Volunteer Obligation
Parent volunteers are the backbone of the Sharks organization. We model for our children what it means to donate our time and serve others while building relationships within our community. The Sharks Swim Team most literally cannot run without you and our other parent/community volunteers. As such, you will not officially be "on the team" until you complete the final step of registration, which is signing up for your 4 volunteer jobs on Team Unify (see steps below). Your place on the team will be confirmed once you receive a "Welcome to the team!" email and your 4 volunteer points have been verified.
(*Most years, 4 volunteer points per family is sufficient and remains our goal. However, as the volunteer points are dependent on and divided by the total numbers of families registered, a 5th possible point could be necessary. This is not likely, but will be decided by May 1st 2024, when we have a more clear registration total. You will be notified in this unlikely event. Otherwise, plan on and sign up for 4 points per family.) Thank you in advance for your service. We hope you will find, as we have, that volunteering together is a rewarding experience and brings our team and our community closer together.
Each family will be required to earn 4 volunteer points. Most volunteer positions (i.e. timing, ready bench, concessions, safety/clean-up, admin, and tent parent) earn one point per half a meet. So, a tent parent, for example, who worked two full meets (or 4 half meets) would fulfill the family’s volunteer obligation. You may choose to work two full meets (most seamless option) or your may split your jobs into 4 half meets if necessary. With Team Lead approval, you may also hire someone to fulfill your volunteer obligation on your behalf.
Sign-ups will be done through your Team Unify/GoMotion account for the four regular season meets, as well as the SNT Championship meet on 7/1/24. Sign ups for volunteer jobs will go live at NOON on Monday April 1st, 2024. Early bird gets the worm, so don't delay! Once you sign up for a volunteer job, it is your responsibility to fulfill the job in some way, trade with another parent or find someone to serve in your stead. If we all do our part, the swim season will be a big success, for children and parents alike.
$100 per point may be charged to families who do not fulfill their volunteer role, or who wish to "buy out" their service responsibility through the team instead of hiring or providing your own replacement ($400 + a $10 credit card fee to be charged to the credit card on file, or $400 if cash or check is given.) There are many ways to handle your volunteer obligation if you are unable to be there in person – from hiring a teenager (14+ for most jobs or 18+ for Tent Parent jobs), to asking Grandma/pa or your babysitter to fulfill a volunteer role for you. Please reach out to your Team Lead if you are having difficulty, and we will work together to come up with a solution.
Volunteer job sign-ups will be done through your Team Unify/GoMotion account for the four regular-season meets, as well as the SNT Championship meet.
Steps to sign up for your jobs on a PC:
1. Go to https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/recdawstx/page/home
2. Sign into your account.
3. Click on “My Account”, then the “Events & Competition” and “Team Events” tabs
4. Look for the swim meet/date of your choice and then click “Job Signup”
5. Select the available jobs. *PLEASE be sure your cell phone number or the number of the person volunteering in your place, is entered on the sign up.
6. Once the job commitment sign up closes for changes, ultimately, it is your responsibility to find or even hire a replacement to fulfill your volunteer job, should something come up. If you need to verify which jobs you are signed up for, please login to your account and click on the following:
- "Events & Competition", "Event & Job Reports" and then "Job signup report for my account".
-Change the search day to 04/01/2024 and then hit search. This should pull up all the jobs you have signed up for.
*Please don’t hesitate to reach out your Team Lead if an emergency arises. We are happy to help you come up with a solution. (*Team Leads listed under each job description below. For all OTHER positions, please email: Karyn Riekstins or Rebekah Peterson at [email protected]).
Volunteer jobs may also be added/edited from the team "Go Motion" app on your phone.
1. Open app, click on the three lines (menu) tab at the top left.
2. Select "Events & Jobs" and then "Events & Meet Entries"
3. Find the meet you want and then select "Jobs". Please remember to include the best cell phone number for the person serving on your family's behalf.
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Timers Team (On site instruction given day of. Please check in at the Volunteer Check in desk at the meet upon arrival.)
Being a "Timer" is a fun volunteer role because you get the best view in the house and the opportunity cheer on all the kids as they race! Two volunteers with stopwatches work each lane of the pool to time the swimmers' races. Typically, each team will provide 6 timers per team, so that each lane has a timer paired with a timer from the oposing team.
A designated “head timer” is a volunteer who will stand/sit on the side of the pool and start two stop watches in case of a timer error.
Then a “time sheet runner” collects the time sheets from the timers after each event to deliver to the Admin volunteers performing data entry at the computers.
There will be one to two “heat winner” volunteers who hand out "heat winner" ribbons to the appropriate swimmer(s) following each race. Timers are needed at all four regular season meets.
(Timer Lead: Lindsay Suhor)
Ready Bench Team (On site instruction given day of. Please check in at the Volunteer Check in desk at the meet upon arrival.)
Swimmers 10 and under are gathered and lined up in chairs for their races at the “Ready Bench.” This group of parents uses the heat sheets to load the swimmers into their correct lanes for their races. This role requires patience, compassion (as some little kids get a little scared before their races) and a loud (but friendly) voice. There are enough people on the Ready Bench Team that you can step out to watch your swimmer’s race when it is time, and the other team members will cover you. Ready Bench Volunteers are needed at all four regular season meets.
(Ready Bench Lead: Amanda Steffan)
Admin Team (On site instruction given day of. Please check in at the Volunteer Check in desk at the meet upon arrival.)
The Admin Team is the team that enters the swimmer times into the computer. They do this in real time after each event. All training is provided for this role, and it requires only the ability to follow instructions and a decent understanding of a 10-key pad. There are enough people on the Admin Team that you can step out to watch your swimmer’s race when it is time, and the other team members will cover you. Admin Volunteers are needed at all four regular season meets.
(Team Lead: Jean Johnson)
Safety/Clean-Up Team (On site instruction given day of. Please check in at the Volunteer Check in desk at the meet upon arrival.)
The members of the Safety/Clean-up Team are vital to the team remaining in good standing with the HOA. Assisted by our coaching and junior coaching staff, this team makes sure the trash is emptied and removed from the pool area, the bathrooms have the necessities they need, and that people are not parking in front of mailboxes or fire hydrants. As this job requires constant patrolling the pool deck, you will absolutely be able to watch your swimmers swim during your time as a volunteer. Safety/Clean Up Volunteers are only needed at the two HOME meets.
(Team Lead: Laura Elggren)
Tent Parent Volunteers (On site instruction given day of. Please check in at the Volunteer Check in desk at the meet upon arrival.)
This role is a perfect role for parents who want to stay close to their swimmers – and enjoy the shade of a team-provided tent. Tent Parents check swimmers in and out from their parent/guardian, make sure swimmers have been appropriately labeled by their parents for the meet, and generally “keep the peace” during the meet. Tent Parents for 10 and under help the Ready Bench Team get the little ones lined up for their races. There are enough people on the Tent Parent Team that you can step out to watch your swimmer’s race when it is time, and you may ask another team member or Team Lead to cover for you. Tent Parent Team Volunteers are needed at all four regular season meets and one parent per age group for the Championship meet.
(Lead: Jennifer Kubinsky)
Floater Team (On site instruction given day of. Please check in at the Volunteer Check in desk at the meet.)
"Floaters" show up at the Volunteer Check-In Tent and are willing to jump in to serve wherever there is a need. Some examples might include giving timers bathroom breaks, helping tent parents during the shift change mid meet, or filling in anywhere we need an extra hand. etc. No matter where they are covering, these volunteers will be able to watch their kids swim. Floater Team Volunteers are needed at all four regular season meets.
(Team Lead: Volunteer Coordinator Assistant, Karyn Riekstins)
Concessions Team (On site instruction given day of. Please check in at the Volunteer Check in desk at the meet.)
Concessions volunteers will work the two home meets only, as the away meets will have their own team managing the concessions. Volunteers working either the full meet or at least the first half of the meet, will show up 30-45 min early in order to help set up the concessions stand. They will work with one or two other volunteers to sell concessions and manage money exchange during the meet. Volunteers who work either the full meet or the second half of the meet will also be expected to help break down the concession stand and supplies and count the cash back once the meet has ended. Volunteers can work together to cover each other so that parents can watch their children race.
(Concessions Lead: Emily Orme)
