Swim Meet Timing:

You might see on the swim meet info emails that there are timing assignments.  This is so that we can be assured that swimmers get an official time for their swims.  It is basically a series of backs ups in case there's a failure with the timing system, and requires the help of volunteer parents.

Primary Source of Time:

• Touch pads: These are electronic pads that are touch sensitive so it'll record the times when a swimmer touches them.  It is the most accurate and requires the least intervention by the volunteers.

Secondary Source of Time (1st Backup, sometimes primary source for meets that don't have touchpads)

• Press Buttons (AKA Pickles): These are handheld devices attached to the timing system with a push button on it.  The idea is to press down on the button at the same time the swimmer's hands/fingers touches the wall.  There can be 2-3 pickles, and their times are averaged to account for discreptancies.

Tertiary Source of Time (2nd Backup, 1st backup for those meets without touchpads):

• Stop Watch: Start the stop watch when the strobe goes off (Not by the sound).  Strobe is on top of the speaker (typically), near where the starter ref is standing.  

During the swim meet, there will typically be 2-3 chairs of volunteer timers, each will press the pickle at the finish of the event.  One will also start/stop the stop watch, and the other will record the time on the clip board.  If at any time the person with the stopwatch forgets to start, there will be a head timer that you can swap your stopwatch with.  The head timer's sole job is to make sure there are 2 stop watches that start at the right time for every event.  

The person with the clipboard should also call out swimmers that are on deck as a curtesy, and also to ensure there are no delays for the swim meet. This does not mean you have to hunt the swimmers down, it is their responsibility to be there for their event.

When you are assigned a timing slot, please make sure you are there on time to swap out another Vision parent, sometimes we are sharing a lane with another team.  Feel free to work with other parents to swap timing assignments.

Feel free to ask anyone if you have questions, we are here to make your swim meet experience a great one!