Swim and Dive Meet Volunteer Positions
Please note: Volunteers are critical to running a swim meet! It takes 52 volunteers to run a home meet and we need to provide 28 for an away meet. Based on this - all families are required to volunteer at EACH meet where their children are swimming. The Champs meet will also require a select number of volunteers. We cannot run the meets without volunteers! A volunteer sign-up is posted for each meet under the Sign-Up Calendar tab.
Helpful Tip: We have positions available for the first half or second half of the meet. The 8 and under swimmers are finished with their events a bit before the older swimmers. So, if you have younger swimmers and want to see them swim unencumbered by the strains of working, then sign up for a second half position. If you would rather get out of dodge when they are finished, sign up for a first half position.
Timers - This is the glamour position. As a timer, you get to be in the front row of all the action. Be prepared for your feet to get wet. You will need the ability to pay attention to the starter to start your watch and be able to stop the watch when the swimmer touches the wall.
Backup Timer - This position is critical as sometimes the timers are too busy talking to each other to notice that the race has begun. You will start two watches for each race and provide one to the offending timer. Chastise at your own discretion.
Stroke Judge - Experienced judges preferred. Familiarity with competitive swimming would be really helpful. However, we will often take any warm body. Brief overview of judging techniques are offered before the meet. Bring your own tissues for the swimmer's DQ tears.
Turn Judge - Same requirements as stroke judge except you deal with things that happen near and on the wall.
Place Judges - Plant yourself in a chair by the finish. Note the position of each swimmer relative to the heat. You will have to get out of the chair when the events switch to 25 meter events. Hands down best job at the meet.
Starter (Someone with experience as a Starter will be asked to volunteer for this role) - Experience is really helpful in this position. It can determine whether we finish in the same calendar day or not. The starter announces each event and heat, calls the swimmers to the block, then uses that fancy speaker to start the race. A good starter knows when to hold to swimmers avoiding the false start DQ.
Runners - This is not a marathon - hopefully. The runner makes the rounds collecting time slips and DQ slips and returns them to the Computer Operator.
Meet Admin - This position involves data entry of the times for each swimmer into the computer.
Ribbon Writer - Cursive not required. The ribbon writer uses a ball point pen to fill out a little sticky paper that will be attached to a colored ribbon. There is a color for each place. Bring your own Carpal Tunnel brace.
Clerk of Course - This position requires deft management skills. Swimmers will be positioned in order and lane of the upcoming heats. The swimmers move like herded cattle in an orderly fashion. This really helps make a meet run smoothly. You can't have a meet without a clerk, of course.
Announcer - Clear voice and ability to follow along in the heat sheet is really helpful. Some good jams at the right time can take the edge off for parents or get the swimmers charged up for the relays. Stand-up comedy routines are not generally well accepted at swim meets.
Age Group Parent (aka Wrangler) - As the Age Group Wrangler, you will be responsible for either boys or girls in the specified age range and make sure that they make it to Clerk of Course in time for their race. You may have to use bribery to keep them nearby.
Concession Workers - The Concession Worker should be able to make simple change with quarters and dollar bills. The ability to up-sell is not really necessary. It's just home-baked goods, fruit, and grill items.
Grillers – The Grillers need to be able to take the heat. They keep the concessions table well-stocked with burgers and dogs as needed.
Volunteer Arrival Times:
Age Group Helper: 5:45 pm
Timers/Starter/Announcer: Arrive by 5:50pm and attend a timers meeting at
6:15 p.m. - 6:20 p.m.
Officials/Judges/Runners: Arrive by 5:45pm, attend officials meeting at 6:00pm
Concessions: Grillers and Concession worker arrive 5:00pm to start
Grilling/Working and relieve Dive Helpers
2nd half workers should be there for meetings before meets starts but need to check-in by 7:30 to sign in with the Volunteer Coordinator.
The 1st half workers to 2nd half worker switch is AFTER EVENT 40
