Timing Rules and Procedures
Recording Event Results Rules and Procedures:
USS Rule 102.17
4. Official Time
A. Performance Requirements
1. An official time can be achieved only in USS sanctioned or USS approved competition, or in an observed swim in accordance with all applicable rules. It may be achieved in:
a. A preliminary or final heat.
b. A swim-off held to determine qualifiers or alternates for consolidation or final heats.
c. A leadoff leg in a relay.
d. A split time recorded from the official start to the competition of an initial distance with a legal finish within a longer event, provided the swimmer completes the event or the lead-off portion of the relay in compliance with applicable rules.
e. A time trial or a record attempt.2. An official time for an event or a stroke can be achieved only in that event or stroke, or in an initial distance of such event or stroke (e.g. a backstroke time must be achieved in a backstroke event or the backstroke leg of a medley relay).
Regardless of the stroke(s) used, times achieved in freestyle events can be recorded only as freestyle times.
B Timing Resolution
All timing systems, including manual watches, shall have a
resolution of one-hundredth of a second (0.01 second).
Times from all systems shall be recorded to hundredths of a second.
The digits representing thousandths shall be dropped with no rounding.
C System Requirements for Specific Purposes
| PRIMARY TIMING SYSTEM |
|
| LEVEL 1 Automatic Timing for all purposes |
- World, American and U.S. Open Records. - Initial distance splits and relay leadoff times for all purposes. |
| LEVEL 2 Semi-Automatic: Timing with 3 buttons |
- OVCs for 50M distances in a 50M pool; - National age group records; - National report-able times for 50m distances in a 50M pool. |
| LEVEL 3 Semi-Automatic with 2 buttons, or Manual with 3 watches |
- OVCs, except 50M distances in a 50M pool. - National reportable times, except 50M distances in a 50M pool; - LSC and other local records, unless prohibited by the LSC; - Initial distance splits and relay lead-off times for age group time standards (A, B, C times, etc.) |
| LEVEL 4 Manual with 2 watches |
- Zone, Regional, or LSC sponsored meet time standards, unless Timing System Level 3 is specified; - Age group time standards (A, B, C times, etc.) |
1. The official time may be used for the purpose listed only if timed by a timing system of at least the level required for that use.
2. World records can be established only when timed by an automatic timing system, or a semi-automatic system if the automatic system malfunctions.
3. A backup time adjusted for timing system differences as described in Section 102.17.5 may be used as an official time equal to the level of the timing system for which it has been adjusted.
D Backup System Requirement
Except when the primary system consists of watches, backup timing shall be provided for all competitors.
No swimmer shall be required to reswim a race due to equipment failure which results in unrecorded or inaccurate time or place.
It is the meet director’s responsibility to provide the proper timing systems so that swimmers can expect to achieve official times that will satisfy the requirements of Section 102.17.4C.
102.17.5 Determination of Official Time
A. Automatic Timing
When recorded by properly operating automatic timing equipment, the pad time shall be the official time.
B. Semi-Automatic and Manual Timing
Whenever semi-automatic or manual timing is used, the times shall be determined as follows:
1. If two of the three button or watch times agree, that shall be the time for that timing system.
2. If all three buttons or watches disagree, the time of the
intermediate button or watch shall be the time for that timing system.3. If only two button or watch times are available, the time shall be the average of those two button or watch times. The digits representing thousandths of a second shall be dropped with no rounding.
4. If only one button or watch time is available, the time of that button or watch shall be the time for that timing system.
C Primary Timing System Malfunction - may have occurred if:
1. The difference between the time obtained by the primary system and the back-up system(s) is .30 seconds or more.
2. A late or missed touch is reported by an official observing the finish.
D Adjustment for the Timing System Difference
When the Referee,
(ed note: or designate,) determines that there is a malfunction of the primary timing system, the back-up time(s) shall be adjusted for the timing system difference prior to integrating them with accurate primary times in establishing the official times and determining the order of finish.The adjustment for timing system difference may be incorporated into the
automatic or semi-automatic system by design
or
may be determined by calculating the consistent average difference
between the primary and back-up systems used at that meet.
E Adjustment for Malfunction on a Lane
When a malfunction is confirmed on a lane, the backup times for that lane shall be adjusted by calculating the average difference between valid primary and valid back-up times of the other lanes in that heat,
or if necessary,
(ed note: i.e. if not enough valid times from other lanes in that heat are available)using times from heats immediately preceding and/or following the heat.
This shall be done by adding, or subtracting when appropriate, that average difference to the valid back-up time of the lane where the malfunction occurred.(see Table 1 on page 37)
F Adjustment for Malfunction Equally Affecting an Entire Heat
When, because of an early or late start, or other equipment or operator malfunction, the time of the automatic or semi-automatic primary timing system is equally incorrect for all the lanes in a heat, but the order of finish and thus the absolute difference of time between the swimmers is accurate, the times of the primary system shall be adjusted by calculating the average difference between the primary times and the valid backup times and adding, or subtracting when appropriate, that difference to the primary times of every lane in that heat (see Table 2 on page 37)