Meet Day Volunteer Positions
Swim meets run smoothly when we have plenty of parent volunteers.
We need parent volunteers as both regular volunteers and MCSL certified officials. It’s easy to become an MCSL certified official, just attend a training class. Below are descriptions of all the volunteer positions at meets. Volunteers from both our team and the opposing team fill these positions.
If you have strong preferences for your job assignment or special considerations please indicate this on the registration form or contact the team Rep. If you cannot volunteer at an assigned shift, you may swap with another adult (or pay a teenager to work your shift :-).
Referee – This position requires MCSL Officials Certification. The Referee has full authority over all officials, assigning and instructing them, as well as for enforcing MCSL and individual pools’ safety rules. The Referee has final say on all issues that arise at any meet, and is responsible for filing a protest if a team wishes to do so. This position is for home meets only. Experience and MCSL training are required for this position.
Starter – This position requires MCSL Officials Certification. After receiving the signal from the meet Referee, the Starter calls the swimmers to their starting positions, commands swimmers to "take their mark", and sounds the starting horn. The Starter discusses possible false starts with the meet Referee. This position is for away meets only. MCSL training is required for this position.
Stroke and Turn Judges – This position requires MCSL Officials Certification. Stroke and Turn Judges ensure that all events are swum using “legal” swimming techniques. When observing a potential violation, Stroke and Turn Judges meet with the Referee to discuss what violation has occurred. Each team must provide 2 MCSL certified Stroke and Turn Judges at each swim meet (home and away). MCSL training is required for this position.
Head Timer/Assistant– The home team supplies the Head Timer and the visiting team supplies the Head Timer Assistant for each meet (both home and away meets). These positions are each in charge of three lanes of timers, and they make sure that all timers are in their lanes and watches are cleared and ready for the start of the next race. These volunteers each start 2 watches simultaneously at the beginning of each event, and they provide their watch to any timer during a race in which their watch malfunctions. Experience as a timer for multiple meets is preferred before filling this position.
Timers – Each team must provide 9 timers for each meet. Instruction is given prior to each meet, and timers will be given a stopwatch to use during the meet. This position is for both home and away meets. No prior experience or training is required for this position.
Clerk of Course – After swimmers report to Clerk of Course for their event, the Clerk of Course organizes the swimmers according to lane assignments. Clerk of Course will coordinate with Announcer to ensure that swimmers are called to report in sufficient time intervals. This position is for home meets only. Experience is required for this position.
Clerk of Course Assistant – Helps assign children to lanes and ensures the children are correctly seated in their lanes or “on deck”. This position is for away meets only. No prior experience or training is required for this position.
Runner – Collects the time sheets from the timers and turns them in to the Computer Operator. This position is for home meets only. No prior experience or training is required for this position.
Announcer
Announces all the events for the meet, check-ins to the Clerk of Course, all-star times, team or pool records, advertises the Kangaroo Kafe, and thanks sponsors. This position is for home meets only. Experience is preferred before filling this position.
Computer Operator/Assistant
The home team supplies the Computer Operator and the visiting team supplies the Computer Operator Assistant at all meets (both home and away). Computer Operator and Assistant organize the swimmer cards, check that the correct time was circled by the Timers, input all times into the computer after each event, record disqualifications, prints results, and print out labels for ribbons. After the meet ends, the Computer Operator sends the results to the opposing team and MCSL. MSCL training is helpful, but not required for these positions.
Computer Verifier – Checks to make sure the results were entered correctly in the computer and posts the results. This position is for home meets only. No prior experience or training is required for this position.
Ribbons – Place result labels for each event onto ribbons during the meet and sort ribbons by team and swimmer name. This position is for both home and away meets. No prior experience or training is required for this position.
Kangaroo Kafe Assistants – Help set up the Kangaroo Kafe prior to home meets, prepare and distribute food and drinks for purchase, collect money from customers, and assist with cleaning up the Kafe area after the meet. This position is for home meets only. No prior experience or training is required for this position.
Photographer – Take pictures of the swimmers and upload them to the team web space. Photos are used to create a slide show presented at the Awards Ceremony at end of the season. This position is for both home and away meets. No prior experience or training is required for this position.
Meet Manager/Assistant – Help the meet run smoothly. Act as ambassador to the opposing team, welcoming them and providing support as needed. Find volunteers to fill any last minute gaps and supporting volunteers (including getting water, making last minute runs to the store for ice, and running messages to other people). These positions are for both home and away meets. The Rep (or designee) serves as the Meet Manager. Experience is preferred before filling the Assistant Meet Manager position.
