Timing Judge

The Timing Judge’s job is to take the printed results from each race off the printer and determine the official time. The official time may optionally be recorded on the Lane Cards.

Races that use the Touch Pads

1.      Get the Lane Cards from the runner. Get the printout for the race from the printer.

2.      Check the printout for discrepancies between the pad and the button.

·         A discrepancy will show up if the pad time is more than 0.3 secs different than the button time.

·         The pad time is listed first. If the pad was never touched, the pad time will not be shown.

·         The button time is listed second in brackets “<  >”  if there was a discrepancy for a lane.

3.      For each discrepancy,

·         Check the watch time against the pad time and the button time. Circle the one closest to the watch times. (Usually the button time is the one to use because most discrepancies are caused by the swimmer touching the pad too lightly.)

·         Correct the place order on the printout of the race if the button time is chosen. (Note: the timing system is used to determine the order of finish not the finish judges.)

4.      If the Colorado Operator selected a backup time for a swimmer, the button time will appear with an “*”. The pad time (or primary time) will not be printed.

5.      Give the lane cards and printout to the scorer.  Note: DQs do not get a place

 

NOTE: The Timing Judge may write the place and official time on the lane cards to help the scorer. Otherwise, the scorer can record the time and place directly from the printout.

 

Example:

Colorado Time Systems

Girls 100 IM

Event: 1        Heat: 1

 

--------

By Lane

  ---------

 

--------

By Place

  --------

 

Lane

Place

  Time

 

Place

Lane

  Time

 

1

3

1:18.38 *

 

1

4

1:12.84

 

2

4

1:18.90

<1:18.24>

2

3

1:13.82 *

 

3

2

1:13.82 *

 

3 4

1

1:18.38

 

4

1

1:12.84

 

4 3

2

1:18.90

<1:18.24>

5

5

1:21.01

 

5

5

1:21.01

 

6

6

1:25.48

 

6

6

1:25.48

 

 

  • The printout displays the race By Lane and By Place
  • Resolve the discrepancy in Lane 2.
    • For example, if the watch times show 1:18.21 and 1:18.25, the backup button should be used as the official time, which moves Lane 2 to 3rd place. Circle the backup time (1:18.24) and cross out 1:18.90. Correct the place for lane 1 and 2.
  • Lane 3 also had a discrepancy between the pad time and the backup button time. But the Colorado operator selected to use the backup button which is indicated with the “*”.
  • In the other lanes the pad time and backup button were within 0.3 secs.
  • The time and place for each lane may be written on the lane cards to help the scorer.

 

Races that use 2 Buttons

1.      Get the Lane Cards from the runner and the printed times for the race from the printer.

  • The printout shows the average of the 2 buttons.
  • Discrepancies are not used with two buttons.

2.      If the averaged time is not on the printout, then average the watch times recorded on the lane card.

3.      The order of finish is determined by the finish judges. (first heats only)

4.      Write the averaged time and place on the lane cards. Places are not recorded for additional heats.

5.      Write “DQ” on the lane card for any disqualifications. DQ’s do not get a place.

 

 

Races that use Watches

1.      Get the Lane Cards from the runner.

2.      For each card,

  • If there are only two watch times, find the average, write it on the card and circle it.
  • If there are three watch times, just circle the middle time.
  • Write the place on the lane cards (Heat 1 only).  The order of finish is determined by the finish judges.
  • Write “DQ” on the lane card for any disqualifications. DQ’s do not get a place.
  • Only the first heat needs to have the order of finish recorded. Second heats or unofficial heats do not need the order of finish. Just record the times for the unofficial heats.

 

 

Determining Order of Finish

The rule for determining the order of finish is described in Section E in Appendix III of the Northern New Jersey YMCA Swim League Constitution. The rule is summarized below: 

 

·         When fully automatic judging and timing equipment (touch pads) is in use and functioning as the primary judging and timing system, the order of finish and the official times will be determined using such automatic equipment. 

 

·         When semi-automatic timing equipment (buttons) or manual timing (watches) is being used as the primary judging and timing system, the order of finish determined by the place judges will be the official order of finish if they agree on all places.  If they do not agree on all places, then the modified ballot system will be used to determine the official order of finish.  In either case, a swimmer with a faster time may be awarded an official order of finish that is lower than the time would indicate; this is appropriate.