The Role of the Time Trials Referee
By Phil Barnes
Most people associate time trials with a session between prelims and finals during a championship meet, but time trials can also be conducted as a stand-alone event. A common denominator of time trials is their ad hoc nature, with entries, seeding, and session planning conducted immediately before the session. Despite the dynamic nature of time trials, the goal of the referee is to provide a high-quality experience for the athletes that enables them to perform at their best. As with any swim meet, there are two key elements that the referee needs to keep in mind to ensure a successful event for the swimmers: preparation and communication.
Preparation begins before the meet and starts with understanding the time trials parameters established in the meet announcement, including the events offered, the event order, which athletes are eligible to swim, and what limitations are placed on the number of swims per session and the meet. Preparation continues with gaining an understanding of the facility setup. Where will sign-ups be taken? How will payment be accepted? Is it the time trial referee’s or the host’s responsibility to provide a computer, printer, meet management software, sign-up forms, and a photocopier? Will the host assist in taking and processing entries? How many pools and lanes will be available? Are there time constraints on how long time trials can run? Arranging for both officials and timers is key, especially if time trials will be conducted shortly after the finish of a prelims sessions where time is limited and officials may need to change roles. Compared to using ever-changing parent volunteers to time a single heat, using either officials or host volunteers to time can prevent delays between heats.
Communication occurs at multiple levels. It starts with communicating with the host so that all needed elements are in place before the meet begins. Most importantly, the meet referee needs to clearly and concisely inform coaches and athletes of how time trials will be run so that the athletes can enter and prepare for their races with minimum anxiety. Because events are sometimes reordered or combined, it is important to clearly indicate this possibility in the heat sheet so that the athletes can see when and where they are swimming. Publishing start times for individual events allows the athletes to follow their usual warmup routines before their event. Providing officials with their assignments and responsibilities early allows them to be in place and ready to go at the designated start time.
By focusing on both preparation and communication, the time trial referee can create an environment that gives each athlete the opportunity to perform at their best.