There are multiple models of shot timers that will now sync with PractiScore via a Bluetooth connection, but what are the best practices for using these as you RO?
Recording an accurate time is essential to scorekeeping in both USPSA and SCSA. Bluetooth timers provide data for each shot which competitors can look at in detail later, as well as prevent mis-typed times, which is great. However, ROs need to still have a “trust but verify” mindset when using these timers.
With non-Bluetooth timers, we teach the timer RO to watch the timer screen and ensure the last shot is recorded and then hold the timer over their shoulder as they clear the competitor and complete the range commands. This allows the scorekeeper time to type in the time while waiting for the range to be clear. After the final range command, the timer RO reads out the time and the scorekeeper reads out what has been entered in the tablet to confirm everything matches. In SCSA, a competitor can elect to not have the times read aloud and in that case the scorekeeper just needs to visually make sure the timer and tablet match and let the timer RO know it’s okay to proceed to the next string with a thumbs up.
The same procedure should be carried out with times synced from a Bluetooth timer. Ideally the scorekeeper will press the sync button right after the last shot is fired. The timer RO should still hold the timer over their shoulder so the scorekeeper can visually verify the time, or manually type it in if the tablet-timer connection is having issues (it happens sometimes ). After range is clear, the timer RO still needs to read the time aloud and the scorekeeper reads the time that is entered in the tablet aloud to make sure they match and are accurate.
Last year I worked a match where the timer and tablet syncing was working very slowly or locking the tablet up and as a result slowing down the scoring process. While competitors prefer to have the downloaded split times, if the technology is working poorly and holding up the scoring process, just type the final shot times into the tablet and work on a solution between squads. It isn’t the end of the world if all the shot times are not synced because our rules only require the time of the final shot on the score record, not every shot. The goal should always be to get an accurate final time entered in the tablet.