General Instructions and Planning
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Your Eagle Eye Pro timing system is an easy to use
combination of software and hardware. As with all electronic equipment and
computer software, it is important that you understand its many features. The
information below will help lay the foundation to begin learning your system
and working with this manual.
Training a Timing Operator
Operating your Eagle Eye Pro timing system does not require a computer expert.
However, an operator’s experience and ability depends on your expectations and
the importance of the competition being timed. It is possible to train a
student in as little as fifteen minutes (10 minutes of instruction and 5
minutes on their own) to operate the software for small time trial event,
however more training is required for a large invitational that integrates
results with meet management software.
Practicing Mode (See Page 12)
Developing a
Meet Schedule
We recommend using a rolling schedule for your first event, or building a time
schedule with adequate time between events so that the novice operator will not
be stressed during competition. Adequate practice and familiarity with the
system will help assure a quality first meet experience for everyone. The goal
of a capable operator should be to allow the Starter to move the meet along as
efficiently as possible.
Meet
Management Operator (See Page 23)
Track and
field competitions that integrate timing (Eagle Eye) with meet management
software (Hy-Tek, Race Tab, RaceberryJAM, etc.) require the use of two
computers to operate efficiently; one computer dedicated to timing and another
dedicated to meet management. These two computers are typically networked via a
Windows Ad-Hoc wireless connection, a shared USB device, etc.
Above all, it is important not to underestimate the need for a knowledgeable
operator of your meet management software.
This person dictates the flow of results and must keep pace with the
running events during the track meet while entering field events in a timely
manner.
Hip Numbers
& Finish-Line Management
The use of hip
numbers to identify athletes is common for all electronic timing systems. The ability to
successfully read hip numbers on the recorded video is a result of camera
placement (distance of camera to athlete(s)), the lens focus and aperture and
the appropriate (exposure) setting for current lighting conditions. Special attention to the above will assure
that hip numbers can be identified on the recorded race video. The full frame
video of Eagle Eye Pro offers a significant advantage. If a hip number of a finishing athlete is
obscured at the finish line, the video can easily advance forward or backward
to reveal the number. However, as is
common with all competitions, hip numbers often fall off during a race. For
this reason it’s important to have a plan for the retrieval of hip numbers
(athlete identity) immediately upon the completion of a distance race. All timing system operators must have an accurate
order of finish to refer to while assigning times. With the camera mounted on
the infield, we recommend placing two hip numbers on each athlete, one on the
left hip and a second number on the upper left chest (often viewable on the
recorded video). Secondly, we recommend that a finish line observer
physically write down a rank order of finishing athletes (hip numbers) as they
cross the finish line. Having a hip number retrieval process will save
valuable time for the timing operator and assure your event operates with the
highest level of efficiency and accuracy.
Communicate
with Starter
It is
important to explain to the Starter how to use the wireless transmitter. Be
sure they do not attach the transmitter on their hip or place it in a pocket
and NEVER get in a habit of shutting the unit off during the track meet. Although the transmitter battery will last a
long time be sure to have an extra high quality 9-volt battery on hand for the
wireless transceiver. Also, discuss with the Starter your recall method if
needed (“Recall, Recall” given by the PA announcer, watching for red flag in
the press box, etc.).
Using a Timing
Assistant
It’s
recommended that new timers have a knowledgeable ‘co-pilot’ sitting next
to them while they learn to operate the system; giving helpful reminders which
may include: 1) selecting the correct event within the results tab prior to the
record process, 2) turning the trigger system lights red or green to
communicate with the starter, 3) helping with hip number management, 4) update
and import a new Start List after finals have been created in Hy-Tek, etc.
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