Who is allowed to time, and do Safe Sport rules apply to me?
Rule- USA
- USA Swimming
- Swim meets
- All ages
- Timing
- 2026 rules
- Timers
Who can't time: anyone banned, currently suspended or ineligible for USA Swimming membership can't serve as a timer, marshal or computer operator, or be on deck at a USA Swimming activity in any role (Article 202.5.2).
Safe Sport: USA Swimming's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) applies to adult "participating non-members" such as timers and meet marshals. On deck, that means:
- keep any one-on-one interaction with a minor athlete observable and interruptible by another adult
- don't use a phone or other device to record in locker rooms or changing areas
- follow the deck-changing ban: athletes change only in designated changing areas
Marshals can remove anyone behaving unsafely or abusively from the venue, with the Referee's agreement (102.18).
Added 21 Oct 2026