If you have a swimmer in a meet, you will be required to timekeep. The following is a general overview of the Timekeeper role and is intended to assist parents and volunteers understand the responsibilities associated with swim meets, supporting our swimmers and the swimming community.

If you are interested in learning more about timekeeping or any other Technical Official role (e.g. Marshalling, Check Starting, Starter etc.), Swimming NSW has a fantastic set of Online Training Courses for Technical Officials. Alternatively contact the ACT Area Swimming Technical Committee Coordinator by email to sact.training@live.com

What is Timekeeping?

Timekeeping ensures race times are correctly recorded for each swimmer. While many meets will use Automatic Officiating Equipment (AOE) and touch pads, backup timing with a Semi-Automatic Timing (SAT) device is required in the event of any system issues or if the swimmer’s touch fails to activate the touch pad. Both types of time recording are initiated electronically by the starting device and the AOE is stopped by the swimmer activating a touch pad. The Timekeepers stop the SAT equipment by pressing the hand-held push buttons for their lane the instant any part of the swimmer’s body contacts the finish wall.

Why do I need to Time-keep?

Timekeeping is crucial to the running of swim meets – without timekeepers we simply cannot run the swim meet. When you enter a swimmer in a meet, regardless of the number of events they swim, you will be required to time-keep for a period(s) during that meet.

Parents must understand this requirement when entering your swimmer into meets.

At Canberra ASC we endeavour to keep this requirement to a minimum. We will also try to ensure you are timekeeping at a time when your swimmer will be at the pool and competing. You will not be rostered on timekeeping at a meet or on a day when your swimmer is not competing.

The timekeeping requirements may differ meet-to-meet and if you are attending a higher-level championship meet interstate such as SNSW Country or State Championships.

When am I Timekeeping?

This will generally depend on the events your swimmer has entered. We will try to ensure you are timekeeping at a time when your swimmer will be at the pool and competing. For example: Your swimmer has entered events 4, 15 and 27. Based on the draft timeline, these will be run at around 1pm, 2:05pm and 3:35pm.

When creating the timekeeping roster, we will try to allocate you a timekeeping shift around these times, noting that it may start before or finish after your swimmer’s events. A timekeeping roster will be produced as soon as Canberra ASC is provided with our lane allocations and draft timeline for the meet. These are provided by the meet organiser and Swimming ACT for local meets. These may not be available until the night before the meet.

What do I need to do?

Canberra ASC will post the timekeeping roster to our Facebook page and send an email to meet entrants. Please ensure you check our Facebook page regularly for updates and ensure we have your correct email address for any club communications. If your details need to be updated, please contact the Registrar at registrar@canberra.org.au.

Check your timekeeping allocation carefully and if you have any questions or concerns please contact the time-keeping organiser for that meet. If you are listed as a reserve time-keeper, you still have a time-keeping requirement and are expected to check in during the allocated shift to make sure all the seats are covered in the event of withdrawals or no-shows. Many hands make for light work and it is important that we each do our part for the club, the community and our swimmers.

What if I am unavailable on the day?

If you cannot make it on the day, withdraw your swimmer from events or the meet, it is your responsibility to contact the time-keeping organiser to arrange an alternate time or replacement time-keeper.

If parents fail to meet their time-keeping obligations, it may result in their swimmer (or swimmers) not being permitted to enter future swim meets.

This approach is necessary as it directly affects other parents and the team. If Canberra ASC cannot meet its timekeeping responsibilities because a parent fails to show up, it may impact the running of the meet and the club’s reputation within the swimming community.

Your support and assistance in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of swim meets, is greatly appreciated.