Set the timer to 13 seconds

Online timer for 13 seconds

Standing beside the lane while a student gets ready for a school swimming carnival start, you can keep your eyes on the swimmer as thirteen seconds count down. The interval suits a brief practice sequence: settle behind the block, listen for the signal, then enter the water. Because you remain poolside, a mistimed start is easy to spot without interrupting the whole session.

During repeated starts at the school pool, the interval can be changed directly on the page to match the swimmer’s routine. Add a little time when younger students need to check their goggles and stance, or trim it when experienced swimmers are rehearsing a crisp response to the starter. The adjusted countdown then becomes part of that specific drill rather than a fixed rule for every lane.

Watching from the lane end also lets you judge whether the finish signal carries through splashing, cheers and the echo of an indoor pool. Keep the device close enough to hear, with its speaker facing away from towels or bags. At a noisy outdoor carnival, a supervising adult can watch the screen as well, so the swimmer’s start is not missed when nearby races and announcements mask the sound.