Hand Timing versus Fully Automated electronic timing:
Hand Timing:
Historically, coaches have used a hand-held stopwatch for measuring the 40-yard dash. Typically, the timing coach will stand at the 40-yard line.
When the athlete leaves the starting line, the coach depresses
the stop watch start button. When the athlete crosses the 40 yard line, the coach stops the time by pressing the same button. The time displayed on the stopwatch then becomes the athlete’s 40 yard dash time.
Fully Automated Timing (FAT):
Several different Fully Automated Timing methodologies are used in the industry whereby the actions of the athlete will start the time and stop the time.
To stop the timer, an electronic sensor which is viewing a
special, non-visible light is often used. When the athlete’s body blocks the light, the sensor sends a signal to the timing unit to signify an athlete has run past the line. This can happen in less than 0.0001 seconds, and these are typically referred to as ‘laser’ sensors.
Several different options are available to determine when the athlete starts the run, including:…
The majority of the time difference between the FAT and Hand timed 40-yard dash comes from the inherent human delay of starting the timer after the athlete initiates the run.
In other words, the athlete will have started the run before the coach can depress the start button. Thereby, the hand-timed numbers always
appear to be “faster” than electronic times. Furthermore, compounding the inherent variability of the hand-started times are differences between athletes, coaches, time of day, weather conditions, etc.
Although it is generally acknowledged by professionals that hand measured times are always “faster” than actual or electronic times, there have been very few disciplined studies conducted to objectively quantify
this difference. One possible reason that an objective study has not been completed is the large number of variables that can have a significant effect on the results. These include: human factors (e.g., coaches response time, general health, focus, vision, etc.), environmental factors (e.g., moisture, ambient light, etc.) and the type of FAT system used for the comparison (primarily start method).
Hand Timing:
Historically, coaches have used a hand-held stopwatch for measuring the 40-yard dash. Typically, the timing coach will stand at the 40-yard line.
When the athlete leaves the starting line, the coach depresses
the stop watch start button. When the athlete crosses the 40 yard line, the coach stops the time by pressing the same button. The time displayed on the stopwatch then becomes the athlete’s 40 yard dash time.
Fully Automated Timing (FAT):
Several different Fully Automated Timing methodologies are used in the industry whereby the actions of the athlete will start the time and stop the time.
To stop the timer, an electronic sensor which is viewing a
special, non-visible light is often used. When the athlete’s body blocks the light, the sensor sends a signal to the timing unit to signify an athlete has run past the line. This can happen in less than 0.0001 seconds, and these are typically referred to as ‘laser’ sensors.
Several different options are available to determine when the athlete starts the run, including:…
- Pressure pad at the start line: A signal is provided to the timing unit to start the time when the pressure on the pad has been removed.
- Positioning a ‘laser’ sensor in front of the athlete: When the light in this sensor is interrupted by the athlete’s body, the time starts.
- Positioning a ‘laser’ sensor at the start line: A signal is provided to the electronic timing system when the laser is not blocked.
The majority of the time difference between the FAT and Hand timed 40-yard dash comes from the inherent human delay of starting the timer after the athlete initiates the run.
In other words, the athlete will have started the run before the coach can depress the start button. Thereby, the hand-timed numbers always
appear to be “faster” than electronic times. Furthermore, compounding the inherent variability of the hand-started times are differences between athletes, coaches, time of day, weather conditions, etc.
Although it is generally acknowledged by professionals that hand measured times are always “faster” than actual or electronic times, there have been very few disciplined studies conducted to objectively quantify
this difference. One possible reason that an objective study has not been completed is the large number of variables that can have a significant effect on the results. These include: human factors (e.g., coaches response time, general health, focus, vision, etc.), environmental factors (e.g., moisture, ambient light, etc.) and the type of FAT system used for the comparison (primarily start method).