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Swim & Dive Volunteers

How to Be a Lane Timer

You time the swimmer in one lane with a stopwatch and a backup button. It's far easier than it looks: you watch for a flash of light to start, press stop when their hand touches the wall, and the automatic touch pad is the real official time. You're the safety net, not the final word.

Level
Anyone can do it
Time
One session, about 2-3 hours
Per lane
2 timers
Start on
The strobe flash
You hold
Watch + plunger
Official time
The touch pad

Quick start

  1. 1

    Grab your gear

    You'll get a stopwatch for one hand and a plunger button on a cord for the other. Both are pre-set, you just press them.

  2. 2

    Watch the light, not the horn

    At the start, a strobe flashes on the blocks the same instant the horn sounds. Press start when you SEE the flash.

  3. 3

    Lean in at the finish

    As your swimmer nears the wall, step to the edge and watch their hand. The moment it touches, press stop AND the plunger together.

  4. 4

    Read it out, then reset

    Tell the recorder your time, or let it log automatically, then press reset and get ready for the next heat.

Watch first

Swim Meet Volunteer Timer Training

The exact lane-timer routine: watch the start strobe, start the watch, step over the lane, stop on the wall touch.

Welcome to the friendliest poolside job at the meet. You're responsible for exactly one lane, and you're never on your own, two timers cover each lane so there's always a second number as backup. On top of that, the automatic touch pad on the wall captures the real official time. Your stopwatch exists for the rare moment the equipment hiccups, which means there's almost no pressure on any single press of your thumb.

  1. 1

    Before the heat

    Confirm your lane number, hold the stopwatch in one hand and the plunger in the other, and make sure the watch reads zero.

  2. 2

    At the start

    Watch the strobe on the blocks. The instant it flashes, press start on your stopwatch.

  3. 3

    During the race

    Relax and follow your swimmer. At some meets you'll tap the plunger at each turn to log a split, your briefing will tell you if that's the case.

  4. 4

    At the finish

    Step to the pool edge, lean over, and watch the hand. The moment it touches the wall, press stop and the plunger button at the same time.

  5. 5

    After the touch

    Read your time to the recorder or let it log, then press reset for the next heat.

Primary time
Touch pad on the wall
First backup
Your plunger button
Backup to the backup
Your stopwatch
If a swimmer misses the pad
Your times become official, so always press
  • Returned your stopwatch and plunger to the equipment table
  • Flagged any heat where you weren't sure you got a clean time
  • Told the timing official if your lane's pad seemed to miss a touch
  • Thanked your lane partner, you covered each other all day

More resources

USA Swimming Officials

The national governing body's hub for timers and officials, training, and roles.

Sources: USA Swimming Officials; Swim meet timer briefing standards