Hello, Dragon Families!

My name is Sam Trogdon, and I am your TSA Rep. TSA is short for Tarheel Swimming Association, and TSA has been around since 1971 (55 years!). TSA has more than 90 clubs divided between the North and the South (I-40 is the dividing line). The TSA Reps for each team communicate with each other throughout the year and prior to each meet. We work out the "logistics" prior to and during each meet. I'm your point-of-contact on the deck if there are any issues or concerns before, during or after a meet. If you are new to the team, you will receive many messages from me throughout the season. 🙂

Our swim board purchased the Time Drops automated timing system in 2025. (Prior to the 2025 season, we utilized stop watches to capture times for each race and then volunteers hand-entered the times after each race on the pool deck.) The Time Drops timing system increased meet management efficiency, allowed us to score the meet in real time, and saved hours entering and confirming times. 

The timing system requires two trained positions (don't worry we will train you!) to support the volunteer timers, the timing equipment operator and meet administrator. Without these volunteers, we will revert back to stop watches, paper and hand-entering times.

• Timing Equipment Operator: Responsible for setting up, conducting pre-race testing, and operating the semi-automatic timing electronic starting system. This person also imports race times from the timing system into our meet management software. The trained operator must be available for the time trial and all three home meets.
• Meet Administrator: Works with the Timing Equipment Operator to validate times, enter disqualifications, make final adjustments for discrepancies, and publish results. We provide a meet administrator for each meet - home and away.

These two volunteers should be comfortable around a computer and/or tablet, have an eye for detail AND be calm under pressure. A former volunteer shared, “It seems daunting at first but once you get into a rhythm it's pretty smooth.”

Please reach out to me if you want to SUPPORT our team as the Timing Equipment Operator or Meet Administrator. (Feel free to recommend/nominate someone, too!)

Thanks,

Sam Trogdon
TSA Rep - Arbor Creek Dragons
919-451-8421
[email protected]