Parent Volunteers:

The key to a successful swim program is the parent volunteer.  Without each volunteer, the program does not exist.  It takes approximately 30 volunteers to host a home swim meet.  Each family is required to volunteer to work at least one dual meet.  In addition, if your child swims in a competition/scored event at the RCSL Championship City Meet, you must volunteer to work at least one session during the two day event.  It is very important that you meet your volunteer obligations.  All positions are essential, whether you are handing out cards to swimmers or judging strokes and turns.  If you cannot make a dual meet shift, it is your responsibility to find a replacement several days in advance and notify the “dual meet volunteer coordinator”.  You must also be sure that you work another meet if you switch and inform the coordinator.  There will be a fee of $50 assessed to all families who do not work a dual meet.  Parents who do not work during the City Meet, your child will not be allowed to swim.  All Committee Heads and Board Members are required to work a dual meet.

Volunteer Meet Jobs:

The following outlines the outlines the jobs that are required to run a meet including a brief description of what the jobs entail, the training required, the time frame required and the number of volunteers required per meet to fill that job.  A “session” starts at the time of warm-up and ends after the last event. Please note that some jobs require that you be available to work before a session begins or ends.

Swim Meet Coordinator:

Organizes the meet and assist the Meet Referee the day of the meet to ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

Training:  Must have at least 2 years experience with the working of a dual swim meet

Time Estimate:  1 hour prior to meet plus meet session

Number required per meet:  1

Assistant Swim Meet Coordinator:

Assist meet manager; often, this person is in training to become a Meet Coordinator.

Training:  Must have at least 1 year experience with the working of a dual swim meet

Time Estimate:  Same as Meet Coordinator

Number required per meet:  0

Meet Referee:

Responsible for running the meet once the warm-up session is started.  Gives instructions to other officials working the meet.  Knows the rules, asks for both sides of any disputes and is the final say in any disagreement about procedure or rules enforcement.  Must be certified RCSL Referee/Start official.

Training:  Requires at least 1 year of Stroke and Turn officiating experience/certification

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  1

Starter/Recall:

Reports to Referee.  Identifies the event that is being swum, gives the command to the swimmers to take a starting position and provides the signal that begins each race.  Must be certified RCSL Referee/Start Official.

Training:  Requires at least 1 year of Stroke and Turn officiating experience/certification

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  1

Stroke and Turn Judge:

Reports to Referee.  Watches a specific area of the pool during each event and identifies any violation of rules that might occur.  Rules violations are signaled by a raised hand.  Must be a certified RCSL Stroke and Turn official.

Training:  Requires at least 2 years of competitive swimming experience

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  4

Computer Worker:

Responsible for running the swim meet computer program.  Includes scratches, heat lane assignments and retrieving results from the timers and printing event results.

Training:  Training on the computer is required; length of training based on an individual’s understanding of the program and comfort level in operating the computer at a meet

Time Estimate:  Meet session plus pre-session preparation atime and post-session completion of results

Number required per meet:  1

Computer Worker Assistant:

Assist Computer person as required including sorting papers, checking results, etc.

Training:  Should be in training or already comfortable with computer system

Time Estimate:  Meet session plus pre-session preparation atime and post-session completion of results

Number required per meet:  1

Head Timer:

Responsible for stopwatch and lane assignments of timers.  Also serves as “Back-up” timer and assists runner as required.

Training:  Should have at least 1 year experience timing a dual meet

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  1

Timer:

Starts a stopwatch when the Starter gives the signal and stops it when the swimmer touches the wall, then records the time on the card.

Training:  On the job training on how to operate the stopwatch and record swimmers time on the time card

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  6

Runner:

Collects all place judge forms and time cards after each event and delivers them to the Scorekeeper.

Training:  None

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  2

“Bull Pen” Supervisor:

Responsible for assisting swimmers to prepare for their events and makes sure that they leave the “bull pen” in time for their event.

Training:  None

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  2

Place Judge:

Watches the finish of the race and verbally states the order of finish for all six lanes.

Training:  None

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  2

Scribe:

writes down what the Place Judge says onto the official finish form.

Training:  None

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  2

Scorekeeper:

Evaluates the place judge forms and time card information, assigns the official order of finish and wards points for each event.  Also keeps a running total of the overall meet score and performs an audit at the end of all events to verify that the score is correct.

Training:  None

Time Estimate:  Meet session

Number required per meet:  1

Heat Sheet Seller:

sells heat sheets before home dual meets.  In addition, sells team caps and team magnets.

Training:  None

Time Estimate:  30 minutes to 1 hour prior to start of dual meet

Number required per meet:  1-2