Volunteer Roles
Parent Volunteer Position Responsibilities & Meet Timeline
Starter – responsible for starting the heats. Imperative to keep the heats running quickly and efficiently to make sure the meet doesn’t drag on.
Hostess – responsible for getting refreshments for the other parent volunteers.
Score Keeper – responsible for taking the results from the first heat (scoring heats) in each event and recording the scores on a score sheet for the meet results – keeping a running total of points for the meet. You work in conjunction with a parent from the other team. First place gets 5 points, 2nd gets 3 points, 3rd gets 2 points and 4th gets 1 point. (Points are doubled for relays)
Lane Timer – responsible for timing a particular lane and recording the time of each swimmer with a team provided device.
Ribbon Sorter (2 per meet) – responsible for picking up the ribbon labels from the printer, placing the labels on the appropriate place ribbon and placing them in the River Glen “swimmer mailboxes.” Each swimmer has their own folder in the mailbox – sorted alphabetically by age group and gender. (For Home Meets, this position can meet the following morning after the meet to put stickers on the ribbons.)
6 & Under Clerk of Course (2 volunteers per meet) – responsible for lining up the 6 and Under swimmers for their events in all lanes. You will have a master heat sheet to help line them up in the correct order. The kids should also know what heat they are swimming in for each event, but we offer more assistance for this younger age group.
Clerk of Course (3 volunteers for home meets, each volunteer assigned to one of three lanes; or 2 volunteers for away meets, each volunteer assigned to one of two lanes) – responsible for lining up the swimmers in your assigned lane for their events. You will have a master heat sheet to help line them up in the correct order. The older kids (11-12 and 13-14) should know what heat they are swimming in for each event, but we offer more assistance for the younger kids (7-8’s and 9-10’s).
Clean-up Crew – helping the hosting club clean up immediately after the meets.
Relief – provide relief for any other position during restroom or other breaks.
ALL PARENTS: Our most crucial category. Make sure your child arrives on time for the meet and note upon arrival all events, heats, and lane assignments for your child. Once the meet begins and throughout the meet, check to see if your child is lined up for their event. At the end of the meet, please throw away trash and take all your belongings with you. And most of all, demonstrate good sportsmanship by encouraging the kids to do their best, congratulating participants from all teams, and enjoying the meet.
