Here's a truth about competitive swimming that becomes obvious pretty quickly: swim meets don't happen without volunteers. There's no professional staff running the clock at your kid's Saturday dual meet. It's parents. Parents timing, parents marshaling, parents running the concession stand, parents doing everything that makes the meet actually function.
And of all the volunteer jobs at a swim meet, timing is the one you want. It's easy to learn, it doesn't require any swimming knowledge, and — here's the real selling point — you get the best seat in the house.
What Does a Timer Actually Do?
The job is straightforward. You stand behind the starting blocks at the end of the pool (or sit on a chair, depending on the venue). You hold a stopwatch. When the race starts, you press the button. When the swimmer in your lane touches the wall, you press the button again.
That's it. That's the whole job.
There are a few more details, which I'll get into, but at its core, timing is pressing a button twice. If you can do that, you can time.
The Three-Timer System
Most meets use three timers per lane. Three different people with three different stopwatches, all timing the same swimmer. Why? Because humans aren't perfectly precise. Someone might be a tenth of a second slow on the trigger, someone might anticipate the finish. By having three watches, the meet uses the middle time — not the fastest, not the slowest, but the one in between. It's a simple system that keeps things fair.
Some meets also have an electronic touchpad system on the wall. When the swimmer touches the pad, it records their time automatically. In those cases, the hand times from stopwatches serve as backup. The touchpad is the primary time, and the watches are there in case the pad malfunctions (which happens more often than you'd think).
What You're Watching For
When the starter signals the race to begin, you'll see (or hear) a few things:
- The start signal — this is usually a horn or beep, sometimes accompanied by a strobe light. You start your watch on the signal, NOT when the swimmers hit the water
- The swimmer's finish — watch your lane. When the swimmer's hand (or hands, depending on the stroke) touches the wall, stop your watch. You're looking for the touch, not guessing when they'll arrive
That's really the only judgment call you're making: did they touch? Stop the watch.
Before the Meet: The Timers Meeting
Every meet starts with a timers meeting, usually about 20-30 minutes before warm-ups end and racing begins. Show up for this. Even if you've timed a hundred meets, each facility and each meet might do things slightly differently.
At the timers meeting, the head timer will cover:
- How to operate the stopwatch (they're usually provided — you don't need your own)
- Where to stand or sit
- How to record times on the timing card
- What to do if you mess up (it happens, and there's a procedure for it)
- Any meet-specific instructions
The meeting takes maybe 10 minutes and eliminates all the guesswork. Don't skip it, especially your first time.
What to Expect On Deck
You Will Get Wet
I'm not exaggerating. You're standing right at the edge of the pool, and swimmers finishing races create splash. Backstroke finishes can send a surprising amount of water your way. Butterfly finishes are worse. And if you're timing relays — where four swimmers finish in rapid succession and the crowd is going wild — you might get legitimately splashed.
Bring a towel for yourself. Wear clothes you don't mind getting damp. Leave your nice jacket in the car.
It's Loud
Indoor pools are echo chambers, and during exciting races, parents and teammates are screaming. You'll be standing in the middle of all of it. It's part of the fun, honestly, but don't expect a quiet afternoon.
You're Standing for a While
Depending on the session length, you might be on your feet for two to four hours. Some venues provide chairs for timers, but not all of them. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand. If the meet is long, there's usually a rotation system where timers swap out for breaks.
You Don't Need to Know Anything About Swimming
This is the part that surprises first-timers. You don't need to know what an IM is. You don't need to know the difference between breaststroke and butterfly. You don't need to understand seed times or age groups. You just need to start the watch on the signal and stop it when your swimmer touches the wall. That's it.
If you happen to time a stroke where both hands need to touch simultaneously (butterfly and breaststroke), don't worry — you're not judging whether the touch was legal. That's the stroke and turn judge's job. Your only job is recording the time.
Tips for First-Time Timers
Practice with the Watch Beforehand
If they hand you the stopwatch during the timers meeting, press the buttons a few times. Get a feel for how much pressure it takes, where the start/stop button is versus the reset button. The watches are simple, but fumbling with them during a race adds stress you don't need.
Watch the Starter, Not the Swimmers
On the start, don't watch the swimmers dive in. Watch (or listen) for the start signal. The strobe light is the most reliable cue since you can see it even if the horn is hard to hear over the noise.
Focus on Your Lane
When the race is happening, it's tempting to watch the whole pool. Resist. Keep your eyes on your lane. You need to see the exact moment your swimmer touches the wall, and if you're watching the swimmer two lanes over, you might miss it.
Don't Stress About Perfection
Your time doesn't need to be perfect to the hundredth of a second. That's why there are three timers per lane. If you're a few hundredths off, the system accounts for it. The worst thing you can do is freeze up because you're worried about being exact. Press the button when they touch. It's going to be fine.
If You Mess Up, Say Something
If you accidentally hit the button too early, forgot to start your watch, or anything else went wrong — tell the head timer immediately. Don't just write down a guess. There are procedures for handling watch malfunctions, and the head timer has seen it all. It's not a big deal as long as you're upfront about it.
Why Timing Is Actually Great
I know "volunteering" doesn't always sound like a good time, but timing at a swim meet is genuinely enjoyable once you've done it a few times.
You're right at the action. Instead of squinting from the bleachers trying to figure out which swimmer is in lane 4, you're poolside. You can see the starts, the turns, the finishes. You'll see details you never noticed from the stands — how different swimmers approach the wall, the intensity in their faces, the way a close race plays out from just a few feet away.
You'll meet other parents. Timing puts you shoulder-to-shoulder with other swim parents for hours. You'll chat between events, commiserate about early morning wake-ups, and share tips about meets you've been to. Some of my best swim parent friendships started during timing shifts.
Meets run faster. This is a practical one. When a meet doesn't have enough timers, things slow down. Events get delayed. The meet drags on. Nobody wants that. When every lane has three timers ready to go, the meet moves efficiently and everyone gets home at a reasonable hour.
Your kid appreciates it. They might not say it, but your swimmer notices when you're on deck. There's something about finishing a race, looking up, and seeing your parent right there behind the block. It matters to them.
Most Teams Require Volunteer Hours
It's worth mentioning that most swim teams require families to contribute a certain number of volunteer hours per season. Timing is usually the easiest way to knock those out. You show up, time a session, and you're done. No prep, no cleanup, no organizing.
Some teams also need timers for away meets, which is a great way to get your hours in if you're already going to be at the meet anyway.
Just Sign Up
If you've been putting off volunteering because you're not sure what to do or you're nervous about messing up — sign up for timing. Go to the timers meeting, listen to the instructions, and press the button. After one session, you'll wonder why you were ever hesitant.
And you'll probably get a pretty good splash story out of it.