Volunteer Position Descriptions
Swim team can be fun, if you volunteer! We have a variety of creative volunteer opportunities at swim meets for parents with all sorts of challenges—younger children who need attention, limited mobility, short attention spans. . .
Most positions allow for you to walk away briefly to go and watch your swimmers swim their heats! Here are more extensive descriptions and make sure to contact [email protected] to learn more.
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Clerk of Course: The Clerk of Course is the heart of the Swim Meet. This group gets the swimmers lined up for their heats/races and gets them to the right place at the right time. Easy job overall and is a bit flexible if you need to walk away for some reason for a few minutes. It’s also fun working with all the swimmers. You will be standing and walking the entire time, most of the time exposed to the elements (sun, rain). This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Computers: After the Scorer/Verifiers are done doing their job, the swimmer’s time cards are then giving to the Computers position. This job requires you to enter, or assist with entering, swimmers' times into the computer. You will be seated, under cover the entire time. This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Concessions: You will work at the Concession stand! Taking orders and making change. First Shift will also help with Set up and 2nd Shift with Clean up. You will be on your feet the entire time, almost always in the shade though. You have a little flexibility here if you need to walk away for a few minutes but are expected to work the entire shift and small children are not allowed to be with you. This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Grill Master: You will man the grills, grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. First shift will also help get the grills up and running and 2nd shift will help with break down and clean up. This position does not quite run as long as the other shifts, as the grills don’t run quite the entire swim meet. You will be located outside the pool gates and will be fairly busy the entire shift.
Heat Ribbons: This job can be fun actually. You will be poolside, watching every single heat. You will stand and watch to see who wins each heat. You then make your way to that swimmer and hand them their heat ribbon! This is especially rewarding with the younger swimmers who LOVE winning these! You will be standing the entire time, walking back and forth. This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Recorder: The Recorder either sits or stands, behind the 3 Timers, at the end of each pool lane. At the end of each heat the Timers will turn to you, so you can record the swimmer's time on the time card. You will also verify with the swimmer as they exit the pool, that they are the one you are holding the card for. You are exposed to the elements the entire time. This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Referee: This position requires you to take a class, which will be held in early June. Please contact [email protected] for more details if interested in this position!
Ribbon Writer: This is as easy as it comes and a great position for those with younger kids!! You will sit at a table with other Ribbon Writers, usually under cover. While this position also lasts for half a Meet, you will only work periodically throughout your shift. You have a lot more flexibility here to walk away if needed. After each Event has been entered into the computer, they will print out labels that will then be placed onto the ribbons. This is your job, placing the labels onto the ribbons. Could not be easier!
Runner: As the name suggests, you are going to be running! Well not literally, but you don’t stand still for long at all. At the end of each heat/race, one Runner will go along the lanes and collect the swimmers time cards from the Recorder. They then usually hand it off to another Runner who then takes it to the Scoring Table. Not long distances at all, just a lot of back and forth. You are exposed to the elements the entire time. This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Scorer/Verifier: For this position, you will be sitting, and under a cover of some sort…in most cases. Once a heat is finished, the Runner brings the swimmer’s time cards to the Scoring Table. Here the Scorers and Verifiers work together to figure out the official time for each swimmers heat (Scorer) and it is then verified by the Verifier. Easy jobs! This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Stroke and Turn Judge: This position requires you to take a class, which will be held in early June, prior to the start of the summer swim league. Please contact [email protected] for more details if interested in this position!
Timer: This position is where all the action is! You will work alongside two other Timers and the Recorder, timing the swimmers as they finish their heat! You can walk away briefly if needed, but overall you do need to be prepared to stand at the edge of the pool, constantly at work timing the heats/races during your assigned shift. Don’t let this scare you, this job is FUN, goes quickly and one of the first to fill up!!! Also, you WILL get wet, especially your feet, so plan accordingly! You are required to stand, exposed to the elements the entire time. This position lasts for half of the Swim Meet and can run up to 3 hours.
Waffle Makers: You will be working at the Concession Stand, almost always under cover, making and serving waffles!
Please note:
- Shift times can vary. Often the shift change is just after 8&U Backstroke but not always. Listen to the announcement for shift changes.
- Please check in with the Volunteer Coordinators before the meet starts.
- Away meet needs and shifts can change the morning of the meet.
- The Division Meet is longer and may have three shifts for some positions.
