Online timer for 16 seconds
With your goggles set and attention on the lane, use the sixteen seconds before a practice start to settle behind the block, check your footing and listen for the signal. The brief wait suits a swimmer who needs to stay ready rather than watch a screen, especially at an outdoor Australian pool where glare can make the display hard to follow.
As you hold your starting position, the timer tab may slip into the background while you check the water or respond to a coach. The countdown should continue, though a phone may delay or silence the alert when battery-saving settings restrict the browser. Keeping the sound audible and the device nearby lets the finish signal reach you without drawing your eyes from the lane.
For another practice start straight away, reset only after you have stepped safely back from the pool edge and regained your stance. Repeating the same interval gives each attempt a consistent pause, but there is no need to rush the restart while swimmers are clearing the lane. A coach or training partner can handle the repeat when your attention needs to remain on the block and the next signal.
Common questions
Should this pre-start interval change at a busy Australian pool?
Allow more time if another swimmer is finishing, the lane is being cleared or the coach has not confirmed the next start. Shorten it only when the block area and lane are already clear.
What if the swim start happens before or after the set interval ends?
If the signal comes early, ignore the remaining countdown and follow the session cue. If the start is delayed, step out of the ready stance and begin a fresh interval once the lane is cleared.
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