Handheld vs Fully Automatic Timing in Track & Field
Summary
In track & field, a fraction of a second can change everything. That’s why timing systems evolved from handheld stopwatches to fully automatic timing (FAT). Today, FAT is the global standard for official competitions, while handheld timing is still used at smaller meets.
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What Is Handheld Timing?
Definition: Officials use stopwatches to record times manually.
How It Works: Timer presses start when hearing the gun, stops when athlete crosses the line.
Accuracy Issues:
Human reaction adds ~0.2–0.3 seconds delay.
Multiple timers average their results, but error remains.
Use Cases:
Middle school meets/High school JV meets
Practice sessions
Local community races
What Is Fully Automatic Timing (FAT)?
Definition: Electronic system that starts the clock automatically with the gun signal.
How It Works:
Starting gun sends an electrical pulse to timing system via a cable or microphone depending on whether a modern dummy electronic pistol is used or a more traditional pistol with blanks is fired (largely replaced at this point).
Cameras at the finish line record high-speed images.
Software determines exact finish times (to 1/1000th of a second, officially rounded to 1/100th of a second).
Accuracy: Within ±0.001 sec.
Use Cases:
Olympics, World Championships, NCAA
Any meet with record-eligible performances or qualification standards (high school state qualifying meets)
| Timing System | Start Method | Accuracy | Level of Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld Stopwatch | Timer reacts to sound of gun or smoke | ±0.24 sec error | Small meets, JV, middle school, practice |
| Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) | Gun signal triggers clock automatically | ±0.001 sec (rounded to 0.01) | All elite meets, official records, high school state qualifying |
Why FAT Became the Standard
Fairness: Eliminates human bias.
Consistency: Ensures every race can be compared equally.
Records: World Athletics only recognizes FAT for world/national records (since 1977).
False Start Detection: Linked starting blocks measure reaction times (<0.1 sec = DQ).
Key Differences Summarized
Handheld: Cheap, simple, but error-prone.
FAT: Expensive, technical setup, but essential for accuracy.
Both still exist: but serve different levels of the sport.
FAQs
Q1: Why are handheld times usually faster?
Because timers react late to the gun, but stop instantly at the finish, creating an average “benefit” of ~0.24 seconds.
Q2: Do high schools use FAT?
Most do these days especially big invitationals or championships, but handheld is still common at dual and junior varsity.
Q3: Why round to 1/100th if FAT can record to 1/1000th?
World Athletics rules simplify to 1/100th because external factors (wind, lane lines) make smaller differences negligible.
Q4: Can handheld times qualify for championships?
No — only FAT times are valid for elite championship standards. Handheld is fine for seeding or local middle school records.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
Handheld timing = stopwatch-based, ~0.24 sec error.
FAT = electronic, automatic, official for records.
FAT ensures fairness, accuracy, and record recognition.
Both still used, but FAT is required at all major meets.
👉 Learn how races officially begin in our Starting Gun Article or explore False Start Rules to see how timing connects to disqualifications.
New to track & field? Start with our Beginner’s Guide
