Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Swimmingly, and how does it work?

Swimmingly is the ultimate all-in-one swim meet solution that makes running meets easier, faster, and stress-free.

With a simple, smartphone-based timing system, Swimmingly eliminates the need for expensive, outdated equipment and reduces reliance on volunteers—so teams can focus on what matters most: the swimmers. Our platform automates scoring, streamlines meet setup, and delivers real-time results, all while keeping parents, coaches, and athletes informed through the SwimminglyFan app.

Whether you're running your first meet or optimizing an entire league, Swimmingly transforms chaotic, manual processes into smooth, professional-grade swim meets—all with the tap of a screen.

Don't take our word for it, check out what our customer's had to say here.

Who is Swimmingly for?

Swimmingly is for EVERY swim team—big or small, competitive or recreational—because every swimmer deserves more opportunities to race.

Our simple, smartphone-based timing system makes it easy for any team, club, or league to run swim meets effortlessly—without expensive equipment or a large volunteer staff. Whether you're a summer league, high school team, CYO, year-round club, YMCA, or even a swim school, Swimmingly helps you get kids racing more often with minimal effort.

More racing means more fun, more engagement, and ultimately, more swimmers staying in the sport longer. By making swim meets easy, accessible, and stress-free, Swimmingly ensures that every team can create more opportunities for their athletes to compete and grow.

How Does The Timing System Work?

Swimmingly’s timing system is a simple, smartphone-based solution that replaces complicated stopwatches and expensive timing equipment. This modern, intuitive system makes timing more accurate, efficient, and easy to use for volunteers—ensuring smooth swim meets without the hassle.

Smartphone Based

Instead of stopwatches, timers use the Swimmingly app on their Android or IOS smartphones for seamless, modern timing.

Fair & Accessible Start

The starter’s device sends a precise, simultaneous start signal to all timers, eliminating reaction-time errors and making timing more accessible for all volunteers.

Automatic Syncing

As times are recorded, they instantly sync across all devices and send directly to the scorekeeper—no manual entry, minimizing mistakes.

Real Time Results

Verified results appear instantly in the SwimminglyFan app, keeping parents, coaches, and swimmers informed in real time—no waiting, no paperwork.

How Do I Run A Sample Meet?

If you have already created a Swimmingly Clubhouse account and you are listed as a club/league admin, these steps are for you!

If you don't have an account yet, check out our Blueprint for Success Course so you can run a sample meet!

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5

Step 1

Swimmingly Clubhouse - Add Swim Meet Screenshot

Create a Meet: Go to Meet Schedule, select "Add Swim Meet," enter meet details, select an event order, and choose your meet type. Assign your club, pool location, and any opposing teams.

Step 2

Swimmingly Clubhouse - Edit Meet Lineup Entires Screenshot

Enter Swimmers: Navigate to Meet Schedule, select your meet, and click "Edit Entries." Enter swimmers by event or individually. Assign heats and lanes, ensuring your meet setup is correct.

Step 3

Swimmingly Clubhouse - Merge Heat Sheet Screenshot

Final Preparations: Merge heat sheets once all teams confirm readiness. Print heat sheets, line-ups, or sync with SwimminglyFan for parents and athletes to view.

Step 4

Swimmingly App - Scorekeeper Pre-huddle Screenshot

Device Setup: Ensure all devices are updated. Open the Swimmingly app on an iPad, select Scorekeeper, enable location services, and enter the Club ID and Starter Key to log in.

Step 5

Swimmingly App - Scorekeeper The Huddle Screenshot

Start the Meet: Connect all timing devices by scanning the QR code displayed on the Scorekeeper’s iPad. Assign timers, stroke/turn judges, and confirm the huddle setup. Once all devices are connected, select Start the Meet and begin timing events.

Is Swimmingly Sanctioned By USA Swimming?

Swimmingly is fully sanctioned by USA Swimming, which includes verification through the Safe Sport program as part of the process. This ensures that your meets meet the highest standards of safety and compliance, aligning with the best practices set by USA Swimming.

Additionally, USA Swimming and the Block Party initiative highly encourage teams to consider Swimmingly as a streamlined solution for meet management. With Swimmingly, your team can efficiently manage meets while offering live results, seamless integration, and an overall enhanced experience for swimmers and parents alike.

Is it an issue to have phones near the pool deck/water?

We provide all new teams with a complimentary Activation Kit, which includes universal phone lanyards. These lanyards are designed to securely strap around the phone and hang from the timer’s neck or wrist, ensuring the device stays safe during use.

In our 12+ years in the marketplace, with thousands of swim meets powered by Swimmingly, we have never received a report of a device falling into the water (and we’re confident someone would have told us if it happened!).

Also to note, Swimmingly is fully sanctioned by USA Swimming, which includes verification through the Safe Sport program as part of the process.

Should I be concerned about battery life on my device?

Battery life is not a concern when using Swimmingly. Our app is designed for efficiency, and teams across the world run swim meets of all lengths—morning, afternoon, and evening—without any battery life concerns.

Here’s what to know about battery usage:

A typical meet lasts around 4 hours, and the app allows timers, judges, and other officials to be easily added or replaced at any time during the meet should you need to swap timers midway through (though this is not required by the app).
In our testing, an iPhone XR (a common older device) runs the timer role for approximately 8 hours under normal conditions.
We’ve recently implemented Dark Mode for the Timer, Starter, and Judge roles, making the screen easier to see in various lighting conditions and significantly improving battery life.

As an added bonus, we ship new teams a complimentary Activation Kit, which includes a portable charger—just in case!

Does Swimmingly Work Without WiFi or Cellular Service?

Yes! Swimmingly has been powering thousands of swim meets worldwide for over 12 years, and we’ve built our app to handle all kinds of venue environments—whether they have strong WiFi, weak signals, or no internet at all.

Our technology is designed to work seamlessly using multiple communication methods, including:

WiFi
Cellular Networks
Bluetooth
Local Peer-to-Peer Connections (on both iOS and Android)

This ensures reliable connectivity no matter where your swim meet takes place.