Volunteers
Our swim team could not exist and meets would not happen without volunteers. Volunteers make sure information is communicated, trash is taken out, times are taken, and so much more.
Each family is required to complete a total of 8 volunteer shifts this season. This requirement is determined at the start of every season based on the total number of families registered to swim.
Descriptions of Volunteer Opportunities
Timers
Each swim lane (each pool is different and could have as low as 4 lanes, and even
up to 9 lanes) requires 3 timers. Time begins when the starting system light flashes
and ends when the swimmer touches the wall. Time is captured with both
hand held timers and a Dolphin system. Times are then given to the Scribe to log
for each swimmer. This is a fun job where you are on deck during the meet, right up near the action.
Head Timer
There is one head timer per shift that manages two stop watches and is responsible for:
- Observing the timers to identify if one needs a stopwatch replacement if the timer was not able to start his/her own watch. The head timer would then rush to the lane that needs the stopwatch and switch with the timer so the timer can use a proper time.
- Ensuring there is a sufficient number of timers and scribes in each lane before the start of each heat, especially when the timers/scribes move to the others side of the pool. The head timer will help the Referee know when the timers and scribes are in place and ready to start the next heat.
Scribes
One scribe is needed per swim lane. Scribes sit behind the starting blocks and quickly log the three times given to them by the timers for each swimmer. Attention to detail is important to ensure correct times are logged for the corresponding swimmer. The heat information and pencils are provided and scribe sheets are collected periodically by the runner throughout the meet.
Ready Bench
Three volunteers are needed per shift to help ensure the meets run quickly and efficiently. Ready bench volunteers line swimmers up according to lane assignments provided on the heat sheets. The most help is needed with swimmers ages 10 and under, as they tend to get out of order and confuse the lanes. For relays, younger kids must be maintained in swim order and be walked around to the other side of the pool to the correct lane.
Equipment Setup for Home Meets (Two Shifts Friday Night 7pm & Saturday Morning 5am)
Five volunteers are needed for both shifts. Setup includes putting up backstroke flags, hanging banners, installing lane ropes, installing starting blocks, setting up canopies both on deck and for the swimmers in the team area (per age group), roping off seating area/computer area, setting up sound system and scoreboard, setting up the ready bench area, placing the “no parking” signs and aiding concessions with their equipment. This is a more labor-intensive position.
Equipment Setup for Away Meets (6:00 am)
Assist equipment manager with transporting all necessary team equipment (tables, canopies, swimmer boxes, lane parent signs, team banner etc.) to the other pool and setting up team area.
Equipment Teardown for Home Meets (2:00 pm or when meet is over)
Assist equipment manager in tearing down all swim-team related items and storing back in the onsite shed. All canopies, flags, concession items, trash etc. must be cleaned up before leaving. This includes bathrooms, the pool deck area and the park. If the pool has opened to the public, starting blocks and lane ropes must be removed and stored in the appropriate areas.
Equipment Teardown Away Meets (2:00 pm or when meet is over)
Assist equipment manager in loading all team related items into trucks and transporting back to the Colony Creek pool or the offsite storage unit. This includes cleaning up the team area.
Trash Collection/Bathroom Cleaning (Home Meets Only)
Required to check and remove full bags of trash at every disposal station throughout the meet and to check bathrooms for paper products, floor cleanliness and removing trash throughout and at the end of the meet.
Lane Parents Home & Away Meets (Early arrival position 6:45 am)
Age groups
- 6&Under
- 7-8
- 9-10
Lane parents hang out in the Team Tent and check swimmers in as they arrive to the meet and write event numbers on their arms. They are required to sit with the younger kids in the Team Tent Area and aid in getting them to the ready bench area for their events. They should help maintain cleanliness of the team area (spilled drinks on tarps, picking up trash, etc.) and tear down the canopy when age group is done swimming for the day. This is an entire meet position (6:45 am until the age group’s final event).
Head Lane Parent (Home & Away Meets)
This individual assists the ready bench and is positioned in the Team Tent Area with a walkie talkie to help get missing kids to the ready bench. The goal is to work with the other lane parents to ensure all kids make their events. The focus will be to work with the 10 & under age groups but may need to call for the older kids as well.
Concessions (Home Meets Only)
Concessions require a lot of help (food prep, grilling, cashiers, etc.). This position is typically run in three shifts and has an early morning option. There may be a Friday night shift as well to help prep and setup for the Saturday meet. Concessions helps bring money in for the team and we're happy to have great food to feed our kids and our visiting teams.
Ribbons (Home Meets Only)
This is a work-from-home position. Stickers are placed on the corresponding placement ribbons for all swimmers placing in an event or receiving their best overall time for a stroke. Ribbons are then placed in the swimmer folders in time for Tuesday’s practice.
Parking Lot Attendant (Home Meets Only, Early arrival position)
This is an all day and early arrival position. This position sets up the parking lot at home meets according to a pre-designed map and helps move vehicles along as they are dropping off/unloading for meets, maintains parking lot accessibility for Coaches and Board members needing to get in and out during the meet and cleans up all cones and signs after the meet is over. Optimally this would be one person to fill this position for all home meets and would fulfill their volunteer requirement.
Lane Jumpers
The goal of this position is to assist wherever needed for a short period of time (bathroom breaks, delivering waters to volunteers on deck, checking on coaches, all around cleanup, etc.) or fill in as needed for individuals that cannot work their scheduled shift.
Officials
The optimal amount of officials to have on a team is between 8-10 so they can receive sufficient breaks throughout the meet. These individuals wear required officiating attire and primarily watch for swimmer infractions. It is a trained position needed for every meet (it is understandable if someone cannot make one or two meets) and would fulfill the volunteer requirement. For more information, speak with the VP and Team Representative.
Runner
Runners assist the Computer workers by gathering scribe sheets throughout the meet, normally at the end of each event (not heat). They then take the completed scribe sheets to the Computers area and provide them to someone there. Additionally, these individuals post times of completed events and updated scores.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
There are a multitude of other assorted volunteer opportunities throughout the season. If you know volunteering at meets is not something you can do, please speak with the volunteer coordinator. They can help by providing off site volunteer opportunities, these may include things like: sorting t-shirts, creating signage for meets, purchasing sodas, water or ice, helping organize trophies, etc.
