We Need You!
A summer swim team is 100% volunteer-run and relies on parents to help fulfill the season's needs. In addition to the volunteer leadership board, there are various opportunities to serve at each swim meet. We understand there may be hesitancy to volunteer, know that our leadership board will provide you with all the information you need to be successful in the role of choice. Each family must volunteer at every meet their child swims in.
Should your family not fulfill the volunteer commitment at the end of the season, we will process the $300 non-volunteer fee.
Our team can only exist as long as we have volunteers, we need you! Thank you for supporting your swimmer and our team.
Volunteer Positions
Stroke Judges: This volunteer observes the swimmers within each heat of the meet to ensure that their strokes are legal according to the WHALe rules. If they see an infraction, they immediately raise their hand and report to the Meet Director for the swimmer in question. This Official only looks at strokes, not starts/turns/finishes. (Arrive ~1 hour before the meet start time – until the meet ends) Stroke Judges are required to take approximately 2 hours of training provided by WHALe.
Touch Turn Judges: This volunteer observes the swimmers within each heat of the meet to ensure that all turns and touches are legal according to the WHALe rules. They also watch for false starts on the relay takeoffs. If they see any infraction, they immediately raise their hand and report to the Meet Director for the swimmer in question. (Arrive ~1 hour before the meet start time – until the meet ends) Touch Turn Judges are required to take approximately 2 hours of training provided by WHALe.
Starter: This volunteer signals the start of each heat. The Starter will be responsible for charging false starts to swimmers. This volunteer announces all upcoming events to alert the children & ready bench volunteers. The Starter also makes general announcements. The Starter is required to take approximately 2 hours of training. (Arrive 45 minutes before the meet starts – until the meet ends)
Meet Director/Referee: The Meet Director is responsible for conducting/administrating the meet and keeping the meet running smoothly and efficiently. (Arrive ~1 hour before the meet starts – until the meet ends) Meet Director/Referee must take approximately 2 hours of training provided by WHALe.
Timers: A WHALe meet requires a minimum of two timers/writers at each lane. Time (using a provided stopwatch or Dolphin Timer) and record times for swimmers during both home and away meets. (Arrive ~30 minutes before the meet starts – until the meet ends)
Head Timer: Each team will provide a head timer. The head timers will stand on either side of the pool. Each Head Timer has two stopwatches. One Head Timer is responsible for lanes 1, 2, and 3, and the other for lanes 4, 5, and 6. (Arrive ~45 minutes before the meet starts – until the meet ends)
Runners: The Runners regularly pick up and deliver completed event timer sheets to the Console Operators throughout the meet. (Arrive ~30 minutes before the meet starts – until the meet ends)
Console Operators: Each team must have at least two certified console operators. The console operators will manage the Dolphin Wireless console and the Meet Manager software. They will also receive the event timer sheets and double-check automatic times against the backup times. There is only one official scorer for each team. (Arrive ~1.5 hours before the meet starts – until the meet ends) Console Operators are required to take approximately 2 hours of training provided by WHALe.
Ribbons: These volunteers are responsible for awarding participation ribbons after each heat. Ribbons Coordinator will receive heat result labels from the console/scoring table and attach the labels to the correct ribbon. (Arrive ~30 minutes before the meet starts – until meet ends)
Tent Parent: Each age/gender group will have 2-3 tent parent volunteers, depending on the number of swimmers and their ages. This volunteer will inform the swimmers of their events and assigned swim lanes. Tent parents are also responsible for taking swimmers to the ready bench area when their swim events are approaching. Tent parents will remain with the swimmers throughout the meet until the last swim event for their group. At the end of the meet, tent parents will break down their tent and ensure their area is clean. This role is a SEASON-LONG position. (Arrive 1.5 hours before the meet start time – until every swimmer in your assigned age group finishes swimming)
Ready Bench Volunteer: Receives swimmers from Tent Parents and directs the swimmers to line up for their events. Places swimmers in their correct lane and their proper order for their events. Ensures swimmers are in their lane and order so the meet can progress on time. Swimmers must be in the appropriate lane in the Ready Bench area before the volunteer can leave to watch the event.
