Volunteer Roles

Timers are essential to swim meets, as they record the official times for each swimmer. As a timer, you'll be assigned to a specific lane where you'll use a stopwatch to time each swimmer in your lane. You'll start your watch at the sound of the starting signal and stop it when the swimmer touches the wall at the finish. This is one of the best positions for new volunteers because: - You get a front-row seat to watch the races - The job is straightforward and easy to learn - You'll receive online training before the meet begins - It's a great way to meet other swim parents Timers typically work in pairs, so you'll always have a partner. If you're new to timing, we'll pair you with an experienced timer. Most meets require timers to work for the entire meet, but for longer meets, we may schedule shifts. What to bring: - A water bottle - Comfortable shoes (you'll be standing for extended periods) - A hat and sunscreen for outdoor meets No prior experience is necessary - just a willingness to help and the ability to focus on your assigned lane.

Stroke and Turn Judges ensure that swimmers follow the technical rules for each stroke. They observe swimmers from the sides of the pool and report any violations to the referee. As a Stroke and Turn Judge, you'll be responsible for: - Observing swimmers in your assigned jurisdiction - Raising your hand to signal when you observe a violation - Reporting the specific infraction to the referee - Providing clear explanations of violations when needed This position requires certification, which involves: - Attending a 1-hour training session - Passing a written test on USA Swimming rules - Shadowing experienced officials for at least two meets Stroke and Turn Judges typically work the entire meet, with short breaks between sessions. This is an excellent position for parents who want to become more involved in the technical aspects of swimming and potentially advance to higher levels of officiating. Ideal candidates have: - Good attention to detail - The ability to make quick, fair decisions - A desire to help swimmers improve their technique - The willingness to enforce rules consistently

The concession stand is an important part of our home meets, providing refreshments for swimmers and spectators while also raising funds for our team. As a concessions volunteer, you'll help with: - Setting up the concession stand before the meet - Taking food and drink orders - Handling cash transactions - Restocking supplies as needed - Cleaning up after the meet This position is ideal for parents who: - Enjoy interacting with people - Are comfortable handling money - Prefer to work in shifts (typically 3-4 hours) - Want to contribute without needing to know the technical aspects of swimming No special training is required, and you'll always work with at least one other volunteer. We offer flexible scheduling with morning and afternoon shifts available. All proceeds from concessions directly benefit our team, helping to purchase equipment, subsidize team events, and keep registration fees affordable.

Meet Setup and Teardown volunteers are crucial to the smooth operation of our home meets. This team handles all the physical preparation of the pool area before and after the competition. Setup responsibilities include: - Setting up canopies and shade structures - Arranging tables and chairs for officials and volunteers - Placing lane lines and backstroke flags - Organizing the clerk of course area Teardown responsibilities include: - Dismantling and storing all equipment - Cleaning up the pool deck and spectator areas - Returning the facility to its original condition This position is perfect for: - Early birds (setup typically begins 2 hours before the meet) - Those who can stay after the meet ends - Parents who enjoy physical activity - Those who prefer a defined start and end time to their volunteer commitment No special training is required, just a willingness to help and the ability to lift moderately heavy equipment. Setup volunteers should plan to arrive 2 hours before the meet starts, while teardown volunteers should be available immediately after the meet ends (typically for about 1 hour).

The Clerk of Course plays a vital role in keeping swim meets running smoothly by organizing swimmers into their correct heats and lanes before each event. As a Clerk of Course volunteer, you'll be responsible for: - Checking in swimmers for their events - Organizing swimmers into their assigned heats and lanes - Ensuring swimmers get to the starting blocks on time - Helping younger swimmers find their correct positions - Communicating with the starter and referee about any scratches or no-shows This position is ideal for parents who: - Are well-organized and detail-oriented - Enjoy working with children - Can maintain calm in a busy environment - Have good communication skills On-site training is provided, and new volunteers will be paired with experienced Clerks of Course. This position typically requires working for the duration of the meet, though for longer meets we may schedule shifts. The Clerk of Course is especially important for helping our younger swimmers navigate the meet process, making it a rewarding position for those who enjoy supporting and encouraging children.