Swim Meet Volunteers
It takes 80 volunteers to run a swim meet, which is why one member from each family will be required to volunteer at least one half of the meet each week or the swimmer WILL NOT be allowed to swim! Volunteers can be parents, grandparents, or even older siblings not on the swim team. New families with no prior swim team experience are encouraged to start out by volunteering for positions that require no certification or only an online test (i.e.Timer, Records & Ribbons, Runner, Tent Parent or Concessions). Educational material for all positions can be found on the SAIL homepage. SAIL Educational Material
Per SAIL Bylaws in order to begin the season we must have a number of certified volunteers for the following SAIL positions: Referee, Starter, Assistant Starter, Stroke & Turn, Computer, Clerk of Course, Chief Timer, Timer, Ribbons, and Runner.
Please certify for as many jobs as possible so we can meet the minimum team requirements and to provide our meet volunteer coordinators the most flexibility in creating our weekly volunteer positions. Visit the SAIL website HERE, to get certified today!
First half volunteers must be on the pool deck 15 minutes before the official swim meet start time. Please plan accordingly!
Thank you!
Timer: NO SAIL Certification is required. For each lane, there are 3 timers with stopwatches or semi-automatic timer buttons and one timer who records the results on the time sheet. We need 24 timers per swim meet.
Chief Timer: NO SAIL Certification is required. The principal responsibility of the Chief Timer is to ensure proper timing methods are being followed at swim meets. They also help to make sure the timers are briefed before the meet.
Ribbons: NO SAIL Certification is required. Ribbons is responsible for correctly sorting and labeling individual award ribbons. Bonus... you are usually sitting in a cool clubhouse and can leave to watch your swimmer!
Runner: NO SAIL Certification is required. Runners pick up time sheets from the timers and take them to the records table. Anyone who likes to stay on the move can be a runner!
Tent Parent: NO SAIL Certification is required. Two “Tent Parents” stay with the swimmers, call out events, and make sure swimmers go to Clerk of Course on time. It’s a fun job and you can leave to watch your own swimmers!
Concessions: NO SAIL Certification is required. Volunteers assist selling concessions during one half of the swim meet. Everyone loves concessions… it’s a fun social position!
Computer Operator: NO SAIL Certification is required, but training with the head computer operator is required. The computer operator(s) are responsible for merging files with the other team to create the heat sheets and coordinating with clerk of course and the other teams computer operators prior to each meet. They also input swimmer times into the computer during the swim meet and run the timing system if it is being utilized.
The following SAIL Officials require classroom training and passing an online test. The goal of all SAIL Officials is to create a safe and fair environment for all swimmers.
Referee: SAIL Certification is required. This job requires thorough knowledge and understanding of USA Swimming and SAIL rules; and a commitment to fair and competitive swimming conditions. The principal function of this job is to see that a meet is properly conducted according to the rules. To serve as Referee, a person must be certified as a: Referee, Starter, Stroke and Turn Judge. In addition to attending classroom training, a referee must pass an online test found here: Referee
Starter: SAIL Certification is required. The Starter gets the swimmers up on the starting blocks, announces the stroke, and begins the electronic start. The home team provides the Starter; the visiting team provides the Assistant Starter. To serve as a Starter, a person must attend a Stroke and Turn class and pass the online test. In addition to attending Starter classroom training, a starter must pass an online test found here: Starter
Stroke and Turn Judge: SAIL Certification is required. Observes swimmers as they swim to enforce the rules of each stroke. Each team must provide 3 (or more) Stroke and Turn judges for each half of a meet. Knowledge of swim strokes is important. In addition to attending classroom training, a stroke and turn judge must pass an online test found here: Stroke and Turn Judge
Clerk of Course: SAIL Certification is required. Lines the swimmers up in proper order to move to the starting blocks in a timely fashion. Three clerks of course are required per half; six for the meet. The visiting team usually provides at least one clerk of course to assist the home team. Patience and a keen sense of organization are needed. In addition to attending classroom training, Clerk of Course must pass an online test found here: Clerk of Course
