JRAC Head Timer Clinic

2024 Season

Job Description Found in the JRAC Rule Book

5.04a A Head Timer must complete the available on-line Head Timer training, as designated or modified by either the JRAC Vice President of Swimming, or the JRAC President, and must pass the accompanying on-line quiz with a minimum score of 80%.

A Head Timer who has worked the previous three consecutive years need not to complete the Head Timer on-line training. Unless otherwise directed by the JRAC Vice President of Swimming, or the JRAC President.

Training Schedule

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JRAC offers training for head timers online only. Each club must have certified head timers on its list of officials.

Head Timer responsibilities

• Pre-meet equipment procedure

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• Pre-meet timer registration/assignment

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• Pre-meet meeting

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• During meet

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• Post meet

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Pre-meet Equipment Procedure

• Arrive 30-35 minutes before meet start.

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• Obtain equipment--watches inside black & yellow box—travels with Starter equipment.
• Watches—all kits are 8-lane (battery: Energizer 357/303).
• Clipboards (1 per lane).
• Pencils (1 per lane).
• Meet heat sheets (to have been copied from the JRAC rule book—put 1 sheet on each clipboard).

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• Construct the timer assignment sheet—primary means used to check in/assign timers:
• Lane number.
• Three blanks beside each lane number for timers’ names. Alternate each 1^st blank with (H) & (V) [Home/Visitor].
• Lane 1/3/5/7—2 home timers, 1 visiting club timer. Lane 2/4/6/8—2 visiting club timers, 1 home club timer.

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Link to this Timer Assignment Sheet is found on the JRAC Training Website.

Pre-meet timer registration/assignment

• Usually begins approximately 20-25 minutes before meet start.
• Fill in blanks on timer assignment sheet as timers report.
• Give the clipboard (with pencil/heat sheet) to the 1^st respective lane timer that reports (timers can decide among themselves who holds the clipboard); give each of the lane timers one watch (if needed, instruct start/stop/reset).
• After lane assignment, tell timers to stay close by for pre-meet meeting.
• Advise meet announcer of timer assignment shortages; announcer to solicit extras. All required timers must be assigned before meet can start.

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Pre-meet meeting—suggested topics

• Introduce yourself—make sure all timers know your name/appearance.
• Prior to each event, each lane clipboard timer will receive a Lane Timer sheet specific to the swimmer’s name, upcoming event, heat and lane number.
• There will be three lines to record a swimmer’s time. It is IMPERATIVE the lane clipboard timer verify each swimmer’s name before he/she steps up. For 8 and Under heats, verify swimmer’s name as he/she exits the pool.

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Pre Meet Meeting

• Flyover Starts
• Used only for 9/10, 11/12, 13/14 and 15 & over individual events.
• Not used for 8 & Under, Backstroke or relay events.
• As each heat finishes, the swimmers remain in the water. The next heat is called to the blocks and started. The previous heat’s swimmers then exit the pool. If there is a false start, then all swimmers exit and the heat restarts.
• All watch timers must position themselves so they can see the starter box and get a good watch start for each heat (start on the strobe flash—not the start beep). If having a virtual meet and an electric whistle is being used - start watch when sound is made.
• Any suspected watch failure (early start/late start/none), call immediately (8 & Under heats especially!).

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Pre-meet meeting (cont’d)

• All timers to positions themselves to get a good timing finish on all heats with watches.
• Need to be able to see swimmer touch, not guess at it.
• Positioning—close quarters within lane and with adjoining lanes.
• After heat finish:
• Two watch timers report times to clipboard timer, who records it, along with own watch time (no need to circle the middle time). All timers then clear their watches.
• If there’s a watch failure with no replacement, record “NT” in appropriate time block.
• After the final heat of the event, the lane clipboard timer will hold up the completed lane timer sheet - a runner will take it the head table.

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Pre-meet meeting (cont’d)

• No smoking/alcoholic beverages (JRAC rule). If a break is needed, timer notifies you to find temporary replacement.
• Cell phones—Allowed on deck (not for timing purposes), but remember the primary job is maintaining a good watch, avoid being distracted and get a temporary replacement timer, if necessary.
• No photography is allowed behind blocks. USA Swimming Athlete Protection Rule.
• Re-emphasize that any upcoming swimmer’s name be positively verified on the lane timer sheet for that heat and lane.
• Thanks for working.

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During meet

• Maintain two watches; get a good start off starter strobe light on both watches for every heat.
• Best position is probably somewhere immediately behind the lane 4 starting block with clear view of starter.
• After each start, scan up and down timer line for bad watches. Maintain scan for whole heat.
• For watch failure, swap one of yours for theirs; both keep respective watches afterwards. If two failures, swap 2^nd watch. If you can’t get to a bad watch in time, get a finish time from wherever you are and quickly go to the clipboard timer to read your time—no need to swap watches.
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During meet (cont’d)

• If there’s a bad watch with no replacement, clipboard timer records “NT” in appropriate block on swimmer’s card.
• If one or no lane watch failures, keep your (remaining) watch (es) running for entire heat and reset after all swimmers finish.
• If false start—remind all timers to please reset their watches.
• If failed watch, itself, is malfunctioning, swap it out from the spares and mark the malfunctioning watch with symptoms.

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Post-meet procedure

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• Thank timers for their participation.

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• Collect all timer equipment.

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• Watches go back into the black & yellow box—verify count.
• Clipboards/pencils to club-specific place.
• Heat sheets to trash.

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• Return watch box to the starter equipment location.

Thank you for participating in Head Timer training.

• Now it is time for the quiz.
• Click on this link on the training page to complete the quiz.
• A minimum passing score of 80% is required (16 correct).
• Once quiz is submitted, certification is complete.