Before You Buy a Sprint Timing System, Ask These 12 Questions

A timing system should make testing easier to repeat, not just produce a number on a screen. Before comparing price tags or product photos, write down the sessions you actually run: one athlete or twenty, standing starts or flying sprints, a straight track or several stations, and whether results need to reach a phone immediately. Those details will tell you more than a feature list.

1. What are you actually timing?

A 10 m acceleration test, a flying 20 m sprint and a change-of-direction drill are not interchangeable. They have different start rules, distances and athlete behaviours. List your three most common tests first. For each, record the start condition, measurement points and how the athlete finishes the rep. If a vendor cannot show you how its equipment handles those exact protocols, keep asking questions.

2. How does the clock start?

Does timing begin when the athlete moves, breaks a beam, responds to a start signal, or triggers a dedicated starting device? Two systems can return different times for the same run if their start conditions differ. This matters most when comparing old stopwatch results, combine benchmarks and future retests. Establish the start method in writing before collecting baseline data.

3. Where are split times captured?

A total sprint time can hide useful information. For a 30 m test, a coach may need 0–10 m, 10–20 m and 20–30 m segments, not just the finish. Ask whether intermediate points are supported, what equipment each point needs, and whether the app displays cumulative or segment times. Keep the split layout identical across test days.

4. Can several athletes train without rebuilding the setup?

A system that works beautifully for one demonstration may be awkward with a full roster. Ask how athletes are identified, how back-to-back attempts are handled and whether simultaneous or closely spaced runs create restrictions. Then rehearse a real session: athlete check-in, warm-up, first attempt, recovery, retest and export.

5. How portable is the complete kit?

Count everything, not just the timing units: transmitters or gates, athlete-worn devices, tripods, batteries, chargers, carrying cases and the phone or tablet used to collect data. Consider indoor floors, turf, wet tracks and travel days. Portability is an operational question, not a product adjective.

6. What happens when a rep goes wrong?

An athlete false-starts. Someone crosses a timing point. A phone loses connectivity. The coach needs to know how to identify, delete or repeat an invalid attempt without corrupting the session. Ask for a live demonstration of the recovery workflow rather than assuming the software will make it obvious.

7. What data can you actually export?

Useful testing data includes athlete ID, date, distance, start method, split configuration, attempt number and environmental notes. Check whether results can be reviewed on the field, exported for a spreadsheet and compared later. A system is only as useful as the decisions its data supports.

8. How will you compare results over time?

Consistency matters more than a single impressive number. Keep the surface, footwear, warm-up, rest period, timing layout and start procedure as stable as possible. Record unavoidable changes. Do not merge results from different timing methods into one trend line without flagging the difference.

9. What does the full ownership cost include?

Request an itemized quote for the complete workflow: initial hardware, extra athletes or timing points, accessories, replacement components, software subscriptions if applicable, support and shipping to Canada. Compare the cost of running the session you need, not the cost of the smallest advertised kit.

10. Can your staff learn it quickly?

Ask a coach who did not set up the equipment to run a mock test. Can they select athletes, capture clean splits, spot an invalid rep and find the results afterward? A clear workflow reduces the risk that testing only happens when one technically confident staff member is present.

11. Does it fit the environments you coach in?

A school gym, outdoor track, indoor turf facility and cycling course pose different constraints. Confirm supported distances, sensor placement, athlete traffic and weather limitations from current manufacturer documentation. Do not assume a feature shown in one sport automatically transfers to another.

12. Can the vendor demonstrate your exact session?

Bring a sample testing plan and ask to see it performed from setup to exported results. The most useful comparison is not a spec-sheet contest. It is whether a coach can complete a normal session accurately, consistently and without unnecessary interruptions.

A simple scoring worksheet

Score each shortlisted system from 1 to 5 for protocol fit, start-method clarity, split flexibility, athlete throughput, setup time, data handling, staff usability and total cost. Weight the categories according to your facility. A large team may prioritize throughput; a private sprint coach may prioritize repeatable splits and portability. Keep a separate notes column for anything the manufacturer has not demonstrated.

Where Freelap fits into the comparison

Freelap's wearable timing approach deserves consideration when coaches want repeatable sprint splits without building a conventional photo-beam lane for every test. But do not choose a system on architecture alone. Confirm the current Freelap hardware combination, start method, number of timing points and app workflow required for your exact protocol. If your athletes need a particular beam-break standard or a specialized competition workflow, compare that requirement directly.

Further reading

For a broader side-by-side discussion, read Brower vs SmartSpeed vs Dashr vs Freelap: Which Timing System Fits Which Coach?

For why two systems can produce different results, read Why Different Timing Systems Produce Different Sprint Times.

For a practical baseline setup, read How to Set Up Sprint Timing for Repeatable Split Data.

Frequently asked questions

Are electronic timing systems always comparable?

No. The start trigger, timing point, distance and athlete protocol must be comparable before the numbers can be treated as equivalent.

Should a coach buy for the 40-yard dash alone?

Only if that is genuinely the main use. If your season includes 5 m acceleration, flying speed and repeat testing, make sure the same kit supports those sessions.

What should I ask for before purchasing?

Request a complete equipment list, a demonstration of your own testing protocol, sample exported results and an itemized quote that includes accessories and any ongoing charges.

Next step

Map your three most common tests, then compare timing systems against that workflow. Explore Freelap Canada's running timing systems and ask which configuration supports your athletes and split distances.