Code of Practice - Photofinish

Composition of Photofinish Team

• The photofinish team should include one Grade 1 Track Judge and/or one Grade 1 Timekeeper
• The photofinish team should consist of at least four members, not including the Chief Photofinish Judge. The number may vary according to the type or grade of meeting. The members do not have to be qualified in any athletics official discipline but they should be encouraged to hold such qualifications

Area of Responsibility

• The photofinish team shall be independent of both the Track Referee and the Chief Timekeeper
• The Chief Photofinish Judge shall be responsible for the allocation of duties to the members of the photofinish team
• The Chief Photofinish Judge shall ensure that the camera(s) and associated equipment are placed and set up correctly. They shall also prepare, with the assistance of the Track Referee and Chief Starter, the photofinish system for a zero gun control test
• The Chief Photofinish Judge shall be responsible for ensuring that when two cameras on opposite sides of the track are used (as recommended for major meetings) their accuracy is consistent over time and the discrepancy between the cameras does not exceed 2/1000ths of a second
• The Photofinish Team should be on prepared to ensure that the equipment is set up and checked before the meeting starts and, if required, input event and competitor details.

Procedures

• After each race the Track Referee and Chief Timekeeper shall convey the placings, including any disqualifications, and times respectively to the Chief Photofinish Judge for correlation with the photofinish result
• If there is no discrepancy over placings and no unusual discrepancy between hand and electrical times the Chief Photofinish Judge shall release the full result immediately
• In the event of a discrepancy over placings, it is courtesy to inform and invite the Track Referee to view the race image
• In the event of an unusual discrepancy over time, the Chief Photofinish Judge shall then decide the official time
• The Chief Photofinish Judge shall ensure that the declared result is correctly transmitted to any results system being used
• The Chief Photofinish Judge shall convey the official result to the Track Referee and Chief Timekeeper for information and as an aid to their teams
• The film/electronic images are confidential information: no film, electronic image or print from any part of a film or electronic image shall be released without the permission of the meeting Manager and the Chief Photofinish Judge. After the meeting the Chief Photofinish Judge shall arrange that the results be stored in a suitable form for future reference.