Swim Meet Trained Volunteer Positions

Some volunteer positions do require training through the Triangle Swim Association. Training takes about one hour and is held at various, convenient locations.

Starter - 1 per meet 

Starts each event with an appropriate starting device, asks whether judges and timers are ready and announces boy/girl, distance and stroke. Directs "Take your mark."; pauses to ensure no early start; gives starting signal and calls false start if needed. TSA training required

Stroke and Turn Judge - 1 per meet with 1 in reserve 

Judges whether proper stroke, turn and finish are executed by the swimmers. TSA training required

Swim Meet Non-trained Volunteer Positions

These volunteer roles do not require formal training. Training will be done for these roles at the home practice meet.

Meet Manager - 1 per meet 

Serves as the focal point for operational issues before, during and after meets. This role is already assigned to a Board Member.

TSA Representative - 1 per meet

Represents the swim team on the TSA board of directors. Resolves or takes to the TSA board any events in question. This role is already assigned to a Board Member.

Volunteer and Swimmer Check-In - 2 per meet

Works before the meet to check off volunteers and swimmers as they arrive. Responsible for letting the Meet Manager know of any volunteer positions that need to be filled. During the meet, an individual is responsible for finding a standby person if a volunteer needs a break.

Announcer - 1 per home meet

Calls swimmers to the Clerk of Course for each event and works with the Starter to keep the meet moving quickly and smoothly; announces scores.

Clerk of Course - 1 per meet 

Lines up our swimmers in the order that they swim. Organizes swimmers according to the event sheets and lineups prepared in advance by the coach; get event slips to the recorder.

Order of Finish Judge - 1 per meet

Records top 3 swimmers in rank order in the 3 centermost lanes. This record will be used as a backup system in the event a recorded time is either not collected or obviously incorrect. OOF Judge will provide a record of order of finish to replace any missed time

Place Judge - 3 per meet

Determines the order in which the swimmers finish. Place judges must get to consensus on the order of finish and record the results in event slip for the recorder. Although we are using a timing system, place judges are required by TSA this year. The order determined by the place judges are final and override the timing results.

Timers - 6 per meet 

Responsible for timing a particular lane for each race using a wireless digital stopwatch. This season we will use the Colorado Timing Dolphin System for recording time. Each lane will have 2 timers (1 for each of 2 timing devices) assigned so that all swimmers are timed, not just those in the main heat.

Recorder - 1 per home meet

Records place finishes and winning time on an event slip from place judges and adjusts for disqualifications.

Runners - 2 per meet

Takes event sheets from the recorder and disqualification sheets from Stroke and Turn Judges and carries them to the scorer’s table.

Scorer - 1 per home meet

Records place finishes from the event and disqualification slips and scores on the score sheet. Keeps the score for the meet.

Ribbon Writers - 1-2 per meet

Sits at the ribbon table and records the swimmer’s name and event on the back of each place ribbon (place labels). You will receive the results on the main events sheets after the scorer has recorded the necessary information. Ribbons are not passed out to swimmers. The coach will do that at the next practice.

Kid pushers - 6-12 per meet 

Responsible for lining up children in their assigned age group and bringing them to the Clerk of Course, helping ensure swimmers are in the correct lane at the correct end of the pool for each race. Pushers stay with their group throughout the meet in an assigned area. Specify boy/girl/age preference (boy/girl 6 and under, boy/girl 7 and 8, boy/girl 9 and 10, boy/ girl 11 and up)

Kid catchers - 6 per meet (usually 13 & up older swimmers)

Enter the water in order to catch the 6 and under swimmers when they reach the middle of the pool and touch the end rope. Take the swimmer to the opposite end of the pool to exit. The coaches will select.

Deck Parent - 2 per meet

Helps the Kid Pushers in the swimmer area with the 10 and under swimmers. Send wandering swimmers back to age group areas. Circulate and assist other volunteers as needed. Offer to sub in so they can get a quick break. Check with Kid Pushers, who may need help with kids who need restroom breaks. They also distribute water to parent volunteers.

Concessions Sales - 3 per home meet

Sells concessions during home meets. Clean up the concession area after the meet.

Meet Set-up - 3 per home meet (Must be at the pool by 4:45pm)

Set-up volunteers must completely set up the pool and deck for the swim meet. This includes setting up lane lines, starting blocks and flags, divider ropes, bullpen chairs, meet camps, timer and recorder chairs and the sound system. All pool equipment is to be given special care and attention. A complete list of tasks is available before each meet.

Meet Take-down - 3 per home meet (Required to stay after the meet until the deck has been returned to normal)

Take-down volunteers disassemble the swim meet area, including removing lane lines, starting blocks and flags, storing chairs, divider ropes and sound system equipment as well as helping to restore the pool to working order for residential use. This job begins at the end of the meet.

Volunteer Standby - 2-3 per meet

Fill-in for volunteers who do not show up. During a meet you also might be required to fill in if another volunteer needs a break. Must be willing to do any job.