Best Practices Gun Timing vs. Net Timing

Gun Timing vs. Net Timing at USATF Masters LDR Championships

Effective Jul 22, 2020

GUN TIMING vs. NET TIMING at CHAMPIONSHIPS

Masters Long Distance Running

Best Practices

Editor

Bill Quinlisk

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What are Master Long Distance Running (LDR) National Championships?

USATF Masters LDR Championships are select running events, either road, cross country or track (over 10k), that allow master runners to compete for individual and team national championships. USATF Masters LDR is not in the business of race production. Usually, existing road events are selected through a competitive bidding process to serve as championships. Masters national cross country championships events are either held in conjunction with Open national cross country championships or are held as stand-alone events specifically generated by a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and awarded through a competitive bid process. Masters track championships for events greater than 10,000m would be awarded through a similar competitive bid process if anyone applied. There have not been any LDR national track events in the last 40 years. Detailed information regarding timing for Masters LDR Championships can be found at:

Cross Country - https://mastersxc.com/best-practices/championship-cross-country-timing

Track over 10k - https://mastersxc.com/best-practices/usatf-masters-ldr-track-running-over-10k

Road Racing - https://mastersxc.com/best-practices/masters-ldr-road-race-timing

Who governs the Masters LDR Championships?

The purpose of our USATF Masters LDR Championships is to provide a well-organized, fair, competitive, quality event to allow USATF Master’s athletes to compete for national championships – team and individual. The USATF Governance Handbook describes how to select, organize and staff these championship events. The USATF Competition Rule Book governs age groups, eligibility, entries, competition and protests. The Masters Long Distance Running Sports Committee sets policy and oversees the Masters LDR Championships. Much operational responsibility is delegated to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), while overall control for road race and track (>10k) events is maintained by the Masters LDR Committee serving as the Games Committee. Operational responsibility for Masters Cross Country Championships is also delegated to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), while overall control for XC events is maintained by the Cross Country Council serving as the Games Committee. According to USATF Operating Regulation 18, “The Masters Long Distance Running Sports Committee (MLDR) shall have jurisdiction over the national and regional championships in its discipline, and shall institute, conduct and manage these championships under Championship Regulations”. The MLDR Committee appoints a Race Liaison and the Championship Referee, who should assist the LOC and the Event Director to ensure that the Championship is conducted according to the Rules, Regulations and expected Championship standards set by USATF and the USATF Masters LDR Sports Committee. The Race Liaison monitors compliance by the LOC in fulfilling contractual commitments to conduct the event according to the Masters LDR Championship Guidelines and USATF Governance Handbook and the USATF Competition Rule Book. Jurisdiction for Cross Country Championships is similarly granted to the USATF Cross Country Council in Regulation 13.D.1.

Time

USATF Competition Rule 165.4

“The time shall be taken from the flash/smoke of the pistol or approved apparatus to the moment at which any part of the competitor's body (i.e., the "torso," as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, hands, legs, or feet) reaches the perpendicular plane of the nearer edge of the finish line.”

Gun Time

Gun time is defined as “the time from the flash/smoke of the pistol or approved apparatus to the transponder timing at the finish”. (Rule 165.16)

Net Time

Net time is defined as a mathematical calculation. It is “the difference between the raw (un-rounded) times recorded by transponder timing systems at the start and finish”. (Rule 165.16)

Place

Place is the order of finish.

With Gun Time, the order of runners across the finish line is their place.

With Net Time, awards and placing could be determined by ranking the finishers according to their net times. Here the order of runners across the finish line may or may not be their place. Determining placing by Net Time would make it next to next to impossible for spectators or the race announcer to determine the champions as the runners cross the finish line.

Head-to-head competition has been and is always the preferred method for determining individual and team champions. There are many reasons for this but the most obvious is that this is the fairest method for self-selecting and determining race champions.

Timing Options Rule

USATF Competition Rule 165.16 (amended as of January 1, 2019) and Rule 341.10 (amended as of January 1, 2015) now permit Masters LDR championships and all non-championship races conducted partly or entirely outside the stadium to “determine times and places based on ‘net times’, ‘gun times’ or a combination of both”. Previously, net timing could only be used for Masters LDR record purposes. Hence, there were no rules or procedures that governed the use of net timing to generate official times, places, team scores and/or award winners because net timing was not allowed for these purposes prior to 2019.

Transponder Timing Required at Championships

Rule 341.10 states that: “An event chosen as a Masters Long Distance Running Championship shall use a transponder timing system as the primary timing and recording system, using ‘Net Timing’, ‘Gun Timing’ or a combination of both. If ‘net timing’ is used then Rule 165.15 shall apply. In addition, a fully automatic timing camera or video system placed on the finish line must be used to validate places, times and possible records. Non-championship events may use "select timing" to validate times and records. For transponder timing, FAT camera, video timing requirements and timing practices, see Rule 165. For records, see Rule 265.1”

Gun Timing Preferred at Championships

The use of Gun Timing is preferred to maximize head-to-head competition at Masters LDR Championship events. Gun Timing should be used, whenever possible and practical, to produce the “official times”, i.e., times rounded to the next slower full second. Gun Times, properly rounded to the next slower full second, shall be used to determine overall times, 5-year age group times and all team score calculations. In addition, at championships, validation of places, times and possible master records, require the use of a fully automatic timing camera or other reviewable imaging system per Rule 341.10.

Net Timing currently used only for Age Grading and Records

Net time is defined as a mathematical calculation. It is “the difference between the raw (un-rounded) times recorded by transponder timing systems at the start and finish”. (Rule 165.16)

Net timing requires the ability to record times at both the start and finish line for all runners. If available, it is recommended that raw (un-rounded) net times only be used to calculate the age graded results and to validate possible Master records.

When available, net times, properly rounded to the next slower full second, shall be used for American Masters road record consideration. See Rule 265.8.

Gun Timing or Net Timing or a Combination

RULE 341 – Masters Long Distance Championships

Non-championship events may use "select timing" to validate times and records. For transponder timing, FAT camera, video timing requirements and timing practices, see Rule 165. For records, see Rule 265.1

Remember that Gun Timing is preferred to maximize head-to-head championship competition. Factors that would influence the decision to choose either Gun Timing or Net Timing or a combination should include, but not be limited to:

1. Safety - If, in the opinion of the Masters LDR Committee, or their designee, the safety of Master Championship runners would be compromised through the use of Gun Timing, Net Timing may be used to produce “official times”.

2. Requests from the LOC and Race Director to use Net Timing and determination of the ability and expertise of the timing company,

3. Starting line dimensions,

4. Course length and layout,

5. The size of the field,

6. Practicality of the use of possible alternative start procedures (see below).

The Masters LDR Sports Committee, acting as the Championships Games Committee, or their designee, shall determine if there are possible alternative start procedures that would allow the preferred use of Gun Timing. Alternative start procedures may include, but not be limited to:

1. Separate ‘wave’ start for the Master Championship runners,

2. Separate corral(s) for the Master Championship runners,

3. Sub-division of the Master Championship field into separate waves/corrals by gender and/or age group or combination thereof.

If it is determined that the race timing services provider would not be capable of providing net timing or a combination of gun timing and net timing in the results, then the MLDR committee shall require the use of gun timing only, for all results.

Procedure in case of a missed transponder read at the start

What happens if net timing is being used and there is a missing read at the start?

The Referee’s solution should be similar to what happens if there is a missed read at the finish line. Competition Rule 165.16 states that “in the event that no start and/or finish time is recorded for one or more competitors, the Referee shall determine the official places and times for the competitors affected based on all available evidence”. Transponders sometimes are not read by the recording devices whether through runner error, density of field, timer error and/or equipment malfunctions. Determination of fault, if possible, is imperative. The Referee should determine if the transponder was worn as issued and was not damaged by the runner. If available, the transponder involved could be tested by the timing company. The Referee is responsible to insert a replacement time for a missing read based on all available evidence. Evidence to consider (if available) includes any manual back-ups, back-up timing and imaging systems including, but not limited to, select times, data from secondary timing mats, Flash Point data, video images including Lynx line-scan cameras or head-on IdentiLynx cameras. Interviews with runners involved are optional. Lack of evidence for a missed start read might force the Referee, as a last resort, to assign the gun time as the start for that runner provided evidence exists for participation in the event and a finish time. The Referee could also disqualify a runner for failure to follow instructions, failure to complete the required course, and/or unsportsmanlike conduct if the evidence so indicates. Refer to Rule 143 and Rule 145.

Cross Country

Gun Timing shall always be used for USATF Masters LDR Cross Country Championships. All results and awards shall be based on the gun time once the authorized imaging system placed on the finish line has validated places and times.

Observations

1. It is understood that Gun Timing is preferred because of the desire to use ‘head-to-head’ competition to determine individual and team champions. The Masters LDR Committee has elected to use Gun Time to determine all results and awards except the Age-Graded awards. The calculation of Age-Graded per cents and thus the Age-Graded awards shall be based on Net Timing when available and within the capabilities of the timing service provider as determined by the Games Committee. Age-Graded awards are a calculation. It would be fairer to all age groups to calculate their age-graded per cent based upon their Net Time, i.e., actual elapsed time from the start to the finish. It is noted that often the relatively slower and older age group runners choose to start in the back of the pack for safety reasons. Age-Graded awards are usually given for separate genders but combine all age groups within a gender. A 40-year old male on the front line would have a time advantage over an 80-year old male runner who starts in the back of the pack when the Age-Graded per cents are calculated using Gun Timing. This advantage is negated if Net Timing is used to calculate Age-Grading per cents.

2. Net timing is useful in specific circumstances. Currently, Masters LDR road championships use Net Timing for American Masters road record verification and to calculate the Age Grading. Gun Timing is used for everything else: to determine overall place, 5-year age group champions and team champions. Net Timing only could cause problems in determining overall place, age group champions and team champions. There are many rules that govern the correction of errors using Gun Timing. Other than Rule 165, little is said about Net Timing in the Competition Rule Book. Possible unwanted precedents might result in the sole use of Net Timing before the rules and championship procedures can anticipate all eventualities.

3. The use of Net Timing can be twice as difficult to implement as Gun Timing and can double the margin of error in the data collection and double the potential for error in results. Net Timing requires timing recording devices at both the start and the finish lines since data must be captured for all runners at both locations. Non-championship race timers are often lax about this data collection. If a transponder doesn’t read properly, I have seen timing companies take the word of a runner to create an unverified “official” time. This cannot happen for a championship event.

4. If the start and finish lines are not the same line or are not close together to utilize one set of moveable recording devices then the use of another set of recording devices at the start may incur an additional expense that would have to be assumed by the LOC. With recording devices at the start as well as the finish comes the doubled possibility for not capturing data at the start and/or the finish and thus missing one key timing component of the Net Timing calculation. Often I have seen few or no backup timing recording devices at the start line. The ‘official’ use of side-scan cameras, head-on cameras or other imaging devices at start lines is rare.

5. What happens when a runner is missed at the start? See the discussion in ‘Procedures in case of a missed transponder read at the start” above in this document. Competition Rule 165.16 says that “in the event that no start and/or finish time is recorded for one or more competitors, the Referee shall determine the official places and times for the competitors affected based on all available evidence”. In speaking with other Grade 3 Master-level LDR Referees, we believe that the use of Net Timing to determine place will cause some major issues at Championships when data is missed and not collected. Determination of fault, if possible, is imperative. Did the runner damage or not wear their recording device? Did the recording device simply fail? We all know that transponder timing systems are not perfect. Transponders sometimes are not read by the recording devices whether through runner error, timer error or equipment malfunctions. Also, each transponder timing recording has a certain margin of error inherent in the system. Double the number of timing data collections (start and finish) and you double the inherent timing error. You also double the potential for missed data collection. How many Master Individual and Team Championships have been won or lost by one second? Over the years – many. Will we be able to say with assurance that the net times and thus the places and scoring and awards are accurate?

6. Will Net Timing ever solely be used to generate time, place and results at Masters LDR championships? The answer remains to be seen. Concerns are that using net timing to determine place, time and awards may diminish head-to-head competition and may not be the fairest way to determine champions. If care is not taken to group Master Championship runners together at the start line using a special corral or wave, then the championship races could degrade into individual time trials? Could competitors for a certain age group championship end up far apart at the start? Is there any advantage/disadvantage to where a runner lines up? New logistical timing, placing and scoring issues may also arise with the use of Net Timing for all timing, scoring and results. Some non-championship races have been using net timing for age group awards. Would this be fair at a championship? Could there be problems/issues with the team scoring?

Is time that important?

Time is certainly important if a runner is challenging a record or a personal best for the race distance. Time being used to determine placing that will then be used to determine team scoring has rarely been used. If a race was using Gun Time and if the timing systems completely malfunctioned at a championship competition such that no times were available for any runners, there could and would still be champions crowned. Place would be determined by first across the finish line and the time would not be considered at all. In fact, Competition Rule 7.8 states that if time is not available then races will be scored by place. Clearly, runners compete for championships by finishing ahead of their competitors. Gun Time allows order of finish to determine place and to occur naturally while the use of Net Timing alone creates an artificial order of finish with placing often having little basis in physical reality of the actual race finish order. I consider Net Timing similar to a time trial where a runner races against the clock and not against the competition. It is a time trial where each runner can also generate a running start. How much of a running start can each runner get? This will depend on a variety of random factors when embedded in a field of thousands. The size of the field, density of the pack, location of a runner at the start, width of the course, width of the start line and the pace of runners in front of you could affect each runner’s time and finish place differently. While some runners race to set records or personal bests dependent on net time, the majority of competitors just race against their competition; dependent on place. This is especially true in team scored events and is a factor to consider as Masters LDR attempts to grow participation in their championships by increasing team participation. Finish time, while important in establishing record performances, is not the only indicator of a quality performance. In fact, if time were the only measure of performance, only courses constructed to maximize a runner’s finish time would be chosen for Championship events. Net timed Championships could then be reduced to just time trials for all. Why not just start runners one at a time every 5 seconds? This is not the direction that we should be moving.

Net Timing Nightmare Scenarios

We have had problems in the past with Timing Service Providers not being up to the task of providing prompt and accurate results for our Masters LDR Championship events, especially those with team scoring. National Masters LDR scoring and results are complicated. I believe that using Net Timing to determine overall place, age group champions and team champions will exacerbate these problems. I offer these scenarios from two different excellent Timing Service Providers who have successfully worked our Championships events in the past.

Net Timing Scenario #1:

“My biggest concern would be missing reads at the start. You are pretty much guaranteed to miss reads at the start. How will these be handled?” Suppose one of the top M60-64 runners is missed at the start. Will it be possible to create a start time for him? Maybe - maybe not. Good timing companies will have back-ups but even they will miss someone occasionally. The use of a Lynx camera, Flash Point, IdentiLynx camera and/or other imaging systems at the start will not solve this problem as it is difficult to identify one runner in a large, dense pack of runners at the start. The bigger the race, the more difficult it will be. Large numbers of runners and/or sheer body mass may block the transponder reads. Would the Referee accept a runner’s word for where they started in the pack and how long it took them to get to the start line in order to create an imaginary net start time? Referees will be faced with unique new problems and will have to rule based on little or no actual evidence? In this case, would the entire M60-64 age group scoring have to revert to gun time for scoring purposes? How would this effect the Team Scoring? Would the runner whose start was missed be dropped from the results as if they had never run the race? Would we use a gun time for that runner only? “You’re asking for problems. You’re asking for delayed results.”

Net Timing Scenario #2:

Let's assume we are using Net Timing for all results in a large road race. Suppose that the first Master runner (bib #20) to cross the finish line finishes in 3^rd place overall. The announcer notices that Master runner and informs the crowd that John Doe (bib #20) is the overall Master Champ. However, the 4^th place overall finisher only 3 seconds behind the John Doe is a Master runner also. He is Bill Poe (bib #35) and his net time is 4 seconds faster than John Doe (bib #20). Bill Poe is really the Champion not John Doe who finished ahead of him. The announcer gets the net time result sheet and makes the correction for the crowd. 15 minutes later it is discovered that Tom Slow (bib #48) who finished in 5^th place overall is also a Master runner whose transponder was not read at the start. He protests that the timing company has used his gun time in the results since they did not have a net time for him. He says that he started well back in the pack and is really the true Master Champion since he started well behind John Doe (bib #20) and Bill Poe (bib #35) since he knew that they were his main competition and all he would have to do was stay close to them if he started well behind them. Could we find or generate a net time for Tom Slow (bib #48)? Does he have a valid protest? “Will we announce after the event is over that ‘sorry we are wrong again’ and the official results are changing once more? What a mess.”

Net Timing Scenario #3:

“Timing costs will go up” at Championship events using Net Timing for all results and awards. Right now, using Gun Timing at Championships, it is a lot of work to capture everyone’s time at the finish line and then verify correct place using the backup camera. If you add the requirement that this must also be done at the start because of the Net Timing requirement then you will need double or triple the equipment than you would normally need as well as more employees. Lynx camera at a start... who are you kidding? It's a needle in a haystack. Generating all of the Master results – age groups, team scores, age grading and overall by net time or even gun time is a time consuming task that requires a certain expertise. The net timing team reports would be beyond the capabilities of some timing companies. “The sport already has enough issues as it is. This will just make things more confusing and anger those who thought they won but really didn't.”

Conclusions

USATF spends a lot of space in the Competition Rule Book defining procedures for officials, start, finish, seeding, timing, placing and competition. The majority of these rules are based on the premise that each competitor is racing against the other competitors. Head-to-head racing is the fairest method of determining winners. That is the core of the Championship events – racing. To discard the competition aspect of our championships for the unnecessary use of Net Timing would undermine the heart of the sport. Let’s not turn our Masters LDR Championships into time trials. I also worry that the Timing Service Providers and the race Officials will not be able to handle these new problems that will arise with the use of Net Timing. Problems will arise – count on it. The problems will be complex as will any solutions. This will take time and expertise at each Masters LDR Championship event. It will most likely require additional Masters LDR staffing at Master National Championship events. Perhaps technology will change to allow this is the future.

2020 USATF Competition Rule Book

Rule 165.16

In Masters LDR championships and in non-championship races conducted partly or entirely outside the stadium, the Games Committee may elect to determine times and places based on ‘net times’, ‘gun times’ or a combination of both to determine placing and awards provided that:

(a) The basis for determining times and places and awarding prizes and trophies is clearly stated in the entry materials and any listings of prizes and trophies to be awarded.

(b) To determine “net time” and place:

i. A net time for each competitor is calculated as the difference between the raw (un-rounded) times recorded by transponder timing systems at the start and finish.

ii. The official places of the competitors are determined by ranking them by net time. If two or more athletes have the same net time, they are tied.

iii. The official times are determined by rounding up the net times to the next full second. See Rule 165.11(c).

iv. In the event that no start and/or finish time is recorded for one or more competitors, the Referee shall determine the official places and times for the competitors affected based on all available evidence.

(c) In the event a record is claimed, the ‘gun time’ (the time from the flash of the approved starting device to the transponder timing at the finish) shall be submitted, except in the case of Masters records. See Rule 265.8.

NOTE: For Masters LDR exception see Rule 341.10.

Rule 341 – Masters Long Distance Championships

10. An event chosen as a Masters Long Distance Running Championship shall use a transponder timing system as the primary timing and recording system, using either ‘Net’ or ‘Gun’ Timing or a combination of both, as determined by the Games Committee. In addition, an authorized imaging system placed on the finish line must be used to validate places, times and possible records. Non-championship events may use "select timing" to validate times and records. For transponder timing, FAT camera, video timing requirements and timing practices, see Rule 165. For records, see Rule 265.1

USATF Competition Rule Book is available at:

https://www.usatf.org/governance/rule-books

USATF Governance Handbook is available at:

https://www.usatf.org/governance/bylaws-regulations

USATF Cross Country Championships Operations Manual is available at:

https://mastersxc.com/best-practices/usatf-cross-country-championships-operations-manual

Bill Quinlisk

USATF Masters LDR, Vice-Chairperson,

Masters LDR Cross Country Representative

USATF Certified Official #018316, Master-level LDR Referee

billqxc@verizon.net