Parent Volunteers
Volunteering Basics
- A successful swim meet takes many parents to volunteer. In fact, it takes 40-50 parents to time, officiate and score a typical swim meet along with setup, snack bar help and cleaning up afterwards.
- Volunteer sign-up for meets is available through this site. Don’t be intimidated by signing up initially. Most jobs do not require any previous experience or training.
- Volunteer official positions require some training but that training is offered through NVSL for those interested.
Volunteer Positions
There are several different categories of volunteer positions, some examples are:
- A meets/B Meets
- Social Activities (Doughnuts, Pep Rallies, Banquets, etc.)
- Officials
Please don't hestitate to ask your volunteer coordinator any questions. We were all new to the team at sometime. Every parent is volunteering time and energy to make swim team experience as rewarding for the children as possible. If we all pitch in, no one parent gets worn out!!
Volunteer Requirements
Every family must sign up to volunteer at least 3 events this season. Reasonable accommodations may be made if you have trouble completing this. If you need assistance, please contact us at [email protected].
What to Wear
All volunteers MUST wear:
- Dark Blue/Navy shorts (no jeans)
- White shirt (NO team logos on of any kind)
The dress code is required at all NVSL sanctioned meets. If you are not wearing the appropriate clothing, the referee has the right to ask you to leave the deck and relinquish your volunteering duties.
Job Descriptions
Announcer
Using a microphone and sound system, this person is responsible for announcing all races/events.
Chief Timer
Official who coordinates all timers. Collects all time cards, checks for accuracy, sends time cards to Time Recorder. Gives command to “clear watches”, signals Referee that Timers are ready for next event and starts 2 watches in case a lane timer’s watch fails to start. The NVSL offers a Chief Timer training session but it is not required.
Clerk of Course
Organizes several heats of swimmers in the ‘holding’ area just before their races. The NVSL offers a Clerk of Course training session but it is not required.
Concessions
Set-up and take-down/clean up of the stand during meets and selling items. The NVSL offers a Food Safety training session but it is not required.
Data Entry
Enters/reads times for the Hy-Tek software to score events. Generates event results reports (verified by awards clerks) for the announcer and ribbon labels for awards clerks. Produces hard copy of full meet results at the end of the meet for Referee review and signature. The NVSL offers a Table Worker training session but it is not required.
Marshal
Maintains order and insures the safety during warm-ups and throughout the swim meet.
Meet Set-Up/Take Down
Responsible for setting up tents, tarps, drinking water, chairs, etc. before the meet and returning the pool to “open ready” after the meet.
Pep Rally Organization
Work with coaches and senior swimmers to plan, organize, and facilitate Friday night pep rallies.
Place Recorder
Receive the time cards, ensure all times are legible and that the proper official time has been circled and recorded. Receive disqualification slips from the Referee and staple them to the appropriate time cards and check for league and team records.
Referee*
This is the chief official for each swim meet. He/she is responsible for the running of the meet and is the final authority on the interpretation and enforcement of all of the swimming rules.
Awards Clerk
Select the appropriate ribbons, plaques, medals, etc. and attach the correct computer generated label. Teams may choose to have the Awards Clerks perform the verifier function
Runner
The runners are responsible for carrying papers from the Referee and Chief Timer to the official table.
Starter*
This person uses an electronic system to start each event at the Referee’s signal. They are responsible for insuring that all swimmers are given a fair and equitable start.
Stroke & Turn (S&T) Judge*
Officials who evaluate swimmers to ensure legal strokes and turns. If something illegal is observed by the S & T Judge, a DQ (disqualification) slip is written and presented to the Referee for concurrence. Must be impartial and fair to all swimmers.
Team Parent
Help to organize swimmers, and maintain order in the team area as they prepare to go to the Clerk of Course.
Team Reps
These are the people who are responsible for all aspects of running the team.
Timers
Using a stopwatch, these are the people who determine each swimmer’s official time for each race.
Verifier
These people receive the time cards and printed results from the Hy-Tek Meet Manager software and independently verify that the Name, Official Time, Disqualification Status, and Team on the time cards match the printed results. If there are any discrepancies, the Verifiers bring it to the attention of the Place Recorder and Data Entry workers immediately. Teams may choose to have the Awards Clerks perform this function.
*Requires special training from the NVSL.
NVSL Officials Clinics by Job
NVSL virtual training session Date Coming Soon!
The positions included in the training are:
- New Referee
- New Starter
- Referee/Starter
- Stroke and Turn
- Announcer
- Chief Timer
- Clerk of Course
- Table Worker
More information will be available on the NVSL website.
