Parent Volunteer Information
Our parents are a crucial part to our team, especially with swim meets. We must have full involvement in order to run fast, smooth, and successful meets. Please contact April Underwood with any volunteer questions ([email protected]). Each family is required to work 1 shift per swim meet. If not, they will be billed $300.
Non-Certified Volunteer Positions for Each Meet:
HEAD TIMER
The Head Timer assures that all lanes have timers, working stop watches, clipboards, pencils, and timing cards. The Head Timer starts two watches on every race, and delivers a working watch to timers when their own watches fail. The Head Timer will meet with the lane timers before the start of a session in order to explain the duties ot the timer and answer any questions. The Head Timer supervises lane timers during meets and signals to the Referee when Timers have cleared their watches.
TIMERS & SCRIBES
Lane timers are responsible for starting their watches at the Starter's signal, and stopping their watches when any part of the swimmer's body touches the wall at the finish. The watch time is then recorded by the Scribe on the entry card. Timer’s meetings are held just before the start of a session in order to explain the duties of the timer and answer any questions.
RELAY TAKE OFF JUDGE
The Relay Take Off Judge ensures that a relay swimmer does not leave the starting platform before the preceding swimmer has touched the end of the pool.
FINISH JUDGE
The Finish Judges stand at the end of pool and observe the end of the race. They help decide the order in which the swimmers finished the event. No technical knowledge of swimming is required, but it does require a keen ability to focus your attention for close races. Training or shadowing is recommended and happily provided.
RUNNER
Runners are responsible for collecting the event cards from each Timer, Finish Judge slips from each finish judge, and the Over-call judge’s slip after each heat. The cards are then brought to the Placer at the scoring table. They are also responsible for collecting any disqualification (DQ) slips from the Stroke and Turn Judges and relay jump slips from the Relay Jump Judges and taking them to the Meet Referee for their signature. These cards are also taken to the Placer at the scoring table.
SORTERS
Sorters are responsible for placing the event cards for each heat in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. place order, according to KISL scoring rules. The Sorter position requires some training.
COMPUTER SCORING
This person records the times of the athletes, and points awarded in the computer.
CLERK OF COURSE
Maintains order around starting area, helps place swimmers in proper lanes for events.
ROUND UP FOR 10 & UNDERS
Helps gather children in their designated age group and helps get them to Clerk of Course for their event.
Certified Volunteer Positions for Each Meet:
STARTER
Starts each event with the announcement of the age and stroke and the words SWIMMERS TAKE YOUR MARK, pauses to make sure that all swimmers are motionless, and then gives an electronic sound or a blast of a whistle. Training and certification through GKAISA (or USA Swimming) is required for this position.
STROKE & TURN JUDGE
Work in pairs on each side of the pool with one member of a pair being from each team. Judges only rule on infractions on their side of the pool. They observe strokes, turns, and finishes to see that swimmers comply with requirements for that stroke. Training and certification through GKAISA (or USA Swimming) is required for this position.
Meet Referee
The Referee presides over the meet to see that the meet runs on time and is fair and safe for all swimmers. The Referee has the overall authority and responsibility for seeing that the competition complies with all of the appropriate rules and regulations. The referee resolves all questions related to the conduct of the swim meet and reviews any disqualifications before they are sent to the Scorer’s Table. Training and certification through GKAISA (or USA Swimming) is required for this position.
