated by button),

calculate average WATCH - PAD difference Discard any outliers that are more than 0.30 from

the normAdjust all automatic and semi-automatic times by

average WATCH - PAD difference

Documenting Official TimeObtain heat printout from consoleCheck correct race#, event#, heat#Check that times available for all lanes which had

swimmersDocument any no-showsDocument any DQ’s (see next slide)Calculate official time. (may need to wait for watch times)Clearly identify official time with check mark and strike out

invalid timesAttach timing adjustment sheet if usedInitial paperworkPass paperwork to Hy-Tek when appropriateHy-Tek may send paperwork back if discrepancies

Handling DQ SlipsCheck DQ slip for correctness

Swimmer/Team Name Event/Heat/Lane Signed by referee

If any discrepancies, send DQ back to refereeStrike out times for swimmerDenote DQ alongside strikeoutAttach DQ slip to back of printout, facing backwards – enables easy

review later if required

Console operator can advise of potential DQ’s so that paperwork can be held back until DQ’s arrive

Often DQ’s arrive after paperwork passed on and has to be recalled

Working with Hy-TekAt setup, meet info downloaded from Hy-Tek to

consoleHy-Tek downloads meet resultsOften best to pass event paperwork over in one

batch. Check for DQ’s before passing on paperwork, although often DQ’s will arrive later anyway

Keep console turned on until Hy-Tek confirms that ALL meet info has been downloaded

Working with the Referee, Starter, Timers, & CoachesConsole operator needs to get console ready for

next heat in a timely mannerRequest order of finish if doubt over time

validationObtain watch times from timersObtain watch times from coachesIf timing issues are consistently from one lane

then watch timers in that lane and talk to them if necessary.

Get referee to sign off on any unusual timing circumstances

Debugging IssuesOften something will go wrong and the problem

needs to be fixed quicklyPad not workingButton not workingPrinter not working

Worked Examples

SummaryRole of ET OfficialCertification ProcessEquipment SetupOperating the ConsolePaperwork – Determining the official timeWorked ExamplesQuestions

Questions ?