Note: The following is a synopsis of the changes that were made at the 1999 USA
Swimming convention and which will appear in the 2000 USA Swimming Rules and
Regulations which are relevant to the Timing System or calculation of Official Times.
1.Rule Changes—(Effective May 15, 2000)......
f.Timing Adjustment - If you are unable to determine the difference
between watch and pad times for a given heat (because no pads times
are available), it is permissible to use times from the immediately
preceding and following heats to make the adjustment. (Section
102.17.5.E)
g.Button or Watch Failure at Finish - The rulebook will now provide that
the Head Lane Timer shall also report when they believe the
semi-automatic or manual times may be inaccurate. They are already
expected to report when the swimmer touched late or missed the pad.
(Section 102.17.3.B)
h.Placement of Electronic Timing Equipment - The equipment will be placed
so the operator will have a clear view of the finish whenever possible.
(Section 102.17.3)
i.Meet Results - Meet results should show now show in the heading
information the sanction number. This is in addition to the meet name,
date, location and pool length which is already a requirement. (Section 102.25)
j.Providing Initial Distance Times - For meets where the timing system is
interfaced with the computer, initial distance times shall be made available
upon request. (Section 102.25)
2.Rule Changes—(Effective January 1, 2000)
Requirements for Observed Swims and OVC's - Several changes
were made in this regard. The most significant is that "any swim in compliance
with USA Swimming rules...will be considered an official time for that swimmer."
That means swimmers entering meets who have an observed time must use that
time if it is their best. (Section 202.5)
Resolutions:
R-11 Location: Page 31
102.17.3 TIMING PERSONNEL AND THEIR DUTIES
Proposed by: Arvydas Barzdukas
Purpose: The Timing Judge will observe when there is a discrepancy between the
automatic versus the semi-automatic and/or manual times. Having this additional
information is as useful in determining what should be the Official Time as knowing the
swimmer touched late or missed the pad. Timers know when they have inadvertently
misused their button or watch at a finish.
102.17.3.B Head Lane Timer
.4 Report if the swimmer has delayed in touching or has missed the touch pad at
the finish, or there is reason to believe the semi-automatic or manual times may
be inaccurate."
R-12 Location: Page 32
ARTICLE 102.17 TIMING
Proposed by: John Kinney and Helen Brown
Purpose: To ensure that the Timing Equipment Operator can judge when a touchpad
has malfunctioned or failed to record a finish touch.
102.17.3
D Timing Equipment Operator - The Timing Equipment Operator shall
be responsible for the automatic or semi-automatic timing equipment,
including the electronic starting system and scoreboard (if used), and shall
advise the Referee of any system problems that might affect the accuracy
of times or whenever the touchpad is observed to have failed to record the
finish when the swimmer completed the race. The timing equipment should
be placed so that the operator is able to observe the finish of each race.
R-13 Location: Page 34
102.17.5 DETERMINATION OF OFFICIAL TIME
Proposed by: Arvydas Barzdukas
Purpose: In a situation where an entire heat is timed only by watches (because the
primary (pad) system was never armed), it is necessary to go to other heats in order to
perform a timing adjustment to reflect the difference between watch and pad times.
The current rule book does not address this situation. That led to a protest when this
happened during the 2nd of 3 circle-seeded heats during prelims of a major meet.
102.17.5.E Adjustment for Malfunction on a Lane - When a malfunction is
confirmed on a lane, the backup times on that lane shall be adjusted by calculating the
average difference between valid primary and valid back-up times in that heat, or if
necessary, using times from heats immediately preceding and/or following that heat.
R-14 Location: Page 37
102.25 MEET RESULTS
Proposed by: Michael Lawrence, Illinois Swimming
Purpose: Easier confirmation that results are "official".
102.25. MEET RESULTS — Copies of printed meet results shall be provided, … The
results may also be provided on a computer disk. Printed meet results shall include the
following information:
.1 Meet name, date, location, sanction number, and the pool length (25Y, 25M or
50M) must appear on every page and the pages must be numbered.
(no further changes)
PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS NOW REFLECTED
R-15A Location: Page 37 102.25 MEET RESULTS
Proposed by: Rules & Regulations Committee
Purpose: As an alternate to R-15.
102.25 MEET RESULTS
.3 For each individual event, the order of finish in preliminaries, finals and
swim-offs, when applicable, listing the swimmer's first and last name, age, club
affiliation and official time; disqualified swimmers shall be listed last and
indicated "DQ", with no times listed. Time Trial results shall be provided in the
above format, when applicable. If the meet is computerized and connected
directly to or interfaced with the automatic timing system then all available initial
distance times listed in 102.17.4A shall be provided upon request.