Volunteer Info

Swim meets are run solely by parent volunteers, without volunteers a meet cannot happen. A home meet takes a minimum of 65 volunteers to run. Our policy is for each family to volunteer for at least 4 points each season. Typically, each job accrues 1pt, there are several positions that accrue 2pts. Each job assigned is for half the meet unless noted. Parents of older swimmers (11 and over) are encouraged to sign up for the second half of the meet (after 7:30pm) and leave the first half to our younger (10 and under) swimmer’s parents, since they will be done with the meet earlier.

  1. Volunteer Expectations 4 points per FAMILY typical jobs equal 1pt per HALF meet
  2. Parents of younger swimmers should volunteer 1st Half
  3. Key volunteer positions are worth more points (the positions that require training)
  4. Overview of Volunteer Opportunities:
    1. All Trained Positions: Head Ref, Starter, Strokes and Turns, Meet Manager
    2. Non-trained positions: Timer, Clerk of Course, Heat Ribbon, Hospital, Grill, Clean up and Set, Up, Flip Chart, Pool Parties

Referee

Position Details:

Runs meet, including:

  • Supervises all volunteer positions, maintains and double checks computer entries, coordinates with strokes and turns, starter, and CTS volunteers
  • Signs off DQ slips and any records set, communicates with Coaches, Swim Board, and lifeguards to determine if meet needs to be postponed or canceled due to weather and fills in as needed for key volunteer positions
  • Notifies athletes and coaches of the infractions and resulting disqualifications
  • Runs the officials and timers meetings at the beginning of the meet

Starter

Position Details:
  • Starts each event with the announcement of the age, stroke, and the words “SWIMMERS TAKE YOUR MARK”, pauses to make sure that all swimmers are motionless, and then push the starter button
  • Shall will judge any FALSE STARTS and all false starts shall
    be restarted

Strokes & Turns

Position Details:
  • Work in pairs on each side of the pool with one pair being from each team
  • Judges only rule on infractions on their side of the pool
  • They observe strokes, turns, and finishes to see that swimmers comply with requirements for that stroke
  • Completes DQ Slips
  • Need 2 people for each half, every meet

Announcer

Position Details:
  • Announces first, second and final calls for each event
  • Works closely with the starter and referee to keep the meet running smoothly
  • The announcer will need to anticipate flow based on the number of swimmers, the stroke, the number of lengths to be swum, and the age of the swimmers
  • The announcer will need to announce gold or silver swimmer and which lanes as well as times at the end of each event.

Computer Operator (Timing Judge)

Position Details:
  • Accountable for entering data from time cards (collected from runners) and validating data entered before it goes into the CTS computer
  • Marks the official time for each participant per lane, documents the order of finishes and verifies the computer results
  • Prints event results for announcer and posting, and event swimmer labels for ribbons
  • Assigned to work for one half of the meet
  • Volunteers “report” to the CTS / Computer Operator key person

CTS

Position Details:
  • Operates the timing system plungers, enters swimmer’s time, calculates meet results
  • Volunteers “report” to the CTS / Computer Operator key person

Set Up (1st Half)

Position Details:
  • Prepare the pool area for the swim meet
  • Volunteers will move deck chairs, set up canopies, tables, CTS station, announcer stand, PA system, coolers, flip chart, clerk of course area
  • This position requires arriving an hour before the home meet to set up for the meet
  • Volunteers report to Lead Meet Directors (Volunteer Coordinator, Parent Rep, Head Coach).

Take Down and Clean Up (2nd Half)

Position Details:
  • Stays after the swim meet
  • Helps put away any equipment, returns deck furniture, assists in taking down canopies, and carries items to cars/trailers.
  • Make sure all trash has been discarded properly and is picked up after home meets and our team area is cleaned up at away meets.
  • Volunteers report to Lead Meet Directors (Volunteer Coordinator, Parent Rep, Head Coach).

Storage Unit Runner

Position Details:
  • Brings all meet day supplies from the storage unit to the pool for set-up no later than 3:30pm and returns meet day supplies to the shortage unit following meets
  • Will need a truck and or trailer
  • Commit to all 3 home meets
  • Back up help if needed for away meets.

Makos Grill

Position Details:
  • Help run the grill. This is our largest source of income during the season! We need
    people to grill, serve, and check-out customers
  • Griller: prepare and cook food on grill
  • Grill Assistant: help fill orders and general help
  • Grill Cashier: enter orders on tablet, take card payments with square, and make change for cash
    customers

Clerk of Course

Position Details:
  • Supervises the waiting area for a particular age group during meets, keeps track of swimmers – as best as they reasonably can – between events, and ensure swimmers are ready on the bench on time with caps and goggles, distributes event cards for relays
  • For most age groups, several parents will share this job
  • Volunteers “report” to the Clerk of Course key person

Mite Mom/Dad

Position Details:
  • Assists with the clerk of course key person to help with the younger swimmers ages 8 & under
  • Are especially critical to the timely start of the meet
  • This job keeps you with your swimmer during the volunteer half of the meet
  • Volunteers “report” to the Clerk of Course
    key person

Timers

Position Details:
  • Work in a team of 3 timers per lane
  • Two timers will run a stopwatch and hit the electronic timing system
  • The third timer will check swimmer names and record stop watch times
  • Timers are assigned to work for one half of the meet
  • This job gives you the best view of the pool and the swimmers during their races
  • Volunteers “report” to the Timer key person.

Runner

Position Details:
  • Responsible for obtaining the completed event cards in chronological order from timers; collecting DQ forms for each race from the timers and judges
  • The event cards and DQ forms are delivered to the CTS (computer table)
  • Hand event sheets results to announcer and posting results at designated area
  • Assigned to work for one half of the meet

Heat Ribbons

Position Details:
  • Determines the winner of each individual event heat and awards that swimmer a
    heat winner ribbon
  • Assigned to work for one half of the meet

Event Ribbons

Position Details:
  • Places labels on ribbons; sorts and files ribbons into swimmer file folder
  • Assigned to work for one half of the meet

Hospitality

Position Details:
  • Provides hospitality and water to volunteers in all areas of the meet, provides meals for coaches and the referee
  • Prep water / ice in coolers prior to home meets
  • Helps clean up and remove any trash around the poolside area during their assigned half
  • Assigned to work for one half of the meet

Swimmer Check-In

Position Details:
  • Arrives 20 minutes prior to the time swimmers are to report to the pool to check in swimmers and to notify coaches and clerk of course of any swimmer who did not check in

Volunteer Check-In

Position Details:
  • Arrives 20 minutes prior to the time team families are to report to the pool
  • Volunteers are instructed to check-in prior to 5:45
  • Direct volunteers as to where they should go and remind them of volunteer duties

New Swimmer Liaison

Position Details:
  • Experienced Swim Parent who answers any questions needed for new families to the swim team; this could include basic questions on different types of strokes, how meets “work”, where to locate clerk of course or to point out any key area or board member
  • Assigned to work for the 1st half of the meet

Flip Chart

Position Details:
  • Flips the chart numbers so swimmers & parents know which event and heat is currently in the pool
  • Assigned to work for one half of the meet.